Page 1 of Choosing Me

Chapter One

Calvin

As carefully asI can manage, I use the tongs to place noodles into two little bowls, one with princesses and the other with puppies. I’m conscious not to add too much, just enough to feed a couple of rowdy two year olds. They’re somehow already picky eaters so I made sure to grind up all the veggies and add it into the sauce. They won’t even notice that I’m tricking them into eating healthy food disguised as their favorite meal.

“Calvin! Is the food almost done?” Connor, my twin brother, calls from the other room.

“I’m just plating it up right now,” I tell him, pouring sauce over the noodles before popping the bowls into the freezer to cool them down. I willnotbe the guy who accidentally burns my niece and nephew’s mouths! I might not be the stereotypical omega like my brother but I am akickassuncle, thank you very much.

Connor walks into the kitchen, sweat dotting his hairline. “Hey, hey, take it easy,” I tell him, stepping over and pulling Benny out of his arms. “Take a seat, dude. You look about ready to pop and you’re still up and running around with these two.”

Connor snorts as he waddles over to the table. He sits down with a heavy sigh, putting one ankle across his knee, rubbing tiredly at his swollen feet. “What else am I supposed to do? I take any time off and these two think they run the house!”

“What? These perfect little angels?” I ask, picking up my niece and nephew, rubbing my nose over Benny’s cheek and making him giggle. “There’s no way they’re ever naughty,” I say, making my voice sickeningly sweet. “They’re so sweet and lovely and wonderful. Isn’t that right?”

Barbie makes a noise that I interpret as agreement before she’s slapping my cheek hard enough to make my eyes sting. Connor stares at me for a moment before asking, “you were saying?”

“Fine,” I say with a dramatic pout, setting Barbie into her high chair. “God, she’s got some power behind that slap. Are you gonna be a star athlete when you get older, Barbie?” I ask her, smiling when she giggles. Then I turn back to my brother. “I’ll leave the child rearing to you, brother dearest. You were always better at the domestic stuff than me anyway.”

“I wouldn’t saythat.”

“I would,” I murmur, getting Benny into his chair and strapping him in. I place their food in front of them now that it’s chilled, watching with a smile as they both dig in. “I might be a good uncle but the day to day stuff? There’s no way I could handle that. Hell, I don’twantto handle that.”

Connor looks at me with a soft smile. “You’ve always been like this. I was playing with dolls and you were bossing people around, climbing trees, and being everywhere but at home.”

“What can I say? I’m a free spirit. Nothing can tie all of this down,” I tell him, running a hand down my chest dramatically and making my brother giggle.

Benny and Barbie happily eat their spaghetti, getting it all over their faces, hands, and somehow each other’s hair. In all honesty, these are the only two babies I even like in addition to the one inside Connor’s belly. Every other baby? I prefer to keep them at a distance.

I wouldn’t call myself a typical omega. I don’t dream about finding a mate and having a family. I’m not submissive or soft, and I sure as hell wouldn’t ever want to follow in my twin’s footsteps of becoming a house omega. I can’t even commit to having an animal right now!

Just… no thanks. I’m very happy being alone and taking care ofmy needsthrough the occasional hook up.

“You say that now,” Connor murmurs, taking the bowl that I hand him with a smile. “I have a feeling someday you’ll meet someone who makes it hard to stay away. Hopefully they’re someone as unattached as you.”

“He’ll have to be a lot of things,” I say with a frown. “An alpha who’s not baby crazy, who’s not a giant knot-head, and who’s okay with me being independent. Someone who realizes I don’tneedthem because I’m not some damsel who wants rescuing or some shit.”

Connor nods along with a chipmunk cheek of spaghetti. “He’ll also need to be hot. And you know,” he adds, wiggling his brows, “be a good boy for Daddy.”

“Connor,” I say slowly, ignoring the way my cheeks are turning bright red. “Please never say that sentence again.Ever.” Connor gives me a shrug, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Just because I’m dominant doesn’t mean people call me Daddy. Stop projecting your favorite porn on me, asshole.”

Connor’s eyes widen. “Language!”

I make a ridiculous fart noise with my mouth in response because yes, I’m an incredibly mature adult. We both chuckle before going back to our spaghetti, enjoying some boring small talk. He tells me all the things the babies are into lately and all the things they’ve started doing. Apparently Nox, my brother’s mate, just got a raise at his marketing job which is great. They might even buy that minivan that Connor has his eye on.

Fuck, they’re sodomestic.

Connor looks sohappyas he talks about all of this and I’m not sure I’ll ever truly understand. That doesn’t mean I can’t revel in his happiness and feel proud of him for finding the thing that brings him joy, but the thought of being this level of domesticity with someone makes my skin itch. Maybe someday I’ll find that too, even if my form of joy looks drastically different than his.

After getting Benny and Barbie all cleaned up and ready for their afternoon nap, Connor and I put our feet up in the living room.

“So,” he says, a grin on his face, adjusting the pillow he’s leaning against so he’s comfortable with his big belly. “I know you’re not the whole mate and baby type of guy but is there anyone catching your eye lately?”

“Ah, so it’s gossip hour. Gotcha.”

“Don’t be a dick,” Connor says, rolling his eyes. “Benny and Barbie aren’t much for conversation yet so please, indulge me.”

“Fine,” I say dramatically, flopping back onto his couch with a groan, putting my feet in his lap. He snorts before shoving them off. “But only because you’re my favorite twin.”

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