Chase laughed from the back seat.“Let him surprise you.”
He stuck his tongue out, and wasn’t surprised that Chase laughed harder.“Am I even dressed appropriately?”He’d only chosen a simple outfit this morning—black leggings with rips in the knee from overuse, an oversized black jumper over a tank top, and his hair tied into a messy bun to keep it off his face.He was hardly date material.
“You look great.”Ford accepted the cigarette Chase passed him, took a puff and handed it back, then let his hand rest on Lucky’s thigh.“If it makes you feel better, I figured we needed a proper date.That’s why we didn’t bring Pip.It ain’t a date if we’re luggin’ our kid around.”
Lucky bit his bottom lip to fight the smile that threatened whenever Ford called Pip his kid.“You’ll be an amazing dad.”
Ford did a double take as a frown creased his brow.
All he could do was laugh and reach out to smooth the lines.“I’m so lucky to have alphas like you.You’llbothbe incredible fathers,” he said, unable to resist picturing their future as they added more children to their small family.
“Roll back those fantasies, baby,” Chase chipped in from the back seat.“I might be on board with adopting Pip, but I ain’t ready for those five kids yet.”
Lucky laughed, surprised Chase remembered.
Ford almost missed a turn.“Five kids?Fucking Azrah, you were serious?”
“You didn’t expect any less from an omega with a list of backup alphas, would you?”Chase said, clearly teasing Ford and enjoying the reaction.“I believe it was…a list of twelve?Then a backup list of twenty?”
Lucky played along, giving Chase the finger to show that he wouldn’t be cowed or embarrassed by his preparations.“You shush or you’ll spend the first day of my heat sitting on the sidelines.”
Chase grinned, aware he was teasing, but it was the loud laughter that slipped from Ford that made Lucky’s stomach curl with delight.Things had been tense for him, going back to work to find that other agents had taken over Lincoln’s case, then Wynna had officially banned him from taking it back because he was personally involved.Add on all the stuff with Pip and his parents, and none of them had had an easy time this past week.
Seeing Ford able to laugh and relax made all the secrecy of tonight’s surprise worth it.
Ford drove the lazy country roads, veering down a narrow dirt track with a tall banner over the open field gate.Lucky leaned forward to read the sign.North Dales Farm, Spring Festival.
“This is so pretty.”Flanking a long road, twinkling white lights looped from one tree to another.
Grinning with something akin to pride, Ford slowed along a metal grate and past another set of open gates.“Your papa said there’s no curfew.I told him if it were too late, you’d stay with me or Chase,” he added, with a cheeky smile that suggested he might just make sure they were out so late Lucky couldn’t reasonably go home.
It sounded perfect.
Stepping free of the car, Lucky lifted a small satchel bag over his head, big enough to hold his wallet, phone and keys.
Chase stepped from the car, rolling his shirt sleeves to his elbows.He looked like a man prepared for a date, in a simple stone-grey shirt, dark navy jeans and a bomber jacket.He hadn’t had the benefit of knowing this was a date, but he still looked good.
“Good surprise?”
“Brilliant.”His heart fluttered as he took Ford’s hand and held on tight, beaming at the two alphas flanking him, not sure he’d ever been happier.“This is the best date,” he confessed, already excited about whatever came next.
Lucky was fascinated by everything—the handcrafts, the paintings, the food stalls.He bought peppermint sweets for his papa and a new wallet for his father’s birthday.
By the time they stopped for hot dogs, his stomach was growling, but he was happy and excited.He took his first bite and licked relish from his top lip while Ford led the way to a picnic table nearby.
“I never knew this place existed.”Chase straddled the bench to keep the market in view.“I heard someone say it’s on every year.”
“It’s all new to me.I haven’t been this far from home since I was a kid, when my father could take us on day trips during the summer.”Lucky confessed, catching a drip of relish with his thumb.
“You shoulda said something,” Ford grumbled, cupping his chin to tilt his head up.
Lucky blinked, not sure why he looked so intense until Ford ducked in and darted his tongue against his chin.Scrunching his nose, he wiped his chin with the back of his hand, to find a smear of sauce.
“Well, I’m not allowed to drive until I’m claimed.”
Ford hummed, looking confused even though the ORT knew all the laws about omegas.“Not allowed to learn, or just drive?’Cause we can teach you to drive.”He lifted a piece of zucchini and sniffed it, eyes narrowing with suspicion.
Chase caught his hand and nibbled the vegetable from his fingers.
