Page 106 of Choosing Their Omega

All four of my Alphas look smug and proud, and I can’t hold back my laughter any longer, trying to keep it quiet so Ben doesn’t wake up in my lap. They all lean in and take a turn kissing me possessively, and I bite my lip as I glance around at them, feeling more claimed than I ever have before.

“I’ll give you the best damn bookstore tour you’ve ever gotten,” I tell them, grinning. “I promise.”

Chapter 32

Lily

We don’t get to go on our little tour right away.

The men have a couple more away games so they’re out for a couple weeks. I miss them terribly. It’s only after they’re gone that I realize just how much closer we’ve gotten post-heat. If it was bad before, when they left, it’s ten times worse now that we’re so much closer.

But I do have Ben, and I’m always happy to spend time with him.

I think he missed me during my heat, more than he’s wanted to let on, or maybe it was that missing me that made him realize how much he likes me, because I feel like he’s closer to me and more open and lively with me than he’s been in the past.

I don’t want to push him too hard, ever, but I start to wonder if maybe he really will consider me a permanent member of his family. I hope he will, because I want to be, more than just about anything.

The men get back, excited to see us but of course tired from the travel. I cuddle them and pamper them as best I can, taking care of them in my own way, and I insist on cooking breakfast the next morning even though Miles tries to make me let him cook.

“If I’m your Omega, then that means sometimes I’m going to take care of you too,” I insist.

Luckily, they like my stubbornness.

But once everyone’s rested, I do want to talk to them about something while we’re eating breakfast.

“You know that you guys don’t have to go on the tour if you don’t want to. You guys bid on it but you’re my Alphas, I’m not going to tell if you don’t show up. The money went to the charity, and that’s the most important thing.”

Cruz frowns at me. “Why would you think that we wouldn’t be into it?”

“Well… you guys were bidding because you didn’t want me to go on a date with anyone else, right?”

“Maybe a little,” Knox acknowledges. “But that doesn’t mean that we don’t also like the idea of going on a fun date with you. We want to know more about the things that matter to you, and this is a perfect way to do that.”

“And I could also really use some new books.” Lawson looks a bit sheepish as he eats his food.

“You finished mine already?”

“I’ve had a lot of down time! I can never sleep on an airplane, so I’ve been reading instead every time we travel.”

I grin helplessly. I love that Lawson’s super into romance novels now. And he has no shame about it. I’m sure most Alphas would feel a little self-conscious about it, worrying if people would tease them for not being masculine enough for liking romance novels. But Lawson doesn’t care.

It’s just another reason I’m falling for him, and for all the Alphas in this pack.

“I just don’t want you to feel pressured to go just because you bid on it.”

“Well, we do want to go. It’ll be interesting for us.” Miles has that stubborn set to his jaw. “We’re interested in what you’re interested in, because it makes you happy, and we like to learn about the things you care about, just like you like to learn about the things we care about.”

“And, hey.” Knox grins. “We paid top dollar for it, so we’re going to get our money’s worth.”

I laugh. “Fair enough.”

We set Ben up on a playdate with the child of another Titans team member, and drop him off so that we can have our date to ourselves. I adore Ben but it is good to get some time just for us adults now and again.

He’s excited to see his friend too, and I’m excited for him. Ben was so shy and quiet when I first met him. It’s been so soothing and reassuring to see him come out of his shell more, to make friends and be more outspoken and adventurous like any kid should be.

I know that grief is strange and difficult, and that he’ll have bad days where he misses his mother again. But I’m sure she would be glad that he’s learning how to be a normal kid again, and to have fun and be carefree. It’s what I would want for Ben, if I died.

Once Ben is safely dropped off, we head to the downtown area and park the car to begin our walking tour. “I couldn’t always afford to buy what I wanted,” I begin the tour, “but even just getting the exercise and fresh air of walking to a bookstore helped me feel better. Being in that atmosphere, you know?”

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