Chapter 16
Braxton
On one hand, this was the most exciting time in my life.
I loved my job, loved my mate. We were building an incredible life together.
On the other hand, we were expecting a child, and was I really truly ready for that?
There was so much to consider, so much to worry about, and so much that could go wrong.
Of course, I wanted a child more than anything, but the what-ifs lingered in the back of my mind. What if I was terrible at this? What if I did something wrong? What if I didn’t support Kip in the way that he needed?
The what-ifs went round and round in my mind, which was why I was lying there at five in the morning, staring at the ceiling instead of sleeping for the third day in a row. At this rate, I would be well prepared for when we were woken by a baby crying.
We had been able to get an early appointment with the doctor for an ultrasound. That appointment was hours away, though. I should’ve been sleeping. As soon as the ultrasound was done, I had to go to work and so did Kip.
We had been home from our vacation for a week, and we owed it to our fellow enforcers to pull our weight. After all, they had covered for us while we were both gone, and they would do so again in a few months when Kip gave birth.
They, and the rest of the pack, had accepted our mating with open arms. Everyone was happy for us. The den seemed to be split fifty-fifty between shock and “I knew it!” I wasn’t sure if anyone truly saw it coming. They were all happy for us, and that was what mattered.
As if my mate could sense where my thoughts had gone, he rolled over and wrapped his arm around my middle, looping his leg over mine. The warmth of his body against mine gave me comfort.
“You’re thinking too hard, Brax.” His voice was rough from sleep.
“Maybe you’re not thinking hard enough.”
He laughed. “Out of the two of us, I would’ve expected me to be overthinking all of this, not you. Are you worried about the ultrasound or worried about something else?”
“Not worried about the ultrasound. I’m excited for that. I’m worried I’ll be a terrible father.”
Kip pushed up and looked at me with narrowed eyes. His hair was tousled from sleep, his chest bare. There were creases on his face where his head had rested on his pillow.
“Are you kidding me right now? You’re the best enforcer we have, the best mate in the entire world, the best at everything. I’m pretty sure my parents want to legally adopt you. How could you think you’d ever not be a good parent?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I just worry. What if the baby wakes up in the middle of the night and I don’t hear it, and you’re stuck having to deal with everything?”
“Oh, I’ll wake you up. Don’t worry.” Kip lay back down and rested his head on my chest. “The fact that you’re worrying about little things like that tells me how great a father you’re going to be. Just stop worrying.”
I smiled. “Just stop worrying? Why didn’t I think of that?”
“What can I say? I’m brilliant. Now, since you insist on being awake this early in the morning, the least I can do is distract you with something else.”
Kip pushed his way down our bed, sliding under the covers. All the worries left my mind when his lips wrapped around my hard cock.
“You really are brilliant,” I said.
Three hours later, we were finally up and out of the house.
Kip was able to enjoy a light breakfast. It seemed that the morning sickness was getting better by the day, as long as Kip didn’t eat too late the night before.
Which apparently was harder for him than I thought it would be, since he had to stop his habit of having a bowl of cereal before bed.
In the waiting room at the doctor’s office, my leg was shaking uncontrollably. Kip leaned over and whispered in my ear. “You know, if you need to have another calming-down session, we can do that—but probably not in the waiting room.”
I laughed. I could always count on my mate to bring a smile to my face.
Mrs. Thomas, who sat across from us, raised a brow, then smiled knowingly. “Keep it PG, you two. Don’t forget, we all have the same nose as you two. I can sense what you’re thinking.”
My cheeks flushed as heat rushed to my face. I should not be getting aroused in a waiting room while we waited to see our child for the first time. Thankfully, Kip’s name was called, and we were called back to our appointment quickly enough.
After a series of questions about how Kip was feeling, if he was continuing to take his vitamins, and how often he was having morning sickness, we finally were able to start the ultrasound.
He sat on the table with the waistband of his pants rolled down and a towel tucked in to collect any of the stray gel. The technician rolled the wand over his belly, and the screen came to life.
The image of our child on the screen sent a wave of calm through me. I held Kip’s hand.
“We’re going to be dads,” I said, tears in my eyes.
