Because I Want To - Grace R. Duncan Page 0,27

He shrugged a shoulder but did manage to smile again. “But yeah. There are worse kids I could carry.”

Matt snorted.

Parker grinned. “Well. Glad you’re happy. Does this mean you’ll be missing classes?”

“No.” Adam shook his head. “Not if I can help it. I can’t. The morning sickness can last through the entire first trimester. That’s a hell of a lot of classes to miss. I’ll just try not to puke on the prof’s shoes.”

That brought more laughter. Adam couldn’t help feeling a bit of relief at their friends’ acceptance. Intellectually he knew they’d be like that. But he had worried a bit, and having the confirmation eased something inside Adam.

“If we can help, you know, with notes and stuff….” Ethan smiled.

Adam nodded. “Thanks.” Since Ethan was an omega too, he’d gone through a lot of the same troubles Adam had in high school. For the most part, their heats had been at different times and, like Adam, the suppressant had usually worked back then. Even so, they’d both missed class and helped each other as much as they could. This wasn’t heat, but still something Ethan would understand, and Adam was glad to know he had a friend who did. He had no doubt it was a fear that all omegas had that at any given time, a condom or birth control—which didn’t work at all for Adam because they’d made him sick—would fail and they’d be left trying to figure out how to handle a pregnancy and baby.

“Guess it’s time for class,” Parker said, sighing. “Ugh. Why did I take algebra first thing?”

“Why did any of us?” Evan asked as they all stood.

“We’re all masochists,” Ethan said.

“Speak for yourself,” Matt muttered, leading them out of the dining hall. “I went with what Adam suggested.”

“So, you’re a lemming,” Parker said with a smirk.

Matt flipped him off. “Fuck you.”

They all laughed. Ethan hung back a little and walked next to Adam. “Are you really okay?”

Adam thought it through for a moment because he knew Ethan really wanted to know—all of it. “Well, physically, it really is only the morning sickness right now. Mom says I’ll get really tired in another week or two. Whee.”

Ethan nodded. “And the rest?”

Adam sighed. “I don’t know yet? I just took the tests yesterday. So… I’m not even three weeks yet. And….” He swallowed, glancing up at Matt where he walked with Parker and Evan. “And there’s still a chance something could happen between now and the end of December—twelve weeks,” Adam added at Ethan’s confused look.

“Ah yeah. First trimester fears. I get it.” He blew out a breath, looking at the other three. “I have to admit, the thought of a pregnancy terrifies me.”

“Yeah, I can understand, considering who your partner is.”

Ethan nodded. “I have no idea what would happen. I mean, as far as we know, there’s nothing we could pass on, but….”

“But it’s still scary.” Adam nodded. He frowned, trying to figure out if he wanted to ask, but decided if anyone could understand his fears, Ethan would. “Do you ever worry about being bitten? Like… if they didn’t want to stick around?”

“Well… not for me, but… I’m not exactly typical. My twin brother isn’t about to leave me, is he?”

Adam frowned. “I guess not.”

Ethan studied Adam for a moment. “Does it not bother you? Evan and me?”

Adam shrugged. “It’s up to you. We omegas have enough to deal with. If you’ve got someone who loves you and is happy to help you, to be with you… frankly, who am I to question?”

“Thanks. It helps to know we’re not judged, at least with you guys. I’ve worried…. Anyway, Evan’s been bugging me to let him bite me. I don’t even know if it’d work.”

“Why wouldn’t it?”

Ethan frowned. “Brothers. I haven’t seen where blood relations would be a deciding factor, except that sometimes blood relatives aren’t affected by a related omega’s pheromones.”

“But Evan was, wasn’t he?”

Ethan nodded. “Yeah.” He chuckled. “First time about drove him completely crazy. Anyway, I’ve researched, but I can’t find a definitive answer one way or the other.”

“I’d guess if he’s affected by your pheromones, then it’s likely you’d pair.”

“Well, probably. The bigger problem is… we’re identical twins. There’s no way to try to pass ourselves off as not. I mean, maybe if one of us dyes our hair and wears fake glasses or something, but even then. And if he bites me and we’re paired, anyone who knows we’re paired is going to have issues with it. And… if