or paint.”
Sam slides his arm across my back. “Did we forget anything? What would make you more comfortable?”
I rest my head on his shoulder. “This is perfect, Sam. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
43
Sam
Lu smiles at me as I walk into his hospital room. It’s been one week since he moved here. We both agreed that I’d sleep at home with the kids half of the time. But I still come in to be with him as often as I can.
“Did you see they gave me a different hospital gown today? It’s very fashionable. Blue spots instead of stripes,” he says.
Despite all of our efforts, the move has been hard on him. The nausea he suffered at the beginning of his pregnancy is back, which means he’s hooked up to an IV for hydration, and there’s a feeding tube in his nose.
I sit down in the recliner next to his bed. “You’re cheerful today.”
“Well, this handsome alpha came to visit me. Of course I’m cheerful.”
I bend over and kiss his forehead. In just a few weeks, the pregnancy will be over, and I can take Lu and our egg home.
“You smell like Sam.”
I chuckle. “I’d hope so.”
He takes in a deep breath. “It’s my favorite scent.”
I reach out and rest my hand on top of his. “Cy and Ben offered to stay with the kids tonight, if you feel up for a companion in your bed.”
Lu’s smile widens. “That would be nice. I’m not sure if I’m up for… I’m not well.”
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about that. It would just be nice to sleep next to you.”
He sighs contentedly. “Yes, it would be.”
“I can’t stay long. I have to go get Liam for his doctor’s appointment. But I thought I’d stop by. Do you want me to bring anything for you tonight?” I ask. It was hard to explain to the doctor that we needed to double check that Liam was developing normally after his gender reveal party. But I still want to check.
“Swedish fish,” he says.
“Again?”
He shrugs. “They’re the only thing I can keep down.”
“One bag of Swedish fish coming up. I’ll be back around six with the kids. Mary wants to see you. Cy and Ben are going to pick the kids up at the hospital and take them home. I guess Axe is working through the night.” I stand up, but Lu grabs my hand.
“Don’t forget to leave your shirt at the foot of the bed.”
I look back at him. “What?”
“Your shirt. It goes at the foot of the bed. Don’t forget.”
“What do you mean—” Then I stop. It’s only two weeks from the birth. Lu should be starting his nest any day now.
“You think my shirt goes at the foot of your bed?” I ask, just to clarify.
He nods, as if it were obvious. “It smells like you. I can’t be stuck in this bed without your scent, can I?”
Okay. Lu’s nest is going to be my shirts? That’s sweet. But also a problem. I was in a rush to get here, and I didn’t grab a jacket.
“There isn’t any chance that I could give you my shirt later this afternoon, is there?”
He glares at me with a brazenness I’ve never seen from Lu before. “Take your shirt off. That’s where it goes. Right there in the corner,” he points.
Okay. I guess I’ll be walking the halls of the hospital in an undershirt. I tug the shirt over my head, and drop it at the corner of the bed where Lu indicated.
“I love you. I’ll be back soon,” I say, and turn to leave.
“Sam, you’re still wearing the undershirt. You have to put that at the foot of the bed too.”
I can’t walk through the hospital without a shirt. But if Lu’s expression is any indication, I won’t be leaving this room without surrendering my undershirt either.
There’s a knock at the door. A nurse in scrubs printed in rubber ducks enters. He’s young, with bright blue hair and a name tag that says Kevin. “Oh, am I interrupting something? I can come back later.”
“No, everything is fine. Sam was just leaving his undershirt where it belongs at the foot of my bed.”
Kevin covers his mouth, but his eyes are still twinkling with a smile. “Is that where it belongs?”
“Obviously.”
“Well, you heard the man. Take off your undershirt.” That twinkle is still in his eyes. He’s enjoying this.
He walks to the wooden dresser opposite of Lu’s bed, and pulls out a hospital gown with blue spots. “I don’t