Page 38 of The Surrogate Omega, Part Two

I rub the back of my neck. I really have no excuse why I’ve sucked as a friend lately, and I don’t want to give her a meaningless answer. “I know, Luce. I’m sorry. I really don’t know what to say. I’ve been crazy busy. But that’s not an excuse, and I won’t use it as one.”

Lucy crosses her arms across her chest, but she can’t fight her smile. “Good, because that would be super lame. I know you’ve got your sexy as fuck mates now, but I miss my friend.”

I squeeze Lucy close to me and grin as she melts into me. I know she can’t stay mad for too long. “I miss you too, Luce. Come on. Dad’s in the other room. I know he misses you too.”

Before I can even bring her into the other room, the doorbell rings, and I know without even looking that it’s my mates. They are both coming from work and look so fucking adorable when I open the door. Lake is still in his sweater and maternity dress pants he managed to find. They’re technically female pants, but they are supposed to be a looser fit and look fucking delicious on him. Logan didn’t have court or anything today so he’s wearing black slacks and a gray button-down, but he’s thrown a hoodie on over it. They both look a little disheveled, and Lake’s lips are puffy.

I grin as I let my men in, looking over their mussed-up states. “Did you two sneak in a little make-out session without me?” I pretend to pout, even though they know I’m not even a little upset.

Logan smirks at me, his gaze heated as he stalks toward me and grips my hair in a strong hold. I can’t do more than gasp before his lips are on mine and he’s taking my fucking breath away. I’ve lost track of everything by the time we’re done with the kiss. I forget where we are, what I was doing, the time, the date, my name . . . All of it’s just gone as I succumb to his lips.

“Well, at least I get a show to make up for you stealing my friend from me,” Lucy says, her eyes fixated on us and a small smile on her lips.

Logan laughs and hugs Lucy as I go and greet Lake. “Hi, sweetheart.” I bring my face so it’s only inches away from him, our lips practically touching.

“Hi,” he whispers, his eyes focused on my lips. I lick my lip rings and he shudders.

“Let me get some of that loving too,” I tell him. Lake willingly parts his lips and I take advantage. The kiss isn’t nearly as obscene as the one I shared with Logan, but it’s just as special. Once again, I’m lost in my lover’s lips until Lucy breaks us up.

“Let me get a look at your man, Ev. He wasn’t showing yet, last time I saw him.”

Lake flushes, still not comfortable with the attention. And when Lucy cups his belly without asking him, I intervene before the panic sets in. “It’s not polite to grab people’s stomachs, Luce. Pregnant or not.” She blushes and smiles apologetically at Lake.

Shaking my head, I take her hand. “Come on, let’s go find my dad. It’s almost dinner time.”

TWENTY-TWO

Logan

Lake’s phone rings as we’re cleaning up the dishes for Mr. C. Lake shuts off the water and wipes his hands on the dish towel he had laid out on the counter. My heart warms at the little gestures. Just about everyone would just quickly wipe their hands on their pants, but not my Lake.

Confusion and curiosity fill his features as he pulls out his phone and looks at whoever is calling. Because I’m a nosy fucker, and because he owns half my heart, I stop dishwasher-loading duty and just watch to see what’s going on.

“This is Specialist Simmons.” Oh fuck, it’s a work call. I should leave now, but he hasn’t moved or told me to leave yet, so I wait and see. Again, nosy fucker. What can I say? I’m a cop.

“No, it’s ok, Agent Donnelly. I trust you wouldn’t interrupt me without reason. And this line is secure so we can talk.” I didn’t even realize it, but the call must’ve been to his personal phone, not his work one. “Do I need privacy for this?” Lake looks at me with humor in his expression. Yeah, I’m being obvious. I shrug unapologetically. “I’m at my father-in-law’s home.” I gasp, or maybe all three of us do. I’m not sure. But we are all wearing matching shocked expressions at Lake’s words. Mr. C looks like he may tear up. Technically, he’ll probably never hold that title. I can tell the words mean something to him, though, as they do to Ev and me as well.

The person on the line says something. Then Lake looks over to where Mr. C is wrapping leftovers with Ev, who is also watching with curiosity, by the way. “Is there anywhere I can go to take this call? I’m sorry, but it’s important.”

Ev’s expression sharpens as I’m sure mine does as well. “You can use my room, sweetheart. We’ll stay away.”

Lake is in complete professional mode now. “Thank you.”

Without another word, he disappears out of the kitchen, and a few seconds later, I hear a door close and the soft click of a lock. I stare out after him.

“Babe, you better not be thinking about listening in.”

I let out a breath. “No, though I am tempted. I get why that’s highly inappropriate.”

Ev kisses my shoulder. “He’ll tell us if he can.”

I grunt. I understand that more than anyone, but something seemed off with Lake when he received the call, so it’s setting these stupid Alpha instincts off.

Ev, Mr. C, and I continue cleaning up the kitchen. Lucy has already left. She couldn’t stay long but didn’t want to miss the chance to seeing Ev since they haven’t hung out much lately. I feel a little guilty about that, since I know Lake and I are a large reason why. Hopefully, once our rhythm is settled, we’ll have a better work, relationship, friends, and family balance.

We’re already done in the kitchen and are watching a game on the TV when Lake comes back into the room. Ev and I swivel in our seats to see him. I’m still trying to get used to how intently I can feel his emotions all of a sudden. I have no fucking clue where it came from or why. I know Lake was going to email Dr. Rooke, but I’m not sure what the outcome was. Just another new thing we have to get used to.

The strangest part is, I don’t feel it nearly as strongly toward Ev. For him, it’s more of a feeling, just a minor sense that something changed. For Lake, it’s a lot more intense, and if I concentrate, I can even tell what the emotions are. Right now, it’s a combination of excitement and panic.

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