Page 49 of Vegas Baby!

It was weird to think about moving in with these men so quickly, but Luke was right. We didn’t have the luxury of timewith me sliding into the third trimester. Now that the dust from all the chaos was starting to settle, we needed to make actual plans. A home that comfortably fit all of us and was designed for an omega seemed like a good place to start.

The realtor hovered nearby, answering the pack’s questions while I snooped. Part of me wished we were moved in already so I could float in the pool and take some of the baby weight off my hips.

“Do you like it?” Luke asked.

“I love it.”

His shoulders relaxed. “Good. I was pretty sure you would, but nice to have that confirmed.”

Bryce appeared at my side. “Want me to put in an offer?”

“We need to talk to the bank about getting approved,” Luke told him.

“I can buy it outright,” Bryce replied.

I was pretty sure Luke muttered, “Of course you can,” but it was too quiet to tell for certain.

“If the others are happy with it, I think it could be a nice home for us,” I said. “I’m not sure how I feel about you putting out that much money, though.”

“My money is your money, and we both need a place to live,” Bryce pointed out. “I’m going to be selling my place in New York.”

“Giving up on the city entirely?” Luke asked.

“I would buy or rent something new if we ever wanted to go back. My current place isn’t designed for the life I have now.”

I chewed my lip. “If you’re sure. I really like the house and I know if I wait much longer I’m gonna go stir-crazy trying to put down roots during pregnancy nesting.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Bryce promised.

Tension flowed out of my body. I hadn’t realized how much of it I was holding, but knowing we would have a comfortable home was exactly what I needed right now.

While Luke and Bryce discussed with the realtor, Jesse and Micah stole me away to give the other rooms a closer look.

“Are you okay with the company packing up your old apartment?” Jesse asked.

“Most of it is already packed, but I was hoping to spend a bit of time with my mom before my original move date.”

“We all have extremely free schedules.” Jesse laughed. “Why don’t we fly out to San Jose, get your apartment sorted, and meet your mom, if you want us to.”

That wasn’t a conversation I was particularly excited for, but I would have to tell her sooner or later that I was scent matched and staying in Vegas.

“She really liked Andrew, but I do need to tell her that all of you exist.”

“Your mother has terrible taste.” Micah swung his arm over my shoulders.

“Don’t I know it.”

Less than a week later, we had touched down in San Jose. I gave the alphas my apartment key, trusting that they could handle the rest of the packing while I warmed up Mom to the idea of my future without Andrew. Once I had accomplished that, I would convince her to a dinner so I could introduce everyone, but until then I had to face that beast alone.

Bryce dropped me off in their rental car, but I made him park out of sight of the house, waving to him when I heard Mom unlocking the front door.

I held my breath as I stepped inside.

Mom met me in the entryway, chatting away as she drew me into the kitchen, getting me a glass of water, and offering a container of sliced fruit while she launched into updates on the lives of people I’d gone to high school with, even though I couldn’t care less about what they were doing. This happened almost every visit, and I’d just let her talk herself out and fulfill her need for gossip.

“Not to interrupt, but could we sit down for a bit? My feet are starting to hurt.”

“Of course.” She led me around the corner and into the living room, where I froze in place. “Ava, honey, you’ll never guess who came for a visit.”

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