Bowie heaved a sigh, his shoulders dropping dramatically. “Am I in trouble, Daddy?”
Kari pretended for a split second to think about it, then grinned widely. “Nope, because Daddy had one too, while he was waiting for his boy to get dressed.”
More joyous giggles and Bowie came and wrapped his arms around Kari’s waist, nestling his head on his chest. “Then you’ll still bring the onesie to the club with us?”
“Of course.” Kari kissed his bubble-gum scented hair. “I’ve ordered room service so you can eat something before we go out.”
Bowie did a full body wiggle, letting go. “Are we having New York burgers?”
“We are.” Bowie had a love of burgers and would eat them every day if he could. “And I’ve ordered salad too.”
“Do I have to eat the salad?” Bowie cajoled without trying.
“Yep. Now let’s get the onesie and pack it while we wait for the food, so we don’t forget it.”
Bowie didn’t wait and darted back through into the bedroom he’d picked in the suite. Kari followed at a slower pace, his mind back on the alphahole conversation. He knew the PAs had something similar. Bowie was at the bed, carefully folding the fleece onesie, his lower lip caught between his teeth.
Kari watched him, the warmth in the center of his chest morphing into something strong and permanent. It left him breathless at what it meant for him. To distract himself from thinking too hard about what it meant when they were going at Bowie’s pace, he asked, “Has Frey messaged in your group chat about what’s happened in Drinkwater?”
Chapter Twenty
Delicious & Vicious
Bowie:Did I overhear right, Frey is adopting a baby with Booker?
Bowie was a little hurt that Frey hadn’t messaged him privately to tell him about the baby. The second Kari had gone to get changed, Bowie had opened up the group chat and, seeing nothing, he’d started a conversation. He was desperate to find out more when what Kari told him made him feel uneasy for reasons he couldn’t pinpoint.
Monty:Overhear? Yep. She’s so cute.
Bowie:Who is she? Yeah, someone was talking about Booker.
Lennon:The baby, Emmy. Isn’t that the cutest name? Frey picked it, and it really suits her. Those deep green eyes of hers. She looks like an old soul when she stares at you. And don’t pull that one Bowie, we all know you’re in New York with Kari, so it has to be him you overheard.
Bowie:It is, but I’m lost. How did they go on a work trip and find a baby girl?
Bowie was lost, how did one go about finding babies? Had someone left it behind? Bowie sniffed and fought the urge to cry at someone doing that to a defenseless child, waiting for someone to answer him.
Hollis:I’m not sure this is the appropriate place to discuss this.
Frey:It’s fine Hollis. I helped an omega, Toby, give birth to his daughter. He died after the birth.
The air left Bowie’s body so fast he shook on the couch, his fingers all over the place as he worked to type a response, but nothing felt appropriate to say in such tragic circumstances.
Bowie:Oh no, how awful!
Frey:It’s so sad, we had the funeral for him yesterday. All the other omegas from the factory came. They are all like a family. Like us.
Bowie:Doesn’t the little girl have a family… a daddy?
Frey:They’ve found no one, or no one who wants her. And they can’t figure out who her daddy is… so me and Booker, we’ve signed the adoption paperwork this afternoon. She’s ours now.
Lennon:Does that mean that you and Booker… are a couple? I know he got real protective over you when he thought we’d upset you. But isn’t this all a bit quick, if you don’t mind me saying?
Frey:Confession time, we’ve kind of been dating for a little while. You know, figuring stuff out. But this… we both wanted.
Bowie:Wow, that’s news. Only what happens to Emmy if you don’t stay together? Figure it out? Who will get that little girl?
Frey:She’s mine! I was the first person she saw when she came into this world. I won’t ever let her go. The paperwork we signed says she’s mine.
