We moved slowly through the morning, everyone eating together, Clover sitting with her dads while they packed up before their afternoon flight home. They’d tried to feel a baby kick, too, but apparently after the burst of energy to say hello to us, Baby had settled in for a nap. When the time came for Logan to take them to the airport, Clover was steeped in emotion.
“Promise you’ll call me as soon as you get home,” Clover said, hugging Pete for the eighth time.
“Don’t worry, peanut, we’ll call you when we land, and Parker put us on the family jet with Wi-Fi.”
Clover’s only response was to hug all three of them again.
I hated seeing her upset, but this was the curse of living in different cities from loved ones.
“Get some rest, kiddo”—John hugged her tightly—“and try not to stress too much. You’re growing our first grandbaby.”
“If you don’t take it easy, Meadow will call us,” Pete said with a grin.
“Traitor,” Clover muttered, making us all laugh.
When the car was out of sight, Avery scooped Clover up. “How about we go grab some food?”
“Burgers?” Clover asked, sniffling.
“How are either of you hungry already?” I asked. “I’m still full from breakfast.”
“I’m never full,” Clover said, patting her stomach.
“We know a really good greasy burger joint,” Avery assured her. “And it’s not even far from here.”
“You say such beautiful things.”
I texted Logan where we were going, so he could meet us after the drop-off. By the time Clover had stopped sniffling, we were at the burger joint, tucked into an extra-large booth.
“Curly fries, regular fries,andwaffle fries? This place is amazing,” Clover declared.
She was sandwiched between Avery and me, and he was stuck to her like Velcro. Hard to blame him. If I were bonded to Clover, I’d take every opportunity to touch her too. Hell, the urge to constantly reach for her was already maddening enough, so I could only imagine how he felt.
Parker watched her inhale fries for the brief period we were without Logan, a mix of awe and concern on his face.
When Logan settled next to us, Clover turned serious.
“I think it’s time I move in properly,” she said, dipping another fry into ketchup. “We’re having a kid, and I’m going to get super nesty soon. What do you think about going to Meadow’s place to get the rest of my stuff this weekend?”
All of us stared at our omega.
“You want to move in, even thoughIlive at the house?” Parker asked.
My heart was practically beating in my throat while I listened to her. This was almost as big as her bonding one of us. She wanted tolivewith us. Full time. Forever.
Clover snorted delicately and pointed her French fry at Parker. “Yes, Parker, even though you’re at that house. I think there’s no denying that this is it. We’re a pack. We’re together, or at least working on being together, and I’m not going anywhere. Really, you should fear me now, because I’m going to be a barnacle on your ass for a long time to come.”
“You really think you had the option to leave, angel?” Avery said, throwing another arm around her. “If anyone’s a barnacle on an ass, it’s me.”
My pack mate may have acted like a fool, but he was quite intelligent deep down. He just had a penchant for fun and mischief. It was still hard to believe that he was calmer now than he had been in his younger years.
“Would anyone be opposed if Clover and I had some one-on-one time tonight?” I asked carefully, glancing at her for herreaction. “I know the new bond with Avery needs attention, but?—”
“I could definitely be persuaded,” Clover replied.
“If she’s cool with it, I’m cool with it,” said Avery. “I’ll wriggle into the nest later for cuddles when I start to get squirrely.”
Clover laughed, the sound melting into a purr when I slid my hand to rest on her lower back. I leaned down so I could talk quietly in her ear. “How do you feel about a movie night with me?”
