planned."
"I'll go get some chicken in the morning. We can marinate it all day and then I'll throw it on the grill," I'm grateful I spent so much time thinking about this on the drive home. "We can put together a simple salad and Warren's going to bring dessert. I'll just have to text him and let him know not to bring anything with peaches."
"This is really happening?" he asks.
"It is."
"I'm kinda overreacting," he admits. "I just?? keep thinking about how different things would be right now if we'd made different choices and?? feel like your friendship with Warren suffered a lot."
"What happened back then doesn't matter," I tell him. "The only thing that matters is what we do from now on. I love you, Isaac. And, for what it's worth, I wouldn't change anything."
"Really?"
"Really. Because if things had happened differently, we wouldn't be sitting here having this conversation right now. We wouldn't be two months away from meeting out baby. We wouldn't have a house in a nice neighborhood. I wouldn't have a chance to do a job where I can really make a difference in the world. You wouldn't be working on a writing career." I smile softly and pull him into my arms. "So while you keep focusing on the bad parts, I can't stop thinking about the good ones."
Isaac lets out a soft little sigh as he leans against me.
"Crap," he swears, sitting up abruptly. "I've got to pee again. Help me up. Your son has turned me into a flipping bowling ball."
I laugh and help him to his feet. "There you go, my love." I give him a playful tap on the ass as he shuffles by.
"Don't do that!" he squeaks. "My balance is awful right now."
"I can't help it, you're so sexy."
"I don't feel sexy."
"I'll make sure you do later tonight," I promise.
And I did.
Epilogue
Isaac
The sound of crying crackles over the baby monitor and my eyes snap open. It's 4 AM and I can't remember the last time I slept through the night.
I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and take a moment to rub the exhaustion from my eyes. After all of the books and blogs I read about fatherhood, I had been pretty convinced I was ready for anything. The reality is, no amount of reading can prepare you for how it feels to actually bring a newborn baby home.
"I'll go," Duke murmurs through his haze of sleep. "I can take care of him."
"Go back to sleep, my love," I tell him as I reach across the bed and gently squeeze his shoulder. "I'm already up."
Duke's been working long hours down at the precinct lately. He's still a rookie cop, and they're working him hard to make sure he's prepared for what comes next. He's got exams to study for while still managing all his normal police work. Driving around the city, chasing people down, answering mundane calls...plus he still has to hit the gym a few times a week in order to stay in physical shape. It's been taking its toll on him. He's dead on his feet when he gets home, and I can't help but feel bad for him.
Still, he does his best to help me out with the baby. It's usually a fight to keep Duke from getting up every time the baby cries.
Thankfully, this time, he goes back to sleep without too much fuss.
I drag myself across the hall to the nursery where my newborn son is still fussing in his bassinet. My motions are automatic at this point. Change his diaper, pick him up, soothe him, feed him. It's only been a week, but I've got the routine down pat.
What I haven't gotten used to yet, is how perfect he is. I still sit and marvel at his tiny little toes and perfect little fingers. His eyes are closed most of the time, but I still see those bright blue eyes every now and then. It always catches me off guard. The love I feel for this perfect little angel surpasses everything I thought possible.
"How's it going?" Duke asks from the doorway, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You're supposed to be asleep," I counter with a frown.
"I have to get up soon anyway," he says as he quietly creeps across the room and kneels beside the chair. "But I wanted to spend some time with my two favorite boys." Duke rests his head against my shoulder and gently strokes our son's head. "How is he?"
"He's doing well," I assure him. "He's perfect, as always."
"My precious little, Levi." Duke grins from ear to ear as he looks down at our baby. "I know I didn't like it at first, but now...I can't think of anything better."
Duke and I spent months trying to come up with the perfect name for our son. We were still on the fence about it, right up until the day I went into labor. Levi had always been my favorite, but Duke had wanted something like David or Michael. As we were sitting there filling out the birth certificate, I finally got my way.
"Maybe for the next one..." My voice trails off as Duke lifts his head to look me in the eye.
"You're not...already?" There's a mixture of wonder and worry in his voice.
I chuckle. "No, I'm not pregnant yet. I probably won't have another heat for a few more months at least," I assure him. "I'm just saying...if you wanted more kids, I wouldn't hate it."
Duke looks back down at Levi and purses his lips. "I wouldn't hate it either," he admits. "But..."
"Did I tell you that I've got an interview?" I interrupt him. I know what's on his mind. We're doing really well, but kids are expensive and making sure we can properly take care of anyone we bring into this world is top priority. "It's a remote position for a pretty popular daddy blog. Most of the other omegas on their staff have multiple kids, so they wanted a new father to do some regular articles for them."
"That sounds right up your alley," Duke says, smiling at me with gratitude. "I know you've been worrying about how you're going to juggle writing and being a dad."
"If I get this position, then being a dad will be part of my writing," I grin. "I'm pretty confident it'll work out. The omega I've been chatting with seems really nice. I think it'll work out. Obviously it's not a super high paying position, but it'll set me up to be able to find other work and collaborations with other omegas. I can really carve out name for myself."
"As long as we don't turn into one of those families that goes over the top. Not every event has to be a photo OP or a blog article." Duke knits his brow. Even now he's a pretty private person. I can tell he's a little nervous about putting his whole life online. He doesn't even have any social media accounts.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to do anything like that," I tell him. "I just want to share my experiences and help any other omegas out there that are also struggling. There's not a lot of resources freely available for omegas, y'know? I wanna do my part. Help out. Let them know that they don't have to feel forced into any particular path in life just because they were born as an omega."
Duke leans in and kisses me on the cheek, then bends and gently kisses Levi's forehead.
"Whatever you do, you're going to blow it out of the water," he says as he looks back up at me. "I'll be right there to support you in whatever way you need. I'll be happy as long as I can be your alpha."
I meet Duke's gaze. His eyes are shining with love and sincerity. "I've never been more in love with you than I am right now."
In that moment, I knew that no matter what lay ahead we would crush it together.
Also by Aria Grace
Omega for Hire #9
Warren has a reputation for being a playboy. The kind of alpha who always has a hot omega or two on his arm and a fast-paced lifestyle. When he becomes an insta-dad, he has no idea what to do with this baby dropped in his lap.
Casey has always loved babies. When Farron asks him to take on a nanny position for a prominent client, he's excited for the change of pace. What he doesn't expect is just how difficult it will be to work with a man like Warren...while keeping focused on the baby.
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