Epilogue
The Staff
Patrick’slimbswereheavy,his eyelids even heavier, and he’d found a suspicious stain on his uniform shirt, currently hidden beneath his blazer. He hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in over three months, and it had gotten so bad that he had to take the bus to work because he didn’t trust himself behind the wheel of his car. He was only an hour into this shift, and he had no clue how he was going to get through another seven hours… and he’d never been happier. And why not, when the reason for his exhaustion was so damn adorable.
His phone dinged in his pocket, and smiling, he ducked out of sight around the corner from the front desk so he could check the text from his husband, Alan. Technically he was supposed to leave his phone in his locker, but his boss, Monsieur Holland, knew they were currently in an important life transition and needed to be reachable in case of an emergency. So far, though, every text from home had been less an emergency and more of a cuteness overload.
Sure enough, this text was no different. When he opened up the picture, baby Madeline was smiling back at him, wearing black-and-yellow striped bumblebee PJs, complete with antennae headband. “Awwww,” he gushed, getting a brief second wind—or was it fifth wind by now? Fiftieth? He’d lost track, which definitely meant he was overdue for a cup of coffee.
When his husband Alan had first brought up the topic of adoption, it had honestly thrown Patrick for a bit of a loop. They were both alphas, so naturally, he’d assumed kids weren’t really an option for them. He’d made his peace with not having a family, because Alan had always been his first priority. He refused to live without him. And then suddenly, to learn he didn’t have to sacrifice anything, it had taken him a few minutes to catch his stride.
Even if he hadn’t wanted kids, he would’ve agreed, because he would always give his husband exactly what he wanted. But as they went through the process of finding a child who needed them, the more Patrick realized that he needed this hypothetical child just as much. It brought a new dimension to their lives, a purpose he hadn’t realized was missing. He and Alan had so much love to give to a child, more love than they could ever hope to give in one lifetime.
And when, after nearly two years of waiting, nine-month-old Madeline had finally come into their lives? Nothing would ever be the same, and if that meant Patrick was perpetually tired, then so be it. Maddie deserved all 24 hours in the day.
As an architect, Alan primarily worked from home, set his own hours. That meant he could be home with Maddie while Patrick worked his shifts at The Scarlet Hotel, which offered pretty great benefits to their staff and their families. Patrick still wrote his steamy romance novels when he could, though his writing had recently changed direction. It was no longer about the sex scenes—well, notjustabout the sex scenes. The stories now included babies in their HEA.
Patrick scrolled through the five more baby pictures that came through, then texted back a dozen heart emojis, before he reluctantly tucked his phone back in his pocket and got back to work.
He was just about to cross the lobby to head upstairs to where he’d left his cart before his break, when he caught sight of a familiar face standing before the front desk. Short dark hair, brown eyes behind round glasses. It took him a moment to place where he knew him from. As soon as he connected the dots, though, he changed direction.
“Hey, Doctor Zappek, you’re back! Hopefully not to deliver any more babies.” He held his hand out to shake the man’s hand.
Dr. Zappek laughed. “I sure hope not. And please, just Lazlo is fine. I’m officially off duty today. I’m finally taking advantage of that free stay your boss offered me.” He grinned shyly, his glance flicking over to the two men with him. “These are my mates, August and Jeremiah.”
“So nice to meet you,” he said, but meanwhile, his mind was sparking with ideas.Twomates?! Well, if that didn’t drive Patrick’s muse toward his next novel, nothing would.
Patrick gestured to their bags. “Can I help carry something upstairs for you? I’m headed that way anyway.” He might’ve worked in housekeeping, but he felt like he owed this man something immeasurable. That night, when the omega had gone in labor, the outcome could’ve been so much worse—would’vebeen, of that Patrick had no doubt.
They must’ve seen his genuine eagerness to help, because Lazlo thanked him and handed over a small backpack. His alpha, Jeremiah, carried their other bag.
As they headed for the elevator, the omega, August, stopped walking right there in the middle of the hall, damming the flowof traffic, forcing people to step around him like a stream around a rock. When his mates noticed he’d stopped, they turned back to see what had caught his attention.
His eyes were fixed on a piece of framed artwork on the wall. “That’s…” He seemed choked up, throat bobbing with a hard swallow. “That’s one of mine.”
Jeremiah wrapped his arms around his waist from behind, and Lazlo took his hand, kissing his cheek. “So it is. We’re so proud of you, baby. You’re so talented, and you deserve the attention.”
August rolled his eyes, clearing his throat. “I don’t know about talent. It’s mostly luck…”
“Hush. You’re talented in more than art,” Jeremiah said. “And we will remind you as often as you need.”
August’s cheeks pinked up in a blush, and he hid his smile against Jeremiah’s chest. “Okay,” he mumbled, before the three of them continued toward the elevator, where Patrick was holding the door open for them.
“It seems the years have treated you well,” Patrick said, referring to their beautiful relationship.
“You have no idea. We’ve got three kids, too. Sam is 16 now, Mia is three, and Eli is just six months old. Finally old enough for his older brother to babysit, though their grandmother is watching them overnight.”
Patrick was already reaching for his phone. “I’m a parent now too. Wanna see?” They spent the short elevator ride up showing each other pictures of their most prized treasures, but too soon, the elevator chimed at their floor.
They stepped off the elevator, and something about the long, empty hallway had Jeremiah pausing. A cheeky grin spread across his lips, before he swept August into his arms. “What are you doing?” the omega squeaked, holding him tight around the neck.
With a huge grin, Jeremiah told Lazlo, “Hop on my back. I seem to recall having something to prove.”
Lazlo hesitated only a moment before he shrugged at Patrick. “If you’ll pardon me, I have an alpha to ride.” He threw him a wink, then hopped up onto his mate’s back, before taking his bag from him.
If Patrick had thought the muscly tattooed alpha couldn’t carry them both, he would’ve been very mistaken, because he didn’t even stagger in his stride down the hall toward their room. Their giggles echoed the whole way.
Patrick didn’t even bother to suppress his grin. This was the kind of happily ever after he dreamed about between the pages of his books. “Shall I order you some champagne?” he called after them. “Rose petals and a romantic meal for three?”
