Page 18 of Our Time

As I pull the car into the parking lot of the building Rose is renting for her baby shower, I reach over and take Ryder’s hand in my own. I give him a reassuring squeeze and in response, he pulls my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles.

It might have taken us a little too long to get our heads out of our asses, but now that we’re together I plan on making sure he never forgets just what he means to me. I’ll be the best alpha I can. I’ll make sure he’s cared for and loved and happy, just like I know he’ll do the same for me.

“Should we try to keep our mating on the down low?” Ryder asks, looking over at me. “Like, I don’t want to take away Rose’s special day.”

“That’s totally up to you. You know your sister best.”

“Don’t act like she’s not your little sister too,” Ryder says with a pout. “Don’t put this all on me.”

I roll my eyes playfully. “I think she’d be pissed if we didn’t tell her right away.”

“You’re probably right.” Ryder groans. “Why must you always be right and so handsome and so wonderful? That’s without thinking about how nice your co--”

I cut him off by putting my hand over his mouth, my cheeks flaming. “Alright, alright. That’s enough. I don’t want Rose to see how badly you make me blush.”

Ryder licks my hand and I pull it away, wrinkling my nose at him. He just giggles. “Can’t take the heat? Well, alpha mine, do I have some terrible news for you.”

“I can takeyourheat,” I murmur, shaking my head.

“Promises, promises.”

“God, you’re such a little shit.”

Suddenly there’s a knock against Ryder’s window and we both jolt in surprise. We look over and find Ryder’s little sister staring at us with a giant smile. We quickly get out of the car to greet her.

“Rosie!” I call out, walking around the car so I can pull her into a tight hug.

“Oh my god, Ben. When are you gonna stop calling me that? I’m not a little kid anymore.”

“You’ll always be my little Rosie and I’m not sorry about that.”

“Whatever,” she says, hugging me just as tight. It’s so weird to see her all grown up like this. She’s got a mating bite on her throat and a round belly. I’ve heard people talk about omegasglowingwhile they’re pregnant but I never truly understood that until right now. Rose looks radiant. Pregnancy really agrees with her and that couldn’t make me happier.

“I’m so glad we made it in time to help set up,” Ryder says, pulling his sister into another hug. “I’m sorry we weren’t here sooner.”

“It’s fine. Did you get distracted? Or did something happen?”

Ryder bites his bottom lip, playing with his lip ring for a moment. I watch in fascination as his cheeks turn pink. He’s not usually flustered like this. It’s endearing.

“Okay, so here’s the thing,” he starts to say but before he can go on, Rose’s eyes snap over to me. She grabs my shirt, tugging the collar to the side beforesquealing.

“Oh my god!”

“Jesus Christ, Rose. That sound you just made was detectable by dogs in a thirty mile radius.”

“Shut it, Ryder! You both have mating bites! Holy fucking shit!”

“It’s not a big deal.”

Rose completely ignores her brother in favor of looking up at me. I nervously adjust my glasses and hold up my hands in a very clear ‘what are you gonna do’ gesture. She shakes her head in disbelief before pulling me into another tight hug. She sniffles against my chest. I look over her head at Ryder with wide eyes and he just shrugs.

“I’m so happy for you,” she says under her breath. “Fucking pregnancy hormones are making the water works spring up but I don’t care. I’ve wanted you two to be together for so long. I’m so happy you finally got your shit together.”

“Thank you,” I murmur back. Ryder walks over and this whole thing becomes a billion times more awkward as he joins the hug. So now I’m sandwiched between the two of them.

Eventually Rose’s mate, Dean, steps outside, no doubt looking for Rose. He looks at me with wide eyes, holding up his hand in greeting. This is so awkward I might literally faint.

“Hey, uh? Is everything okay?”

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