Page 64 of Tempting Frey
“He should have told me he was mated to you.”
“When exactly? He didn’t know before Friday.”
“He had you under his nose for days. He must have known!”
I sighed. “Chickie, I’m sorry. I’ve been attracted to Oliver for some time, but I did my best to avoid him. When he started working for me, it… blew up.”
Oliver pulled out a chair and sat next to Chickie. He put his thin arm around his father’s massive shoulders. “It was me who went to Teddy, Dad,” he said softly. “I’ve always wanted him, so I chased him down. I’m sorry you found out the way you did because I was honestly looking forward to coming here after the heat and telling you.”
At that, Chickie froze. “Heat?”
“Yes. I went into heat on Friday. We’re having a baby.”
“A baby?” my friend breathed.
“Fated mates and first heat mean baby,” my mate said, with only a tiny hint of sarcasm in his kind tone. “You told me that’s how it goes when you explained the birds and the bees to me.”
“You’re pregnant?” Chickie’s voice rose in pitch.
“Duh.”
“I…” He looked at me, then at Oliver, and finally at his husband. He looked stunned.
“Why are you so surprised?” Oliver asked.
“You’ve always been different, and I worried that maybe…”
Oliver stroked his back soothingly. “I’m healthy, Dad. No, I haven’t ever shifted, but I ama bear shifter omega.”
“You’re pregnant,” Chickie repeated shakily.
“Yes. And in love with the best alpha you know. The man you chose as your closest friend, remember?”
Chickie took a deep breath, his shoulders lifting and sinking again. “You should have told me,” he said quietly. There was no anger in his tone anymore.
“I would never have heard the end of it. Can you imagine if I told you that I was in love with Teddy before I went to college? What would you have done, huh? Cast him out of town? Locked me up like a prince in a tower? Or would you have forced us together before we were ready?”
To that, my old friend had no reply. The gaze he gave me was almost pleading. But what was I supposed to do? Neither of us had any chance against the force that was Oliver on a mission.
“I couldn’t tell you. I had to go away and grow up.”
My omega was incredible.
“We’re in love, Dad,” Oliver whispered. “I’m happy.”
Finally, Chickie turned to Phil.
“Didyouknow?” he asked, sounding a little fearful. I imagined it would have been too great a betrayal for Chickie if his husband had kept such a secret from him.
Smiling widely, Phil shook his head. “I had a suspicion that Oliver had a crush on Frey growing up. He always stared at him with stars in his eyes. But they only told me about being mates this morning.”
Chickie blew out a breath. “Dammit.”
“It’s a good thing, Hawke,” Phil said softly. “Could you imagine our Ollie with anyone else?”
Another mammoth sigh. Then a headshake. He pointed a finger at me, then at Oliver.
“I’m still mad at you two for lying to me.”
