“What’s up, kiddo?” Laurence asked. He muted thetelevision.
Matthew cleared his throat nervously. “I, uh, well, I’m pretty sure that my water just broke. Can we head to the hospitalnow?”
For the last several hours, Matthew had been having contractions, but on the advice of his obstetrician, he’d stayed at home. Until his contractions were stronger and much more frequent, he’d be better off waiting where he was most comfortable. The fact that his water had broken changed everything. Alex, who was starting to prepare for his own labor, knew that meant it was go-time.
With a huff of exertion, Alex clawed at the top of the couch and lifted himself onto his knees. He wasn’t anywhere as nimble as he had been with a flat figure, but he’d found little ways to get around. With two months to go, however, he knew that he’d be changing his tune soon. The baby he carried was only going to keep getting bigger, and that meant Alex was going to swell along with it. Mobility was going to be an issue, and he cherished what little ease of movement he had left. “If your dad won’t take you, Iwill.”
“I’m on it,” Laurence said. He climbed out from beneath Alex. The departure of his weight from the cushions knocked Alex off balance, and he landed flat on hisass.
“Hey!” Alex called after Laurence, miffed. “Your pregnant boyfriend is trapped on the couch. I’m being eaten by these cushions.Saveme.”
“Save you?” Laurence grinned. He stepped over and bowed extravagantly low to Alex, who was still struggling to get up from where he’d fallen. When Laurence was finished with his theatrics, he held out a hand to Alex. When he spoke, he did so in a playfully heroic way. “I’ll save you. Quickly, take my hand, before the death couch digestsyou!”
Alex rolled his eyes. He took Laurence’s hand and allowed Laurence to pull him to his feet. “My hero,” he saidflatly.
“Alas, but a hero’s work is never done.” Laurence kept hold of Alex’s hand and guided him to the doorway where Matthew was waiting, clearly fed up with their shit. “I’ve yet another young man tosave.”
“Dad,” Matthew said, every bit as done as his expression suggested. “You are probably thelamestperson on the planet.” His gaze swiveled to Alex. “How is this what you want from life? Dad jokes for aneternity?”
Alex winked. He kissed Laurence’s shoulder, then picked up Matthew’s overnight bag from near the door. “I can think of many things worse than having to listen to dad jokes for all oftime.”
What he wanted to say was, “What you don’t know is that the dad jokes stop at the bedroom door, and what your dad does when that door is closed isworththe cringe,” but Alex didn’t want to torture Matthew any more than he was already being tortured—Matthew’s contractions were only going to get worse. It was going to be a long night. Teasing his boyfriend’s son could wait for some othertime.
“Have we got everything on the list?” Alex asked. “We’ve got the overnight bag, we’ve got Matthew, I’ve got a portable battery pack for charging our phones, if we need a recharge while we’re waiting for the baby… anythingelse?”
“Nope.” Matthew had already slipped on his shoes. His hand hovered over the doorknob, and when he spoke, Alex heard the uncertainty and fear hidden in his voice. “Let’sgo?”
“You got it, kiddo.” Laurence mussed his hair, causing Matthew to make a face and pop up the hood of his hoodie. “You can dothis.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Matthew didn’t sound enthused. He opened the door and stepped outside, ever the surly teenager. Alex wasn’t that much older, but he was glad he’d left his teenage hormones behind. The hormonal changes he’d faced throughout his pregnancy were bad enough alone. Adding puberty to themix?
No,thanks.
“Do you need anything for yourself, Alex?” Laurence asked before they stepped through the door. “You’ve got your keys, right? I figured that if you wanted, you could head home to sleep when you gettired.”
“I’m not going to get tired,” Alex said, which was maybe the biggest lie he’d ever told. His eyelids already felt heavy. “And before you ask, I’ve got my disinfectantwipes.”
“Good boy,” Laurence praised. The word woke Alex—and his cock—up, and both of them stood at attention as Laurence kissed his forehead. “If you have to leave, neither of us is going to blame you. I know that your ankles are swollen and your bladder isn’t exactlycooperating.”
“I can manage.” Alex hooked his arms around Laurence’s neck and tugged himself closer. His belly got in the way, but it didn’t deter him, and if the look in Laurence’s eyes said anything, it didn’t deter Laurence, either. “If I’m extra good while we’re at the hospital, will you take me home and spoilme?”
“You want me to spoil you, baby?” Laurence kissed his forehead, and Alex melted. The warmth in his heart brimmed over, and a pleasant tingle worked its way down his spine, like water flowing over smooth stone. “We’re going to be so busy soon, with two little ones to lookafter.”
“But you’ll still make time for me,” Alex whispered. His body demanded that he take Laurence by the hand and guide him into the bedroom, but his mind knew better. Pregnancy was terrible for many reasons—swelling, cramping, and leaking amongst them—but it did have its upsides. Alex was hornier than he’d ever been, and Laurence couldn’t keep his hands to himself. “I know youwill.”
“Always,” Laurence promised in a sweet whisper against Alex’slips.
Before they could kiss, Matthew cleared his throat from the doorway. “Uh, excuse me… teen in labor over here. I can drive myself to the hospital if you want, but I’m not going to pay to have your car detailedafter.”
“We’re coming,” Laurence said. He pulled away from Alex, but gave him a scorching, lingering look that told Alex that he wished they were in bed instead of on the way to the hospital. “Let’s go,Alex.”
“Yes, Daddy,” Alexwhispered.
Laurence swatted his ass playfully on the way out the door, and Alex couldn’t help but grin. Seven months together, most of it spent cohabitating, and they were going stronger than ever. Moments like these—cheeky little moments that made Alex want to burst out laughing simply for experiencing them—were what love was reallyabout.
Not manipulation. Not gaslighting. Not abuse masqueraded as emotion too wild tocontrol.
He’d found what he’d needed the most when he’d least expected it, and in a man he’d never expected would suithim.
