Page 54 of The Alpha: Part Three
The arcade is filled with yelling and laughing teenagers and way too many flashing lights, but we love it. Desie has kicked all our asses at air hockey and we will never live it down. She won a ton of tickets playing skeeball, too. By the time we're finished playing all the games we can stand to play without getting headaches, we've accumulated enough tickets to win a hot-pink stuffed tiger. It is immediately Desie's most favorite possession.
“This was a perfect night,” she sighs when we're back home and in bed.
I had big plans for when we got back home, especially after she walked out in that dress. But Desie actually is exhausted now. She's around three weeks from her due date and I'm honestly surprised she's not asleep every second she isn't spending making sure everything is ready for the baby.
One of the greatest things is turning out to be how she utilizes her education and experience. Even with all the stress we've been through, she has remained calm about preparing for delivery and the baby. She hasn't gone overboard with supplies and toys. She hasn't bought out all the clothes at the baby stores. She's been more excited about the hand-me-downs that Amber has shipped to us and what Talia has passed down from their babies than any of the new things.
“I'm sorry I'm so tired,” she says, yawning. “I thought tucking me in tonight would be a little more fun.”
I push her hair back from her face and pull her tighter against me. “This is fun. We can tuck you in tomorrow when we didn't keep you out all night. Go to sleep.”
She yawns again and hooks her knee over my hip, getting even closer. “When are Seth and Michael coming to bed?”
“They'll be up soon. What do you want to do tomorrow?”
Tomorrow is the last day we will have free for the rest of this week. Michael and I are going to The Omega House to begin working on whatever we need to work on. We've been put under the impression that Elizabet is particular and exhausting, but she called me yesterday to confirm when we'd be over to help. She's making us sandwiches and cookies, and she wants to bring a gift basket for Desie. I think she's going to be great.
“Sleep late. Maybe have breakfast on the porch. Watch some movies. Mostly nothing.”
That sounds like a perfect day. “What kind of movies?”
“The kind you hate,” she says, yawning again, and tucks her head into my shoulder. “You and Michael will survive. We can order take out if you want. I don't know what we can have delivered out here. I'll ask Talia. I think we'll have to meet the driver at the gate, though.”
I like that inconvenience. I like knowing that nobody can get through the main gate and onto the property without either the code or the key. The biggest security risk at this point is the distillery staff, but there are only a few betas who work there. Corso is very hands-on. Reid, Devon, and Alex are too, so a big staff isn't necessary. And the staff that they do have has been with Corso since they were all young. If he trusts them with the code to the main gate, then so do I.
“We'll probably just send Seth out.”
“Send Seth out for what?” he asks, coming through the door and pulling off clothes.
Desie and I scoot a little to give him room to crawl into bed on the other side of her. “Take out for tomorrow. We're doing nothing.”
“Oh,” he mumbles as he winds his body around her. “I'll go. Just tell me what you want.” He drapes his arm across her, tucking his hand between her body and mine to hold her.
Michael joins us a few minutes later. He sprawls out behind me and pushes his foot between my ankles so that he's touching Desie, too. She falls asleep almost the second that all three of us are touching her.
I'm about to fall asleep myself when Michael says quietly, “I like it here.”
“Me, too.”
Chapter twenty-two
Desie
I'm so tired. I knew to expect it, but I didn't think I'd be this tired. All I want to do is sleep and rest and then go back to sleep. Seth tried to be anxious about it but everyone, including Talia, reminded him that omegas are supposed to be like this at the end of their pregnancies.
I can't believe it's almost over. I have enjoyed being pregnant for the most part. There have been so many stressful things that have nothing to do with me or my pregnancy that the time has flown by. I hope next time will be much less hectic.
Ben and Michael are at The Omega House today. They have abandoned any resentful feelings they may have originally had when Devon first asked them to help finish it up. They're both so happy to be creating a comfortable haven for the rescued omegas. Michael has bought so many blankets, throws, and swathes of different materials and textures, and Ben completely adores Elizabet. He's completely baffled by everyone's opinion that she's difficult and stressful.
Seth and I were having the most blissful nap until Jasper called a few minutes ago. He, Kaleb, and Alex are on their way over. He has a gift for the baby and he's way too excited to wait another minute to bring it over. He wouldn't give even a little bit of a hint. So we're waiting in the living room for them to knock on the door.
We've had the windows open since this morning. The air here is completely different from back home. The air on the West Coast smells blue. I don't know how else to describe it, but when we opened the windows to let the Spring breeze blow through the house back home it smelled clear and blue. The breeze coming through the windows here smells green.
“What do you think it is?”
Seth shrugs and pushes his palm up and down the front of his thigh. He's sitting on the couch trying to give the impression of being relaxed, but his knee keeps bouncing and he keeps rubbing at his thigh or his neck.
“What's the matter? Why are you so nervous about a present?”
