A Mate for Lu - Amy Bellows Page 0,64

know if Lu told you, but we got new gowns today. Lucky you.” He tosses it at me.

“They don’t close all the way in the back,” I remind him.

Kevin holds up his hands. “Dude, you should be grateful he didn’t ask for your pants.”

Lu’s eyes light up. “Maybe he should leave the pants too.”

I glare at Kevin. He tries to hold back a laugh, but he isn’t entirely successful.

There’s no help for it. I can’t deny Lu his nest. I pull off my undershirt, and toss it to the foot of Lu’s bed.

“Your pants too,” Lu says.

Damn Kevin and his ideas. I unbutton my pants, desperately hoping that Lu doesn’t think to ask for my underwear. But as soon as I get my pants off, Lu’s eyes drop to my briefs.

“I also want those.”

Kevin’s shoulders shake with laughter as he takes Lu’s vitals. I rip open the hospital gown, and thread my hands through the arm holes before slipping off my underwear, and depositing it into the pile. When it lands next to the jeans, Lu beams up at me with a smile so big, my heart does a little flip flop. “Thank you, Sam. I can smell them from here. You can go pick up Liam, and your scent will be here with me the entire time.”

Kevin types a few things into a computer next to Lu, then walks over to the closet, and takes out a second robe. “Double up. Tie one in the front, and the other in the back. And you may want to bring a second set of clothes when you visit… just in case.” He winks at me. “At least he didn’t ask for your—”

I raise both of my eyebrows because the last time he said something along those lines, I lost my pants.

He bites his lip. “Right. Sorry. Just remember, this means Lu will likely be able to give birth without a C-section. This is a good sign.”

He’s right. Which is why I end up walking through the hospital halls and out into the parking lot with nothing but two hospital gowns. The other people in the parking lot stare at me like I’m an escaping patient as I unlock my car and climb inside.

I don’t care. Lu’s going to be okay. Our baby is going to be okay. And my sweet Lu is collecting my scent for his nest.

There’s nothing more romantic than that.

44

Lu

Cy and Ben waddle into my room before Sam gets here with the kids. Ben is chipper, and offers me one of a dozen bright pink cupcakes he’s brought with him.

“No thanks. I won’t be able to keep that down,” I say.

Cy sits on the recliner by my bed. “They taste like lemonade anyway, which is not how a cupcake should taste.”

Ben sits next to him. “Says you. There are no rules for cupcake flavors. You’re just grumpy because I made you go shopping for baby stuff.” Ben turns to me. “You look great, Lu. Have you gained weight?”

I laugh because normally that’s not a polite question, but in this case, I don’t mind. “Yeah. Sam was relieved. He’s been so worried.”

“We’ve been worried too. Axe will be happy to hear that you’re doing better,” Cy says. “Can we do anything to help besides watch the kids tonight?”

I would normally shake my head and insist that I didn’t need the help. I hate being a burden on people. But Cy and Ben will have kids too soon. That help can go both ways. I want all of us to be able to take care of one another.

“Daniel offered to take Mary whenever Sam needed to work, but I don’t think Sam’s taking him up on it, and I know he has a few deadlines this week. Would you mind driving Mary over to Daniel’s place tomorrow? Mary adores Daniel and his kids.”

She’s taken to all of her little penguin shifter friends a lot faster than I ever could have expected.

“Of course. It’ll give us an excuse to go see Ansel. Hey, there’s some clothing at the foot of your bed. Should I put it in the closet for you?” Ben asks, lifting Sam’s clothing.

“Put it back!”

Ben drops the clothes.

Cy threads his fingers through Ben’s. “It’s okay. You didn’t know. But don’t touch anything around the bed of a pregnant omega who’s carrying an egg.”

Ben smiles sheepishly. “Right. I forgot.”

The door to my room opens, and my children burst inside—all four of them.

“Daddy!” Mary calls out, and launches herself at