couldn’t give him an answer then and there. I’d need to think
about it long and hard and talk to Charlie.
“At least think about it?” Jesse asked. “I’m not talking about doing it now or even next year. It’s a dream for the
future.”
I nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
“Thanks.”
“Who else would you want involved?” I asked, genuinely interested in hearing more about his dream.
“I don’t know yet. I haven’t thought that far ahead. It was just an idea that popped into my head when I was
talking to the guys while I was getting ready for my wedding. You know Dwight has stopped doing touring gigs?”
I nodded. It was a shame because the alpha was a talented bassist.
“It was so he and Theo could finally become mates,” Jesse explained. “They’ve been a couple for years but haven
’t been able to commit to each other because the industry wouldn’t let them tour together if they did. Dwight
shouldn’t have had to give up doing something he loved.”
It was true. I’d known from Jesse’s first tour that Dwight and Theo were a couple. They’d been discreet but hadn’t
managed to hide it successfully on the tour bus. Unlike Jesse and Isaac, who had been able to maintain their
secret. I banished that thought from my mind. I didn’t want or need to know how they’d kept their relationship
hidden or what they’d done.
“He’s working at the Arches now, isn’t he?” I asked.
“Yes. He’s managing it while Isaac’s taking time off to be with us.”
“Does he enjoy it?”
“Yeah, but that’s not the point, is it? Enjoying what he’s doing now is a bonus. He shouldn’t have had to have
given up touring at all.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. I couldn’t find any fault in Jesse’s argument. “True.”
“I want to change things in the industry,” Jesse said. “I want to make it fairer for everyone, not just omegas.”
My chest filled with warmth as I beamed with pride.
“What?” Jesse asked.
“I’m proud of you, Jesse.”
His cheeks went bright pink, and he looked at the ground.
“And I believe in you. So when you’re ready to make yet another dream come true, let me know.” I wasn’t ready
to commit to his plan then and there, but I was excited enough to think about it seriously.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Come on,” I said. “We’re missing the party.”
We walked back over to the main hub of the party, where Isaac’s whole family was entertaining Colby.
“Are you okay with Jasper?” Jesse asked.
“Yes, unless you want to steal him back?”
“I think he’s enjoying cuddles with his granddad.”
I shuddered. “That makes me feel old.” Despite the fact that Jesse had been referring to me as granddad for the
last three months, I still hadn’t got used to it.
Jesse hugged me. “We don't have to call you granddad. Pick another name, and we’ll use that instead.” He
kissed Jasper on the forehead and then went over to Isaac.
I spent the rest of the afternoon socialising and playing with the twins. We cut the cake once all the other food
had gone, and it got demolished in record time. I even got several compliments. Of course Charlie was the one
who really needed thanking. I’d followed his recipe to the letter, and he’d coached me through every step of icing
it the night before.
Once everyone but family had left, Josh and Ben wasted no time in tugging their clothes off and shifting so they
could play in the garden as tigers. Danny, Troy, and Noel joined them, though they had the decency to go inside
to take their clothes off before shifting.
“That was a lovely party,” Kyle said.
“Thanks for being here,” Isaac said. “It means a lot to us.”
“Where else would we have been?” Frank said.
He was holding Jasper in his arms. The little boy was fast asleep, his mouth occasionally moving in a sucking
motion as he dreamt. Colby was sleeping in the pram as Jesse slowly pushed it back and forth.
“Do you want help clearing up?” I asked.
“We’ll all help,” Kyle said. “Frank can watch the babies.”
“Does that mean I get out of washing up?”
Kyle kissed his mate’s cheek. “Yes, it does.”
“I’m good with the babies.”
“You’d have been happy with them, even if you had to wash up afterwards.”
“True.”
We all laughed as quietly as possible before starting the long job of clearing up. It took about an hour, but
eventually, all the rubbish was sorted into recycling and non-recycling, all the plates, dishes, cups, and cutlery
were washed, and everything was put away.
There