“Amber,” Eli says breathlessly, jerking awake like he’s been shot.
“Ugh,” I groan. “Who set an alarm?”
“Breathe,” Walker grumbles.
Eli shuffles against the bed. “I have to?—”
“You have time,” Walker says, like he already knows. “Check the alarm label.”
I peek an eye open and watch Eli scramble for his phone. The screen illuminates his worried features, and I can’t help but smile at what a good father he is.
Would I be a good father?
I hope so.
Eli blinks down at his phone, rubbing at one of his eyes. He relaxes by inches as his gaze scans his phone before he tosses it back onto the bedside table.
“She’s still got forty-five minutes,” he grumbles as he tosses an arm over his face.
“I’ll have someone bring your truck around,” Walker replies as he rolls over, already reaching for his phone. “Knox, stay with Lia.”
Like I was going anywhere.
“Mmm, I don’t wanna get up,” Lia groans.
“Then don’t,” I say as I shift closer to her.
Walker moves into motion, standing up from the bed like he doesn’t need time to wake up like a normal person. He’s already talking to someone on his phone while Eli perches on the edge of the bed, rubbing at his face with his hands.
Walker’s voice is steady, and strong. Pack Alpha mode, for sure. He gives calm demands into his phone before hanging up, and then a similar demand comes our way.
“We’ll do dinner here tonight,” he says as I hear the sounds of clothes rustling about. “Amber okay with that?”
“Should be,” Eli says with sleep still in his voice.
“Yay,” Lia murmurs against me.
I smile and kiss her forehead. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll pick up dessert so our sweet one here can rest.”
A family dinner. In a home that’s big enough for all of us.
I can’t help but get excited as I cradle Lia against me. My Omega. The one that I know was made for me. For all of us, really.
I can’t wait for our little family to be official.
When Lia’s ready, of course.
Knox
Nothing sobers a man up faster than the sound of a kid laughing in the next room.
Amber’s voice floats in from Walker’s kitchen while I stand at the edge of the dining room, pretending I’m not still thinking about the way Lia melted apart in my arms earlier today.
Different world now.
Different energy.
The vineyard villa that held steam, scents, and whispered promises earlier today now smells like roasted chicken, buttered bread, and the faint sweetness of the dessert box I picked up from The Gilded Lady.
