“You got a deal, Papa.Ain’t gonna let nothing happen to my flower.”Ford wasn’t fazed by the threat as he dished up the eggs to add to his plate of toast.“You can take my badge if anything does.”
Standing from the table, his papa bent to kiss Lucky’s cheek.“You can pack your things when you get home from campus on Friday and take them with you when you go to the bonfire.”
“What bonfire?”Lucky asked, meeting Chase’s equally confused gaze.
Ford sat at the table and stabbed the corner of a piece of toast into a fried egg.“Friday night.Figured we should have a real date, but a weekend is golden.”He munched on his toast and removed his phone from his back pocket.“I’ll text you the address and you can invite your friends.Your omega friends are fine, long as they’re staying on Heatwave.”
“Not a problem.”A smart omega would never be around adult alphas without the protection of Heatwave.Lucky checked his phone, then tucked it into his back pocket just as the front door opened.Confused about who could be visiting so early without even knocking, he headed to the open door, and froze, stunned to see Pip running towards him.
Lucky crouched to hug Pip and say hello.
Wynna Walker swept a summer hat off her head to lay on the arm of the sofa, then dropped her handbag to remove her light cropped jacket.“I’m glad you’re all here, as a certain agent has been avoiding my phone calls.”She glanced beyond Lucky to the kitchen, where Ford was draining his coffee cup.
Lucky released Pip from their hug and asked, “What are you doing here?”He stood and looked between Pip and Wynna, the latter of whom pointed beyond Lucky, to where Pip was already approaching Ford’s chair.
Ford ruffled his hair.“How you feeling?”
“Better.”Pip edged closer, touching his fingers nervously to Ford’s knee.“Are you better?”
“Yeah, I’m feeling better.”Ford held out his hands.“Climb on up.”
Pip practically fell over himself to grasp Ford’s hands and climb onto his lap, where he wrapped his arms around Ford’s neck and held on tight, like he never wanted to be anywhere else.
“What you hesitating for?You ain’t heavy.”He grabbed his cup for another drink of coffee while Lucky stood dumbfounded in the archway to the kitchen.
Wynna slipped past and took Lucky’s seat at the table, discreetly pushing away his coffee cup when his papa handed her a fresh cup.“I hoped we’d find you here.”She sipped and complimented his papa on the coffee, comfortably taking command of the room.
“Good guess, Tiloo,” Ford approved, though the words made Chase choke on his coffee.
He stared at Ford, with Pip in his lap, like he’d become unrecognisable.Lucky couldn’t take his eyes off them as Ford whispered a secret conversation with Pip, who was unusually talkative.
“You got plans today, Boss?”Stretching, like Pip’s weight against him meant nothing, Ford laid his elbow over the back of the chair.“We ain’t got plans.We can keep Pip if you want a day off.”
“A day?”
Pip peeked out from the hug to face Wynna.“Please, Tiloo?”
Wynna instantly surrendered to Pip’s request and pleading eyes.“When will you bring him home?”
Ford handed Pip a piece of toast.“When’s your bedtime, monster?”He lifted another piece of toast for a bite.The way Pip’s eyes lit up said he’d asked the right question.
Wynna waved her hand, dismissive but fond.“Have him back by six.”
“Done.”Ford took another sip of coffee.
Lucky’s heart squeezed with affection when Pip offered the last piece of toast, which Ford accepted.This would be his family.Legally.Forever.His papa and Wynna visiting for grandparent time, Pip as his legal son, with Ford and Chase helping him divide parental duties.He’d never been more sure of their decision.
Thiswas what he wanted his future to look like.
* * * *
Chase
Xavier was thrilled to have Pip for the day and insisted on taking him to the library, where he had to drop off paperwork for his volunteering job.Since Pip wanted Lucky to go with them, that left Chase alone with Ford.
While Ford dropped onto the sofa like he was half dead, Chase took the armchair opposite.“What made you come over today?”
“After I left yours yesterday, I nipped into headquarters and heard your mam screaming blue murder on the phone.Once the yelling were over, I knocked and went in.Your mam was about to break down, and I ain’t good with that shit.”
