“Aren’t these the cutest?” she asked, lighting up like a firework in July.
“They’re adorable,” I agreed, smiling gently at her as the excitement beamed from her. “What are you thinking about making?”
“Just some regular baby blankets. I was waiting, but the baby’s getting bigger by the day, and they’re not going to wait around. I may as well make some more neutral ones, then I can have fun with more colors once we know the gender.”
She placed her hand on her bump, smiling serenely. When she had admitted to us that she wanted to wait until we were all together to find out the gender, I was surprised for like half a second and then I understood.
This was kind of a symbol of us becoming a family, and we needed Preston here to make that really happen for her.
“You’ve been nesting like crazy lately, huh?”
Hailey had been rearranging her nest almost daily, and even though I kept the kitchen cupboards pretty organized, she had tidied them repeatedly and created a whole new organization system.
“I know. It’s worse than any heat cycle. All I want to do is make sure everything is just right for the baby, and part of that is getting some lovely blankets made.” She nodded to herself, a decision firmly made.
“Well, what do you want for dinner?” I asked. “I’ll have it ready so we don’t have to think about it.”
I knew better than to wait—if she disappeared into the sewing room, she’d be busy for hours and wouldn’t come out until she was feeling hangry. Or worse, we would have to go in and nudge her to remind her to eat while in the middle of something, and that would undoubtedly make her crabby as well.
“The baby is kind of craving steak,” she said, scrunching her nose.
“How about I do some steaks on the grill with baked potatoes and green beans?”
“As long as there’s dessert in the mix, I’m all for it.” She beamed. “Don’t you have to go back to work soon?”
“Not until the morning,” I assured her.
I wanted to be there for her as much as possible, so I had been working a lot of nights, but Walker hadn’t scheduled me until the morning for a rare change.
Her smile widened. “Wonderful. That means you’re in the nest tonight.”
Since I’d returned to doing shifts at the firehouse and had to stay there a few nights a week, any time I was home, I stayed with Hailey in the nest. I wasn’t going to waste what precious time I had before parental leave in a separate bed from her, after all.
“Nowhere else I’d rather be,” I returned, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.
“Good, because you don’t have a choice. I love your ass, and I want it in my nest.” She smirked smugly up at me before grabbing an armful of fabric and going to walk away.
My hand shot out, grabbing her upper arm softly and tugging her round to face me. “You love me?”
Hailey snorted. “Isn’t it obvious? I love you, Merrick. Do you love me?”
I stared at her in shock for a second. “Of course I do. How is that even a question?”
Her pointed look made me laugh.
“Hailey Hana, I am in love with you. I love how stubborn and kind you are, how you?—”
“Okay, no more!” Hailey laughed, tugging out of my grip. “Say too many nice things, and you’ll make the pregnant omega weep.” She giggled, leaning up on tiptoe and kissing my cheek, lingering there for a moment.
I was on cloud fucking nine. For some reason, I knew we were close, permanently bonded, but there was something about hearing those words out of my omega’s mouth that made me want to puff out my chest and shout in happiness.
Hailey was really settling into our relationship, and nothing made me happier. She wasn’t living in panic mode, thinking this was all temporary. She’d settled into what I considered her true self—the sass, the arguments, the discussions—it was all part of why I adored her.
More than anything.
I followed her down the hallway, half in a blissed-out haze of love, intent on walking her to her sewing room just so I could be with her for a little longer. That was the thing with Hailey; she didn’t see it, but just being around her was addictive.
“Hey, cutie, do you want any company?” Wilder asked as he passed in the hallway.
