Page 11 of A Home for His Omega

“No, but Sam brought back some cinnamon rolls from there once. They were so good.”

“She has a soup and sandwich special that I think you’ll like.” Tomás opened the truck door for Henry and shut it once he was seated. He really hoped the omega couldn’t see the two idiots standing at the window staring at them with grins.

A short time later, they sat across from one another at Honey Buns, coffees in hand as they waited for their food. It was odd watching the people around him react to Henry. Normally, they would say hello to Tomás or at least nod at him when passing. With Henry there, most seemed reluctant to approach them. Henry seemed oblivious to the curious stares aimed toward him.

“Journey and I stayed with Columbo last night,” Henry said, yawning. “I thought he might get scared, but all he did was sleep.”

“Does he mind Journey?”

Henry shook his head, smiling softly. “Not at all. Journey doesn’t bark much and is gentle with other animals. He just watched Columbo and woofed when the parrot talked.”

“That’s good.”

“Do you think you can bring Mitzy by one day and see how he does with her?”

Tomás nodded. “Absolutely. She mostly sleeps all day while I’m gone, but I’m sure she could use the company.”

Henry’s phone vibrated on the table and the omega winced. “That’s my sister again. She’s convinced I need to add on to the house. She says I need a foyer, a coat room, and a formal dining room at the very least.”

Tomás snorted. “Carter gets a lot of emails from her, but he keeps telling her that we can’t change the plans unless you tell us too.”

Henry sighed. “I love her, but I don’t want a mini mansion. I just want my Victorian farmhouse.”

“It can be hard telling family, no.” Tomás winced, understanding his frustration. “My little sister, Tali, is convinced I need to do something, but I really don’t want to. I tell her no, but she thinks she knows better than me.”

“What does she want you to do?”

“Did Gramps tell you I was adopted?” Tomás couldn’t believe he was having this conversation on a first maybe-date, but Henry was easy to talk to.

“He said your parents, Marco and Bennett, adopted you a few years ago, right before you graduated high school.”

“Yeah.” Tomás laughed, shaking his head. “It surprised the hell of me, but I’m glad they’re my parents. My biological dad is doing a life sentence at Riverbend in Nashville, Tennessee. My biological mom was in prison too, but she was released early about a month ago. She reached out and wants to meet up.”

“Tali thinks you should?” Henry asked, reaching across the table to hold his hand.

Tomás nodded. “Yeah, but I don’t want to. When I was growing up, I knew I was missing something other kids had, but I didn’t really understand it. My life had always been solitary. It was just how it was, so I dealt with it. Maybe, if she had reached out then, I would have wanted to talk with her.”

“What changed?”

“Marco and Bennett Wilson.” Tomás smiled softly. “My dads showed me what family means. It’s not conditional, and it doesn’t end when you’re a legal adult. It’s about love and loyalty. Family are people who stand with you during life. Who will listen to you and care about you. It’s like there’s this invisible thread that connects us all together. Threads that they helped create. They’re a part of who I am – my memories, my personality and values, all of that. My biological mom and I don’t have that bond. We never did.”

“That’s beautiful,” Henry whispered, looking thoughtful.

Tomás flushed. “Yeah, sorry about that. I didn’t mean to get all philosophical.”

“Never apologize for knowing what family means.” Henry’s laugh hurt Tomás’s heart. “I can name my ancestors through fourteen generations on Papa’s side and sixteen generations on Dad’s side. To me, family has always been the Powell name. This huge boulder of expectation that hangs around my neck. I like your definition much better than mine.”

Tomás squeezed Henry’s hand, not knowing the right words to comfort the omega.

“Cinnamon rolls on the house.” Zoe set a plate of the bakery’s specialty between them, then leaned over to kiss the top of Tomás’s head. “For my sweet, little cousin.”

Tomás kept staring at Henry, silently begging the omega to ignore the woman cooing over him like a damn dove.

Henry snickered, betraying him.

“By the way, it’s nice to finally meet you, Henry.” Zoe plopped onto the seat beside him. “Sam talks about you all the time, and we’ve all seen you from a distance. Please come visit us more. I’ll give you all the sweets you can eat.”

Henry bit his lip, eying the rolls. “These smell delicious. Papa would disapprove, but I don’t care. I’m going to eat two.”

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