I shrugged and helped Kian off the exam table. “Can’t make any promises.”
Kian elbowed me in my side. “Ignore him.” It was followed by an eye roll.
We took the USB and images and left the hospital on a happiness high like never before.
* * *
“Okay.”Kian held up a sailor outfit. “This. This is the last one. Can you imagine a picture with two chubby little sailors?”
I shook my head and smiled indulgently at my mate. We’d been at the store almost forty-five minutes. Kian had chosen Cubs over the baby store, figuring things would be way more affordable there. I didn’t have to the heart to tell him that he couldn’t spend enough to put a dent in the Hallbjorn fortune in one lifetime.
So I followed him and made the appropriate sounds at every cute outfit he held up and every tiny little bootie he clasped against his chest. I just loved seeing him so happy.
“I want a lot of pictures of them matching. I just know once they’re older, they won’t let me do that.” I nodded along because I was just basking in my mate’s excitement and mine too.
“Twins.” I couldn’t believe it. Our tiny family was about to double, and I knew my papa, dad, and siblings would be just as excited as I was.
Kian stopped when we got to the stroller aisle. “I think I wanna do a little research before we get one. I’ll probably need something all-terrain and sturdy.” He shook his head. “How is this my life?”
If I didn’t hear the excitement in his voice or see it on his face, I’d be worried. But I wasn’t.
“I have an idea for the crib,” I said. “Unless you have one in mind.”
Kian walked around the cart and hugged my side. “You do?”
“Yeah, there are a lot of artisans in town, and I’d like to order a custom-made crib for our little guys.”
Kian sighed. “They’re gonna be so lucky having you as their dad.”
“Having us,” I said.
“Yeah,” he murmured. “You know”—Kian’s voice was barely above a whisper—“there’s days I wake up, and for a split second, I’m terrified this will all be a dream. And I’ll be all alone again.”
I turned so I could hug my mate to me. “I know the feeling,” I admitted. “There’s days I wake up scared that you’ve left or, worse, you never came.” I breathed in my mate’s scent, reminding myself he was here, he was real, and he was mine.
“Can’t get rid of me.” He gave me an impish smile, and I couldn’t help myself. I claimed his lips in a slow, sensual kiss that sent a shiver of reaction traveling down his body.
Kian pulled back, his eyes heavy-lidded. “If we don’t want to give them a show in the baby aisle of the grocery store, I suggest we get out of here.”
“Good idea,” I whispered to my mate and kept a hold of his hand as I grabbed the cart with the other and pushed it in the direction of the checkout.
Walking through the store, a few people stopped to greet us and offer their congratulations for our mating. My mate handled it like a pro; he was warm and welcoming.
When we got to the checkout, there were a couple of people ahead of us in line. Most of the cashiers had lines. Not that it surprised me being a Friday, but I didn’t mind waiting. I’d taken the day off, and Bailey knew to call Rhys with any issues that might arise today.
“Did you remember to get everything delivered for the barbecue on Sunday?” Kian whispered up at me. “Rhys, Jon, and I were here two days ago, but you said you’d have all the meat delivered.”
I kissed the side of his head. “I did, babe. Should be delivered this evening.”
“Okay, good. I gotta season the ribs and everything. I don’t wanna have to do it on Sunday. That’s for the sides.” Kian sounded a little stressed. “And the dessert, maybe I shouldn’t have asked Graham to make it. We’re hosting. Would it be cheating having a pastry chef make them?”
I sighed, trying to remember why the hell I’d agreed to this party. It was stressing my mate out. But he and Rhys had gotten it in their heads, and now here we were. “Everything will work out just fine, and if it doesn’t, well, fine. We can always offer them cereal.”
Kian elbowed me. “Don’t even put that in the air.”
I was about to reply when I heard it. “Human, can you believe it! It’s a damn shame diluting the Hallbjorn line.” It was a female voice.
“I know! Damn shame. He was always so damn responsible. A very fine leader. You’d think he’d have more sense than that. If I were him, I would find a good strong omega to—” This time, it was a man that spoke.
