Page 29 of The Surrogate Omega, Part Two

“I’ll be waiting for you, sweetheart.”

I hang up, my heart beating so hard in my chest it hurts. All the exhaustion I had been feeling melts away as I anxiously wait to see Evander. There’s so much we need to catch up on, but I think I want to wait till the morning and when Logan is home to tell them about the baby. I also need to find a way to talk to Logan about Rory, but now, my only concern is seeing Evander. I’m guessing Logan’s not home since Evander didn’t mention him. Just seeing one of them will help calm the unease, at least a little.

After the longest twenty minutes I’ve ever experienced, the Uber driver pulls in front of an apartment building. I’ve seen enough pictures, including satellite images, to know this is my new home.

The driver puts the car in park and looks back at me expectantly, waiting for me to exit his car. But my feet won’t move. As much as I desperately want to see my mates, I’m rooted to the spot. I know things got weird when I was gone, and I couldn’t really do anything to assure them of my feelings. Evander sounded excited to see me, but I can’t truly be sure what to expect when I walk through the doors.

“Buddy, are you getting out or what?”

I snap out of my stupor. “Oh, yes, sorry. Thank you.”

The Uber driver just grunts and looks back out the front window. I take that as my sign, grab my bag, and force myself out of the car. The building is the type that you need to be buzzed in if you don’t have a key, so I go to the keypad to notify Evander that I’m here. Just as I get to the front door, it opens, and Evander is standing there.

He’s disheveled and blurry-eyed, but I’m struck by his beauty. He’s wearing gray sweats and a long-sleeve NYPD shirt that’s too big for him, so it’s probably Logan’s. I’m pretty sure he’s not wearing underwear based off the outline I can very clearly see. His dark hair is sticking up all over the place, and once he sees me, his face lights up in a smile.

I can’t wait another moment. All the loneliness, all the stress I felt over the last month and a half, wells to the surface, and I can’t get to Evander quick enough.

There’s something wet streaming down my face, and it takes me a moment to realize it’s my own tears. Evander sees them and his expression morphs from joy to concern. “Oh, sweetheart, what’s w—”

He doesn’t get to finish his sentence before I throw myself at him in a way I never have before. Even Evander is shocked and doesn’t move, his body frozen and stiff beneath me. The most affectionate man I know, and he won’t reciprocate. I can’t bring myself to think what that might mean, so I just hold on tighter, my nails clawing into my mate’s back.

And then I feel his arms wrap around me, and all is right with the world. There’s this high-pitched sobbing sound somewhere in the background, but I don’t know what’s making it.

“Shh, Lake, I got you. I’m right here, sweetheart. Gods, I missed you so fucking much.”

Evander is whispering soothing nothings in my ear as his arms rubs my back, and I realize that sound is coming from me. I just can’t stop though. Even as Evander leads me to the elevator and up to our apartment, I can’t let go of my mate, and I can’t stop crying. And if this is what it feels like every time I leave my mates, I’m not sure I’ll ever leave again.

SEVENTEEN

Evander

My hands are shaking as I lead Lake up to our apartment. He’s sobbing uncontrollably as full body shivers rack him, and I’m trying really hard not to jump to conclusions. Lake doesn’t do emotions, not like this, so it’s hard not to assume the worst. I have no idea what’s wrong, but the most important thing is to take care of my mate. I’ll find out what happened later.

I fumble with my keys since I only have one arm, as the other is wrapped around Lake. I’m not sure he can stand on his own if I let him go. Finally, I manage to get my keys out of my pocket and get us in. I’m not sure if Lake even realizes what’s happening, but the loud sobs have stopped, and now it’s just quiet tears streaming down his cheeks and an occasional hiccup.

“Let’s get your coat off, baby; you’re freezing.”

Lake stands limp and allows me to take his carry-on out of his hands and strip him of his coat. I know he’s out of it when he doesn’t say anything when I just toss both to the side instead of putting them away. As I sit cross-legged in front of my man to pull off his dress shoes, I realize this is the second time in less than a week I’ve had to undress one of my mates. I don’t mind, I love taking care of them, but it still makes my heart hurt. I wish I could take some of their burdens.

Once I pull off his shoes and socks, I take Lake’s hand and lead him to the bathroom in the master bedroom. He still hasn’t said a word and isn’t looking around at all. Before I turn the water on for the shower so it can get warm, I quickly send Logan a text. I had told him when Lake called that he was coming home. Logan couldn’t get out of work yet, but he was going to try to slip out early. I just sent him another text saying Lake’s home and something is off but nothing else. I don’t want to worry him with how out of shape Lake seems to be in right now.

Once I send the text, I begin to remove Lake’s clothes. He lifts his legs when I need him to and helps me slide off the button-down but that’s it. Besides that, Lake is utterly still, his eyes are unfocused, puffy, and bloodshot, and his cheeks are puffy from crying. Once he’s naked, my eyes can’t help but drift to his belly. I hadn’t allowed myself to think the thoughts that were threatening to escape, and I’m relieved to see the slightest baby bump forming where Lake’s normally flat stomach usually is. Still, I’m not sure if that means anything. I don’t know enough about miscarriages to know how quickly the parent would lose their belly if, gods forbid, they had one. I shake away the thought. I won’t go there, not until I know what’s wrong.

Once Lake’s naked, I strip off my sweats and T-shirt, leaving them in a pile on the floor. I hadn’t bothered putting on underwear to go downstairs to get Lake, so it’s one less thing I have to worry about.

I take his hand and guide him to the shower. “C’mon, sweetheart. Let’s get you warmed up in the shower. Why are you so cold? Were you outside long?”

Lake shakes his head. He’s still not completely present, but he seems to be coming back to himself. “No, I don’t think so. I’m not sure why I’m cold, but I can’t stop shivering.”

“It’s ok, Lake. Let me take care of you.”

He nods, looking absolutely exhausted. “Where’s Logan?”

“At work. I told him you’re home and he’s trying to get off, but he’s been extremely busy lately.”

Once he’s under the stream of water, I pour a generous amount of his body wash onto my hands, not bothering with a washcloth.

I start lathering him up, and Lake sniffs deeply. “Is that my body wash?”

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