and he’s worried about keeping me at arm’s length, too. And I hate being his secret. It’s a huge mess.”
The sudden rush of understanding was a relief.
“That sounds like a really tough place to be,” he consoled.
“And here’s me, spilling my troubles to a stranger in a bathroom. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. Come say hi to my husband, I’m sure he’s wondering where I’ve got to.” He patted his bump. “He’s a tad overprotective these days.”
“I don’t blame him. I dread how bad my partner will be when we decide to have kids. If I’m ten minutes late home, he’s ready to send out search parties.”
Laughing over their respective alphas, they headed back out to the foyer. Riley was not surprised in the slightest to find Brendan talking with his new friend’s father. From the raised eyebrows Brendan sent his way, it seemed he too had figured out this wasn’t a case of infidelity after all. It wasn’t their place to say anything except to the client, and Riley knew just what Brendan would say. That his husband wasn’t cheating on him, and that the two of them should have a heart-to-heart to discuss what was really going on. They weren’t couples therapists, but Brendan wasn’t in the habit of imploding relationships that weren’t broken before they’d come to his attention.
They chatted with father and son until the intermission came to an end. Now that they had their answers, he and Brendan would be able to fully enjoy the second half of the play, unencumbered by work. But as they sat down, the ache in Riley’s stomach became an outright, cramping pain. He tried to ignore it at first, shuffling around in his seat when it got too bad. But it kept coming back, worse every time. Brendan was glancing at him out of the corner of his eye, and he knew his fidgeting was disrupting the other patrons.
Finally, aware something was happening that he couldn’t ignore, he took Brendan’s hand and pressed it to his stomach. The pain of what could only have been a contraction swept through him, and he stifled a groan. The alpha was on his feet in an instant, easing Riley upright and whispering apologies to those around them. When they reached the aisle, Riley’s knees threatened to give out, and he grabbed for a pillar to hold himself up. Brendan simply swept him off his feet and carried him to the door, the eyes of the audience following them.
“They’re early,” Riley panted as Brendan set him down on a seat outside.
“Just as the doctor said they’d be. No need to panic,” the alpha assured him. “Let me get the car around to the front.”
An attendant came over to see if they needed help, and Brendan asked him to wait with Riley until he returned. The door to the theater opened seconds later, and the omega midwife hurried out, followed by his alpha father.
“We saw you leave. Are you okay? Do you need help?”
“Brendan’s gone to get the car,” Riley told them, panting through the pain. “We’re heading straight to the hospital.”
The omega crouched down next to him and held his hand. “You just squeeze tight if you need to. Try to take some deep breaths.”
“I’m scared.” Somehow, it was easier to admit that to a total stranger than to anyone else.
“It’s completely normal to be scared. Everyone is. But it’ll all work out okay in the end. You have to trust that.”
“You do too,” he told them, looking up to meet the alpha’s eyes. “You don’t know it, but what you’re doing is hurting the one you love. He thinks you’re cheating on him. The truth would be a relief.”
He was distantly aware that he wasn’t supposed to say that, but right then the thought of the pain his omega spouse must be going through was too much to bear on top of the pain he already felt.
“Riley.” Brendan strode across the foyer. “Let’s get you into the car. Thanks so much for your help,” he said to the three people hovering.
Riley let the alpha lift him up and wrapped his arms securely around Brendan’s neck.
“I’m ready for this to be over,” he said. “But I think it’s only just started.”
“I’m right here with you,” Brendan assured him. “We’ll be okay.”
They arrived at the hospital to a flurry of excitement, everyone rushing around them. The pains were getting more frequent, but when the doctor examined him and then did an ultrasound, Riley knew things