Page 59 of His Sassy Omega
Was it? A deal-breaker? I’d thought the “Is‘Die Hard’a Christmas movie?” question was a deal-breaker. This was so much bigger and more serious than that.
I’d never given it much thought before. I didn’t want kids, and for me, that was the end of the conversation. At least the conversation I’d had in my head, with any pretend or potential partner. It had been easy when I had planned on not ever settling down. And Leo and I had never managed to get around to the kid conversation in the eight months we’d been together.
But now? Now I had a fated mate, who – unbeknownst to me – wanted children and probably quickly. I should walk away now before we went any further. Got more attached. No harm, no foul. I didn’t begrudge anyone who wanted children, a family. I just knew I wasn’t one of those people.
The thought of walking away from Lachlan, of this coming between us, made my stomach turn. I felt myself break out into a sweat, my breathing picking up. I had to clamp a hand over my mouth, as bile threatened to spew from my churning stomach.
I didn’t want to walk away from him. I didn’t want to not see where this thing between us was going. I wanted him like I’d never, ever wanted anyone in my life. Like I never imagined I could, or would want anyone, and it exhilarated and terrified me.
I swallowed hard, pushing my nausea down. Exhaustion rolled over me, and I just wanted to get off the phone, and curl up and sleep. I was bone-tired, my stomach sick. My heart hurt, knowing Lachlan wanted something desperately, that I didn’t want.
“I need to go,” I whispered to Wade, blinking my eyes when I felt them burn with tears. What the fuck was wrong with me? I never cried, and I certainly didn’t cry over an alpha.
“Quinn, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you that.” Wade was as quiet as I was, and that was never a good thing. “It wasn’t my place to tell you. Fuck.”
“No, it’s okay,” I said honestly. “I needed to hear it. Lachlan and I need to talk. I need to go, the oven dinged,” I lied, but I hung up anyway. I sat for a minute, no longer hungry, my stomach twisting and turning, and throwing a fit. I’d save the leftovers and eat them later when I felt better.
I needed to thank Lachlan for the food. My throat was tight, as I dialed his cell number. I could have called his office, but I knew I’d have to go through Wade to get to him, and I just couldn’t deal with it right now.
“Did you eat?”
I closed my eyes against the wave of longing, and lust, that swept through me, just hearing his voice.
“I did, thank you. It was very thoughtful of you.” I tried to sound cheerful, but my voice sounded wooden and lifeless to my ears.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded. “You sound weird. Was it too much? Too soon?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” I lied, hearing the anxiousness that had crept into his tone. “I’m just exhausted, and it’s only Monday. This week is going to be crazy. I zoned out and forgot to eat, so I really appreciate the food.”
He was silent, probably trying to tell if I was lying. “I asked Wade a lot of questions about you last week.”
I laughed a little. “Yeah, he said.”
“Now that I hear myself say it out loud, it sounds creepy and slightly stalkerish.”
“Naw, it’s cool.” I waved it off. “I’ve never had anyone send me food before.” My voice had taken on a soft quality to it. “It was nice.”
“I worry about you.” His tone was just as soft, and heldsomethingin it, that made me go all gooey inside.
“I just had this feeling you were hungry.” He laughed. “Now that does sound creepy. I can’t explain it, but I wanted to do it, so I did. I know we won’t see each other until Friday when you bring the delivery. I wanted you to know you’re on my mind. I like you, Quinn. I like you a lot. I want to keep seeing you.”
I took a deep breath and dove in headfirst. “About Friday? When we deliver the brunch, do you think you can spare a few minutes?”
Then I said the words no one in a relationship ever wants to hear.
Never. Ever. Ever.
But before we went any further with this thing between us, it needed to happen.
“We need to talk.”
Chapter Sixteen
Lachlan
I paced my office on Friday morning because I couldn’t concentrate on anything productive. My mind was whirling.
We need to talk.
