Logan stepped up to my other side. “Then we buy her a house, no strings attached. Fill up her bank account, hire whatever childcare she wants, and support her how she needs. Obviously we would prefer that she stays, but we’re not putting her on a leash to make that happen.”
Parker’s cheeks flushed as Logan pointedly looked at him when he said that.
“Exactly,” Hunter added. “Whether she decides to be our omega or not, she’ll always be the mother of our child. She won’t want for anything.”
I absorbed each word, my heart pounding. They wanted me to stay? The suite should’ve been a clue, but that had beenAvery, notallof them. Hunter and Logan being so explicit about it—even if it was only to reassure my dads—loosened the stranglehold of my anxiety about the future.
“Let me show you to the guest rooms,” Parker said, interrupting the conversation.
“Guestrooms?” Pappa said incredulously. “How many does this place have?”
“Only six,” Parker replied, completely oblivious to how fucking wild that answer was.
Pappa and I shared a look, the silence between us screamingDo you see this fucking guy? Onlysixguest rooms and he thinks that’s bad?
The extent of my fathers’ interactions with wealth of this caliber was making fun of how out of touch they were on the news. They one hundred percent deserved that ire.
I was tempted to push Parker outside and tackle him to the ground so he could touch some grass. Their lawn was trimmed to within an inch of its life in alternating patterns, and I’d bet good money that messing it up would get his attention.
Parker wandered off, presumably assuming my dads would follow. They did, eventually, but not before collectively giving me a series ofWhat the fuck is going on?looks.
“What kind of game is he playing?” I asked the rest of the pack.
Logan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Just Parker being Parker.”
“Don’t worry, angel.” Avery cupped my cheeks and kissed me soundly. “Parker can be a dumbass, but we’re not going to let him betoobig of an idiot. We’ll keep an eye on him.”
“I wish he had given us some notice,” Hunter lamented. “They’re going to think I’m a workaholic who’s never home.”
“Youarea workaholic who’s never home,” Avery countered.
“Yeah, but I don’t want Clover’s dads to worry about her. I’m trying to get everything under control so I can take time off when the baby gets here.”
“Delegate,” Avery stage-whispered.
“We both know I’m terrible at that.”
“Getlessterrible at it, then,” I told him, poking his chest. “I still barely know you, and if you waste your whole month with me, I’m not giving you a do-over.”
Hunter looked like I was holding him above an erupting volcano with that statement. “Okay, message received. I’ll figure it out.”
“Good boy.” I stood on my toes and yanked him down by his lapels so I could kiss his cheek before scampering off to follow my family, leaving him flushed and stunned in my wake.
If we were giving this a shot, then dammit, we all had to do our fucking best.
Chapter 38
Clover
“We can pay someone to do this,” Parker offered, though his tone was probably closer to begging than his pride would’ve liked.
“Pay?” Dad looked at him like he’d sprouted a second head, and I couldn’t help but giggle. “Why on earth would we pay someone to do something we’re perfectly able to do ourselves?”
That was a question Parker looked incapable of answering. He probably paid people for as many tasks as possible. I could see points on both sides. Being self-sufficient and having practical skills was important, but on the same hand, people like Parker being helpless with those things were how people like my dads made their living.
“I don’t know how todothis,” Parker insisted.
“You’lllearn.” Dad stared him down. Parker wasn’t going to win this particular battle of wills. “Are you too afraid to get your hands dirty? You want your pregnant omega building furniture because you’re being fussy? Come on over here, peanut. Show him how it’s done.”
