Page 44 of Double Delivery
It had been a textbook delivery: hard on Ollie, but no complications. The active labor phase had been on the shorter side—only a few hours—which was a blessing as Tripp had become increasingly nervous the worse Ollie’s contractions were.
I would never forget the moment Annette’s tiny wails filled the delivery room. It was imprinted on my heart as deeply as when I realized that both Tripp and Ollie were my mates—the kind of event that leaves a man permanently changed for the better.
Annette scrunched her face and started to make the sounds that told me she was waking up. I gave her a minute, then picked her up when she started crying. Ollie had nursed a couple hours prior, but her diaper didn’t feel like it needed to be changed.
I decided she just wanted to be held, and was rewarded when she quickly settled in my arms.
I noted her features in the dim light. Her soft brown hair was a perfect blend of Ollie’s and Tripp’s, but her nose was the real giveaway that Tripp was the one who’d fathered her. Even a few hours old, I could clearly see many of his features in her.
That meant I only had a few years to figure out the best ways to protect her from the hordes of suitors who’d find her stunning.
“Hey,” came a soft whisper.
I turned to see Ollie smiling at me from his bed. I walked over, leaned in to kiss his forehead, then placed Annette into his waiting arms.
He got her settled, then freed one arm to pat a space beside him. I took the hint, climbed onto the bed, and tugged him into my arms.
“Beautiful Ollie,” I murmured. “You’re a papa now.”
He smiled down at our daughter. “She’s perfect.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Izzit cuddle time?” Tripp mumbled sleepily as he shuffled over. He climbed onto the other side of the bed and draped an arm over us before nuzzling against Ollie’s neck.
I chuckled. “Who’d have guessed Tripp would be the biggest cuddler of us all?”
“Love ya, too, Asshole,” he yawned, reverting to my old nickname in his half-sleep.
Ollie sniffled, catching my attention.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I’m just so happy. A year ago, I’d just moved here, didn’t know anybody, and had no idea if it was the right thing to do. Now I have you two and our baby.”
I smiled, leaned in, and kissed his temple. “I love you, omega ours.”
A single tear rolled down his cheek. “I love you, too, and Tripp. I can’t imagine my life without either of you.”
“Don’ havta,” Tripp mumbled. “Here forever.”
I chuckled. “He’s right. You don’t have to imagine it, because we’re here with you. We get to raise a family and grow old together.”
It would be the three of us… forever.