“We are,” he agreed. He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “The best dads.”
I grinned at him. “You’re right. We’re going to be the best.”
Thankfully, the technician, who we had known since childhood, didn’t argue. She simply smiled at us as if it wasn’t something every parent who came in here said. She handed us a printout of our child from every angle, including proof that we were carrying a little boy.
We set up appointments for the next few months. Now that we had been at the doctor, our news would be spreading like wildfire. Everyone would assume that our families already knew we were expecting. Except we hadn’t mentioned it yet.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” I said once we got into the truck.
“That we should stop at the diner and get one of my mom’s cinnamon rolls? Yes, I was definitely thinking that.”
I grinned. “Well, we can do that, but we should also tell them that we’re having a baby.”
“Right. That would be the smart thing to do. I bet she’ll give me two cinnamon rolls. I’m eating for two, you know.”
“I do know that, my love. You ready for this?” I asked.
Kip gripped my hand. “Yes. So ready. Let’s go tell our families.”
I pulled into the parking lot of the diner, my heart hammering in my chest. The breakfast rush was in full swing, which meant it was likely Kip’s mom working and his dad was with the other enforcers enjoying a meal. Perfect timing to tell them, or possibly the worst timing ever. Hard to say.
“We could wait until after the lunch rush,” I suggested, though I knew it was a cowardly thought even as I said it.
We walked through the door, and the familiar scent of coffee, bacon, and fresh-baked goods enveloped us.
The diner was packed, every booth filled with den members enjoying breakfast. Conversations paused as people noticed us, eyes tracking to where Kip’s hand rested protectively over his still-flat stomach.
Shit. So much for breaking the news gently.
Kip’s mom came bustling out of the kitchen with two plates balanced expertly on her arms. She took one look at us standing there and nearly dropped them both.
“Kip? Braxton? What are you two doing here? Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“We have a late shift today,” Kip said, which was only partially true. “Mom, is Dad here? We need to talk to both of you.”
Her eyes went wide. She set the plates down at the nearest table with shaking hands.
The entire diner had gone silent now, everyone watching our little family discussion unfold.
I wanted to crawl under a table, but Kip seemed completely unbothered by the audience.
Then again, he grew up in a household where most of their business was shared here, since his mom owned the diner and his dad had been an enforcer for years.
“Everything’s fine,” Kip assured them when we sat at the booth where Kip’s dad and the two other enforcers were. “Better than fine, actually.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out the ultrasound photos, handing them to his mother. “You’re going to be grandparents.”
His mom stared at the images for a long moment before her eyes filled with tears. “Oh my God. Oh my God! You’re pregnant? You’re really pregnant?”
“We just came from the doctor,” I confirmed, grinning despite my earlier nervousness. “Everything looks good. Due date is in a few months.”
Kip’s dad pulled us both into a bear hug that nearly cracked my ribs. “A grandchild! We’re going to have another grandchild!”
The diner erupted in cheers and congratulations. Den members crowded around to see the ultrasound photos, offering advice and well-wishes. Mrs. Thomas, who had been in the waiting room earlier, just smiled knowingly from her corner booth.
“Is it a boy or a girl?” someone called out.
“A boy,” Kip announced proudly. “We’re having a son.”
More cheers. His mom was openly crying now, clutching the ultrasound photos like they were made of gold. “We’re putting these on the bulletin board!”
“This calls for celebration!” his dad declared. “Breakfast is on the house for everyone!”
That got an even bigger cheer.
I pulled Kip close, wrapping my arm around his waist. Through our bond, I could feel his joy, his relief that his parents were so happy. It eased something in my chest I hadn’t even realized was tight.
“One down,” Kip murmured in my ear. “Your parents next?”
I groaned. “Can we at least eat first? Your mom promised you cinnamon rolls.”
As if summoned, his mom appeared with a plate containing not two, but three enormous cinnamon rolls, still warm from the oven. “For my baby and my grandbaby,” she said, kissing Kip’s forehead. “And one for the best son-in-law I could ask for, tied with Jules, of course.”
I took a bite and nearly moaned. No wonder Kip had been craving these. They were incredible.
My family was incredible.