Page 43 of Double Delivery
I kissed the side of his head. “You’re safe to drive, right? Not too nervous?”
He laughed. “That’s a stupid question. I drive for a living, remember?”
“You’re normally not shaking with nerves.”
He took a deep breath. “We’re about to be dads.”
“And that’s why you need to drive safe.”
He pulled back and gave me a determined look. “Yogurt parfait, and a brothy vegetable soup if they have it.”
I smiled and nodded.
“I’ll be back soon.”
I grabbed his arm and pulled him back for a kiss. “I love you.”
Tripp melted against me. “I love you, too.”
We stayed together for a few more seconds before he composed himself and managed to get out the door.
Those three little words were still new. The emotion had been there for a while before I’d felt confident enough to say them, and it had been Tripp who’d ultimately said them first. He’d been half-asleep and awkwardly trying to cuddle both Ollie and I when they slipped out.
It had been enough. The dam had burst, and we’d taken to reminding each other of that connection on a regular basis.
I headed back to the office to find Ollie breathing through a contraction. I rushed over and knelt in front of him. I took his hands and squeezed.
“I’m here, Baby,” I murmured.
He smiled as it ended, hit the icon on the app, then slumped in the chair.
I shifted to where there was a small gap at the back of his chair and started rubbing his back. “Our strong, handsome omega. You’ve got this.”
He relaxed into my touch and sighed. “Will you pull the final orders?”
“Of course.”
He motioned to the packaging table. “I made a list.”
I grabbed the slip of paper and moved to Ollie’s inventory setup. I had everything pulled just in time for him to have another contraction. But he was able to pack everything himself before Tripp returned, and the satisfaction was clear on his face.
“Ready for your paternity leave?” I asked as I put the packages in their respective shipping baskets.
“I’m ready,” Ollie replied. “And just in time. I’ve been having contractions for hours.”
I smiled. “Well, let’s get some food in you, then we can relax until it’s time to go to the hospital.”
“Ok.”
I helped him up and into the living room, where I got him settled on the couch. Tripp returned a few minutes later.
We spent the next few hours cuddling and enjoying our last bit of time before becoming parents.
∞∞∞
It was well past midnight. Ollie was asleep on his hospital bed, and Tripp was dozing in the sleeping chair by the window.
But me? I couldn’t take my eyes off our daughter, Annette. She was tiny and perfect.
