into his arms and perched on the edge of the bed so they were side by side.
“I can’t wait to show them the world,” Riley told him.
“We’ll show them together.”
“And they’ll never be alone. They’ll always have each other.”
Long after he’d given up wishing for parents or grandparents, he’d still wished for a sibling to grow up with. Now that he had a family of his own, he’d make sure their kids wanted for nothing. But he was still glad that, no matter what, they’d each have their brother.
“You’ll never be alone either,” Brendan promised him. “Never again.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
When the doctors agreed to let Riley and the twins go home a few days later, Brendan was sure there had to be some mistake. Riley had just had surgery, and no one in their right minds would let them loose with two tiny babies in their care. Yet the hospital, and Riley, insisted they’d do better at home. And there was no arguing with the determined omega.
It was with a sense of disbelief that Brendan found himself driving their car with its two new infant seats up to the front entrance of the hospital. Riley was waiting in a wheelchair, accompanied by an orderly and two nurses holding the babies.
Brendan gave Riley a quick kiss on the cheek before turning to the twins. With the nurses' help, he got them one by one into their seats, blankets tucked over them to keep them warm. And then it was Riley’s turn. The omega tried to wave off his help at first, but Brendan refused to budge. Two could play at being stubborn.
“Take your time, Riley. There’s no rush. Let me help—it’s what I’m here for.”
Riley consented with a grumble, wincing as he sat into the car and gingerly did up his seat belt.
“Are you sure…” Brendan started to ask. He hated seeing his mate in pain.
“I just want to get home, Brendan. Please.”
Brendan glanced at the nurse hovering nearby who gave him an encouraging smile. “You know who to call if you have any problems,” she said.
He thanked her, closed Riley’s door, and got into the driver’s seat.
“I guess we’re headed home.”
“I can’t wait to lie down in my own bed, in peace and quiet. The hospital is so noisy.”
As if on cue, one of the babies started to cry.
“You were saying,” Brendan quipped, twisting in his seat to check on the twins. Cody was about to drop off to sleep, but Laurie’s face was screwed up in unhappiness. Brendan reached back and tucked the blanket a little tighter around him, letting Laurie’s little hand catch hold of his finger for a moment. The tears slowed to a stop, his breathing settled, and Brendan eased his hand away. No sooner had he got both hands on the steering wheel than the crying started up again.
“Just drive,” Riley said before he could turn back around. “At this rate, we’ll never leave the parking lot. Besides, the motion of the car will probably soothe him. Harper says babies love that.”
“Let’s hope.”
They got on the road, Laurie’s hiccuping cries echoing around the car the whole way home. Brendan could see it bothered Riley just as much as it did him, the omega struggling with the urge to turn around.
“Don’t strain yourself,” Brendan murmured. “I can see him in the rearview mirror. He’s fine, just fussing. I’ll get him out of the car seat as soon as we get home.”
“Maybe he’s hungry,” Riley suggested. “He didn’t eat for as long as Cody did.”
“Then we’ll fix that once we’re home. For now, try to relax. The tension won’t help your healing.”
“I wish there was some way to speed it up. I feel like I’m on a constant go-slow.”
“You are on a go-slow,” Brendan chided. “Doctor’s orders.”
“Right.”
Their house was a welcome sight, and Brendan brought the car to a stop as gently as he could, not missing the slight wince that Riley gave at the change in motion.
“I’ll get the door, then the babies, then come back out for you…” Brendan started to say, juggling the logistics in his head just as two familiar faces appeared outside. Harper and Zac.
He rolled down the window. “Hey, guys. We weren’t expecting visitors.”
They’d come to see Riley and the babies at the hospital, but Brendan didn’t think they’d arranged to stop by the house yet. Maybe Riley had asked them to call in.
“We’re not here for long,” Zac promised. “We just thought we’d help get you settled. You’ve only got one