Heatwaves

Chapter Thirty-three

“ I t really is lovely to meet you,” Emily, Aidan’s mom, says as she smiles at me. “You don’t know how happy we are that you and the boys could work everything out.”

“So am I.” I smile, trying to ignore the headache forming behind my eyes. I really need it to let up. I’ve been having a lot of them lately, and I’m starting to worry. Between that and the utter exhaustion that feels like it’s sinking into my bones, I just don’t know what to do with myself.

We’ve barely been here for an hour, and I’m already ready to call it. Only, I can’t because my parents are the ones throwing the cookout. Something about our families bonding or some shit. I’d agreed because I knew Mom was nervous about meeting Miguel’s family for the first time. Since Miguel and Carter are cousins, it just made sense to do this all at once. Except I hadn’t been feeling so crappy when I’d agreed to it.

The last three weeks have been heaven as Wyatt and I have gotten to know Aidan, Carter, Oliver, and Ty. We’ve been looking at houses since neither of ours is big enough to fit all of us. I have my eye on one in particular, but there’s a bit of a bidding war going on with it currently. It’s out of my hands now, as the owners asked everyone to submit one last price, and they’ll choose from the lot of us.

It really would be the perfect house for my pod and me.

My eyes move around the backyard, locating each of my mates. Carter and Aidan are playing with their twin half sisters, whose births they missed while they were off saving the world. Oliver is chatting with two of his older brothers while his older sister looks bored out of her mind. His two younger siblings are running around their parents, laughing and giggling.

Ty and Wyatt are standing with both of their families, but they have eyes for no one but each other. That was a development I didn’t see coming, but I’m happy for them. Meanwhile, Ty’s mom is hitting on Wyatt’s incubus dad and his vampire mother, while her mates look on with amusement. Neither of Wyatt’s parents seem to mind the attention.

Ty’s older sisters are around here somewhere, as is Wyatt’s twin sister. Unlike him, she’s a vampire. Apparently, the incubi line can only be passed down to the males of the family. It’s weird as hell, but what do I know about incubi? Except what Wyatt has told me—not a damn thing.

It’s a full fucking house tonight when you add in Carter and Miguel’s grandma, Miguel’s parents, and his four siblings. All of whom I’ve met in the last hour. I won’t be surprised if I forget some of their names or mix them up. Especially with this splitting headache, I can’t seem to shake.

“Are you okay, Lila?” Carter’s father, Thomas, asks with a frown.

Lifting my hand to my head, the room spins as I squeeze my eyes shut.

What the hell is wrong with me?

“I don’t know,” I finally mutter.

“Lila? Honey?” Even without opening my eyes, I recognize the sound of my dad’s worried voice. “What’s wrong?”

A small hand lifts to my forehead before Mom sighs. “No fever. Come on, let’s head inside for a minute before your mates realize you’re not feeling well.”

Why wouldn’t I want them to realize I’m not feeling well?

Blinking my eyes open, I cling to my mom’s arm as she leads me into the house, telling everyone we’ll be right back.

“Mom?”

She glances at me with a tight smile. “Let’s get inside first, hon. I’m going to bring you up to my room and then we’ll talk about what’s wrong, okay?”

“Does that mean you know what’s wrong?” I can’t help asking her.

“I might, but it’s probably best if we wait until we get inside.”

Since I get my stubbornness from my mom, I know better than to argue with her, so I allow her to pull me inside and up the stairs. She leads me over to the bed and helps me sit before taking my face in her hands.

“I need to ask you some questions, Lila.” She waits for me to nod before continuing, “What are your symptoms?”

“I can’t seem to shake this damned headache. I’ve had it for the last three or four days, and nothing seems to help it. I’ve also been exhausted for the last week. I’ve gone to bed every night just after we finish eating. The dizziness is new, though.”

Mom hums. “That all sounds very familiar, so I’m going to ask you one last question, and I need you not to freak out.”

“Just get on with it, Mom.” I almost roll my eyes but somehow stop myself.

“Did you use protection for your heat?”

Now, I do roll my eyes. “Of course I did. Do you think I’m stupid?”

“Far from it, actually. But stay with me.” Mom’s voice remains patient. “What kind of protection did you use?”

“You know I have the implant. You’re the one who took me to get it.” Frowning, I don’t understand what she’s getting at.

Mom hums again. “I did, and have you been back to get it replaced since you got it?”

My eyes go wide as I realize I haven’t. My doctor had called to set up an appointment just before my heat, and I hadn’t had the time. “Fuck … ”

The fact that Mom hasn’t gotten onto me for my language just goes to show how seriously she’s taking this .

“It’s okay, Lila. Let’s get you to take a test before we jump to any conclusions. It’s been over a month since your heat, which means this is around the time the symptoms would start, but let’s not freak out until we know for sure.”

“How am I supposed to not freak out?” I ask her as she tugs me to my feet.

I can’t be pregnant—I mean, technically, I could be, but we’re not ready for that. I’ve just started these relationships with these men. The last thing we need is the stress of an unplanned pregnancy on top of everything else.

How could I be so stupid?

“Breathe, honey. In and out for me, okay?”

My eyes jerk up to my mom, and I suck in a deep breath. I don’t know when I stopped breathing, but the room is spinning again.

