Page 170 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Nothing, omega mine. I’m ready. I mean, I wouldn’t turn down you holding my hand.” I extended my arm and he giggled. “What?”

“Wait until we’re outside. I’m huge and walking side by side in the hallway… not gonna happen.”

“You’re only…” I stopped. No good could come of saying he was only huge front to back and not side to side. None. “Okay, but once we’re on the porch, I am not letting go.”

Daire had the van, not the sports car, and I was glad for that. Ivor wouldn’t manage getting into that very low car.

Unlike my sorry ass, Daire had been training hard core. He was ready for this. If he didn’t place, I’d be surprised. Probably not in the entire race, but in his class at least.

“I’m glad we pre-registered.” He clicked his fob to unlock the van. “I couldn’t get my act together this morning.”

“Too focused on your running mindset?” Ivor asked. “That’s a thing, right?”

“Yeah, that’s a thing and no. I just stayed up too late last night.”

I helped Ivor into the van.

“I made this one,” Ivor pointed to me from over his seat, “go to bed early for the race.”

“This one?” Daire asked, obviously amused. “Are youthatone?” he said to me.

“Nope.” I popped the P. “He is myonlyone.” I grabbed Ivor’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Speaking about only ones, is that why you were up late? Did you have company?”

I knew he had worked things out sort-of-ish with Nate, but not really sure to what extent. And I never really got the whole story of why they were on a break. I tried to stay out of it unless he asked me specifically because goodness help me I was not the one to ask for relationship advice. I got lucky with Ivor and he forgave me for far more than I deserved. But yeah, my track record before Ivor sucked and not in a good way.

“No company.” He started the van.

“But something,” I teased back, not really wanting to know the details if it was naughty, but also being nosey as fuck and willing to discuss anything except my impending doom at the race.

“We talked on the phone, and before you even start...” He beeped the horn. Some jerk almost ran into us. We jerked forward and my hand grabbed Ivor’s shoulder because he was sitting in front of me.

I was freaked out, seeing the near collision and what it could’ve done to my mate and our child that he was carrying. My heart was still pounding as the other car drove off.

“Ivor, I need to know you’re fine.”

“I am.” He didn’t sound fine, but logically I understood nothing could’ve physically hurt him. “It just scared me a wee bit, is all.”

“Same.” Daire let out a long breath. “Okay for me to keep going?”

“Ready.” Ivor and I said in unison.

It was challenging for us to get to the check-in point, the roads already blocked off for the race. We ended up having to walk half a mile, me holding Ivor’s hand and a folding chair for him to sit on during the race. I didn’t mind. It was like a pre-warm up, as it were. But poor Ivor. He waddled like a champ. I was going to need to figure out a better solution for him on the way out.

We checked in, got our numbers, filled out the waiver—again, and were told where to wait.

“You’ve got this.” Ivor kissed me. “And when you come home, you’ll get something else.”

The poor guy had no idea how out of shape I was. The only thing I was going to get was through the doorway, where I would immediately crash.

“Please tell me you mean some sleep.” I kissed him back.

“If you say so.”

“We’ll stay at the finish line.” Neil said as he arrived with Martin and Toby. It was Toby’s first time at any event like this and he was super excited, even wearing a shirt with our names on it that he’d made with permanent markers. A-freaking-dorable.

Archer and Micah were also coming, but they hadn’t arrived yet. When I took an apartment at Sunshine Manor, never in a million years did I think I was going to find my family and not just Ivor and our baby. It was more than that. Everyone who lived there was a family of sorts. I gave all credit for that to Daire. His rooftop events sealed us together in a way no other rental would’ve fostered.

And now I was suddenly sappy. Maybe Ivor’s hormones were contagious and I was getting the pregnancy emotions. Too bad I couldn’t have taken his pregnancy puke from him. I still felt bad about that. His body went through so much. He’d say it was worth it and it was, but also…

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