Page 20 of True for You

Harrison rolls his eyes. “Open it and you’ll find out.”

“Smartass,” I murmur under my breath as I do what I’m asked, opening the envelope. My heart stutters in my chest and my breath leaves all at once. I stare at the ticket in my hand for a long moment, the pieces not really clicking into place. “What?”

“Holy shit,” Parker murmurs, looking over my shoulder.

“I can’t take this,” I say right away, processing his gift. “It’s way too much.”

“It’s not even close to being too much. You’re literally giving us a baby, Christopher. Let us treat you.”

I look up at them, tears brimming my lids but I do my best to blink them back. “Fuck. This is so much.” They’ve given me--no, not just me. They’ve givenustwo vouchers for a tropical vacation, hotel and plane tickets taken care of.

“Once this baby is born, we want you two to have a vacation, just the two of you,” Harrison says with a wide smile, his hand squeezing my shoulder. “You two deserve it.”

“This is amazing,” Parker murmurs, looking at Derek and Harrison. “Thank you.”

The four of us all exchange hugs and not for the first time today, I’m overwhelmed with how much I love all of the people here. This is the family I didn’t even know I needed but I’m grateful for them each and every day.

Okay,mostdays. But I can’t be blamed for the days Ryder constantly yells ‘well if you are what you eat’ at my roommate….

Chapter Eleven

Parker

I walk into my apartment,juggling far too many bags of groceries because in true alpha fashion I was not about to take a second trip to my car. There’s just something about having to take more than one trip. I don’t know why but I refuse. It doesn’t matter that I can’t feel my fingers. All that matters is bringing this all in with a single trip.

“Fuck,” I hiss out as my phone starts to ring. Isn’t that always how it goes? Someone calls at the worst possible time? I quickly run to my kitchen, carefully dropping all of my bags onto the ground as I fish out my phone, clenching and unclenching my hand as the blood all comes rushing back. A thrill shoots through me as I see Christopher’s name light up across my screen.

“Hello?”

“Hi,” I hear from the other side of the line, my stomach swooping at hearing my omega’s voice.

“Hey, you. This was perfect timing, I just got home.”

“Got all your groceries for the week? Did you get yourself a treat?”

I shake my head with a snort, pulling my phone away from my ear and setting it to speakerphone so I can talk while putting the groceries away. “I got myself some mini cupcakes with chocolate frosting. I also got abunchof different garlic things so you have something to snack on the next time you come over.”

There’s a long pause as I continue putting things away, waiting for Christopher’s response. “Christopher? You okay?”

“I’m good,” he murmurs back after a moment, his voice thick with emotion. Before I can really worry he’s going on. “That’s just. Sorry. You just keep catching me off guard with how sweet you are.”

“What do you mean? I’m just doing things to make you happy.”

“I know, but it’s sweet. It makes me love you so fucking much.”

I drop the box of cereal in my hand, my heart jumping into my throat. How ironic really. The first time we meet? I drop a box of cereal. The first time Christopher says he loves me? I drop yet another box of cereal. It’s becominga thing. “What?”

Christopher huffs and I can just imagine the way he’s probably rolling his eyes at me. “Yeah, I said it. I love you.”

“Oh,” I whisper to myself, overwhelmed with affection for my omega. “I love you, too,” I tell him, hoping my voice conveys the level of emotion I’m feeling. “I love you so goddamn much, baby. I’m so glad we were both at that grocery store at the same time.”

“It took you a second to catch up but I’m glad you did,” Christopher says back with an amused snort.

“I wish I was with you right now so I could cover your face with kisses.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, lover boy.”

Now it’s my turn to snort, affection rushing through me. I finish placing the last can in its place before putting all the paper bags away. I lean against my counter, the widest grin stretching across my face.

---