Chapter Twenty-Six
Brad
There was something stuck to the bottom of his work boots, but Brad didn’t think too hard about what it could be. He scrubbed at his hands for what felt like the fifteenth time after he’d assisted—alright, delivered Morty’s baby.
Hector sat on the floor, weeping, rocking his daughter wrapped in a fresh towel while Morty lay back in the tub, eyes shut, with a sappy grin on his face.
Once the pants were off, everything had happened very quickly, and it meant Brad had no time to think about what he was touching or how Morty’s body adapted to have the child.
Yes, pregnancy, though in principle, was great once the baby arrived, point in reference, the cuteness that Hector was cuddling. Not so much was the body having to spit the thing out. Brad was quite sure that he was not ready for that… not in this century!
Hands washed, he glanced about for another towel only to find them all in use or dirty. He eyed his grubby jeans and rubbed his fingers down the sides of his legs. He’d need a long soak when he got home and to burn his clothes. There was no way they’d get the weird birthing smell off them.
“What… holy shit,” Lionel blustered, eyes wide when Brad turned to face him.
“Surprise, your mate is also a birthing partner.” He aimed for humor, but he wasn’t quite sure he achieved it or that Lionel noticed. His gaze focused on his friend, who sniffed and held up the tiny bundle.
“Look at how beautiful my daughter is.”
“Ours,” Morty murmured. “You didn’t have to push her out into the world. You got to do the fun part, let’s not forget.” He tapped at his still swollen belly.
“Ours,” Hector rectified, giving Morty a sheepish grin. “You were amazing my love.”
“If you count screeching at the top of his lungs amazing,” Toby muttered, sitting on the titled floor on the other side of the tub, looking poleaxed.
“Hey, I wasn’t that bad,” Morty snickered.
Brad kept quiet, using Lionel as an excuse. “How did you find out?”
Lionel stepped into the bathroom, making the room feel overcrowded. “I didn’t, I finished work early because I had two visitors. Pennington and Mom.”
“Your mom turned up?” Hector sat up a little straighter, his voice gentle, his expression shocked.
“Yep, she’s downstairs with Niall. I figured there was a problem when the café was shut.”
“You could say that.” Hector chuckled, then kissed the downy head of the baby.
“Not that you’re a problem, sweetheart, Daddy was joking.
” He looked back up, but all Brad could see was the look of want in Lionel’s eyes, and despite the trauma of the day, he could feel his ovaries going into hyper-drive.
Save me from longing looks.
No way, his poodle side protested.
“I think I need to lie on a comfy bed now.” Morty’s request got everyone moving.
Lionel kissed Brad and slipped out of the room. I’ll take Mom home, and you can meet her when you finish up.
Great, I’m sure she doesn’t need to see me in this state. I smell very funky.
Not to me.
Brad’s chuckles got Toby eyeing him with curiosity, which he ignored. “Hector, what do you need help with?”
Three hours later, a takeout sack in his hands from the café—the only perk Brad could see to helping—he unlocked the front door to Lionel’s home, hearing female laughter coming from the back of the house.
He placed the sack down and headed for the stairs, hoping to get showered before meeting his mother-in-law. First impressions mattered.
When Lionel didn’t appear while he was in the shower, he tuned into his thoughts, grinning.
Lionel felt shock from his mother facing off with Pennington. Relief. Love. And something that had been lacking before. Acceptance. He wasn’t the burden he believed he was.
It wasn’t easy to follow all the thoughts as they skipped around, back and forth, despite that, Brad got the gist. There had been a heart-to-heart conversation, and with that came insight. Brad experienced Lionel’s contentment as if it were his own.
Out of the shower and dried, Brad stood in front of the closet considering what to wear for a first meeting.
Hurry up, Mom’s excited to meet you and wear whatever, she won’t care.
Alright, bossy pants.
No, that’s you… The pause was very deliberate, so Brad waited, his grin widening… and I love it
I know, and I’ll prove it later when we’re alone.
Is that a threat?
A promise.
About the alone part, Mom doesn’t have a place to stay, now she’s no longer part of the pride…
Yes? Brad tugged out a pair of old jeans and a sweater, trying to figure out what his mate wanted to say.
She’s asked for a room here…
I sense a but. Brad slipped a leg into his jeans, forgoing underwear, his mind on later, then it struck him that his mother-in-law would be down the hallway. Just a few feet away.
He wasn’t sure about that, if they were…
—your house? What do you think?
Huh?
It’s okay if it’s a no.
Sorry, I zoned out, what about my house? Sweater on, Brad hesitated in leaving the room with them having a conversation clearly connected to the woman downstairs.
I thought as it’s empty, maybe Mom, while she’s here, could use it.
That’s a brilliant idea, so the house isn’t left unoccupied. Relief came from not having to explain why he wasn’t keen on having sex while there was a parent in the house.
You don’t mind, really?
Brad was halfway down the stairs when Lionel appeared. “Why would I mind, when it means I can continue to be loud when we’re alone…” He winked saucily while keeping his voice down.
One beat, and Lionel’s grin matched his. “I love your logic, now come and say hi to Mom before she sends out a search party for us.”
“First.” Brad skipped down the stairs, took hold of Lionel’s hand, and tugged him closer. “I need a kiss, then we can talk about Pennington. I can’t wait to hear this story.”