“That’s good, Lila. Let me grab the test.” Mom ducks down, shuffling under the sink. When she stands back up, she’s holding a box in her hand. Not just a box—a pregnancy test. “This is the blood test one, so it’s very simple. Just a little finger prick and then we put it on the strip. We should have results within a minute or two.”

I nod numbly, watching as she opens it up and takes out the finger pricker. I’ve never taken a pregnancy test before. I didn’t even know how they tested it at home.

I think I’m going to be sick.

Mom grabs my hand, pressing the pricker to my index finger. I hiss at the small bite of pain that’s over before it really began. Then, Mom is pressing my hand to a strip of paper-like material.

“That’s it. Now, we just have to wait.”

Waiting…that doesn’t sound like fun at all.

Then something occurs to me.

“Mom … ”

“Yes, honey?” She gives me a soft smile, squeezing my hand as she presses a wet cloth to my index finger.

“Why do you have pregnancy tests under your sink?”

Mom’s eyes go wide, her cheeks flushing before she ducks her head.

“Mom!”

A smile blooms across her lips. “With Miguel joining our relationship this year, we decided it was time to try for another baby. We weren’t sure if we were going to be able to after the complications following your birth, but I underwent a procedure that the doctors thought might allow me to get pregnant, and it worked. You’re going to be a big sister!”

“You’re pregnant?” Tears fill my eyes as I stare at her. “You’re having a baby?”

“I am.” She nods. “You’re not mad, are you?”

I’m shaking my head before she can even finish. “Why would I be mad?”

Mom shrugs. “I mean, you’ve been an only child for over thirty years. It would be completely understandable if you were upset about me getting pregnant. Not to mention the fact that you might also be pregnant.”

“I couldn’t be happier for you, Mom.” I wrap my arms around her and hug her close. We might have spent much of my life not getting along, but I can see how much she’s changed—how hard she’s trying. Miguel has truly been good for both my parents, and now they’re having a baby!

Just like I might be.

“We’re definitely celebrating this later, but first, can you look at the test for me? I don’t think I can do it.”

“Of course I can.” Mom squeezes me one last time before stepping back.

I close my eyes, waiting for my mom to tell me if my life is about to change again .

“Lila? Are you in there?” Wyatt’s worried voice filters through to us.

There’s a pounding on the door to my parents’ door, and I don’t think it’s just Wyatt. I glance at Mom, who has tears in her eyes as she grins at me.

“You should probably get out there and tell them they’re going to be daddies.”

I’m pregnant.

“I’m pregnant?”

Mom laughs. “We’re both pregnant.”

“Holy shit.”

“LILA!” Carter is practically yelling, and I can hear the door shake on its hinges.

I hug Mom one more time. “I better go stop them from knocking your door in.”

I hurry over, throwing the door open to find all five of my mates standing there. As soon as they see me, they all start talking at once.

“Are you okay?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Why are you crying?”

“Lila?”

“Mrs. Riley?”

The last one comes from Ty as he stares at my mom. Glancing over my shoulder, I see tears streaming down her cheeks and she smiles. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her happier or more beautiful than in this moment.

“I just found out some great news … and some mostly great news? I think I’m still in shock, but this should be good news, I think.“ I prattle on as my guys stare back at me. I cut myself off and return their stares.

“And are you going to share the good news?” Wyatt asks with a grin, but I can tell he’s still worried from the pinched line on his forehead.

I nod slowly, only relaxing when Mom comes up and takes my hand in hers. It gives me the strength I need to tell them.

“I’m going to be a big sister!” I yell before rushing to tell them the rest of it. “And we’re pregnant. Well, I guess I’m the one pregnant, but we’re having a baby.”

My announcement is followed by a moment of silence that has dread building in my stomach.

“We’re having a baby?” Ty asks, already moving toward me. “We’re going to be parents?”

“Yes.” I nod, still unsure how they’re going to take this.

A smile breaks out on Ty’s face as he tears up. “This is the happiest day of my life. ”

Then he’s kissing me, my stomach finally settling. When we pull apart, we’re both grinning like idiots as tears run down our faces.

At least one of them is happy. If the others aren’t, it’ll be okay because Ty will be there. As long as one of them will be at my side, I can do this.

Then everyone is talking at once, and I’m being moved from one set of happy mate’s arms to the next. I’m smothered in kisses, hugs, and happiness.

I think I agree with Ty. This is the happiest day of my life, too.

Once we’ve settled down, Mom wraps her arm around my waist and rests her head against my shoulder. “It seems we have two announcements to make tonight instead of just one. Thanks for taking some of the pressure off me.”

“Are you announcing your pregnancy tonight?” I ask her, seeing the worry in her eyes as she nods. “Don’t worry, Mom. Everyone will be ecstatic about it, but I’ll happily allow you to throw me under the bus to distract them.”

Mom bursts out laughing. “You don’t have to announce it tonight. The six of you just found out … ”

“And you’re seriously stressing out,” Wyatt says, cutting her off. “I’m not going to be able to keep my big mouth shut either way, so we might as well tell everyone when you make your announcement.”

The rest of my mates give their agreement, and I love the way Mom’s shoulders relax. “I have the best son-in-laws.”

“You’re damn right you do,” Wyatt crows, sweeping in to wrap his arm around my mom’s shoulders before leading her from her room. “Now, let’s get these announcements over with so I don’t spill the beans.”

The rest of my mates trail behind them until it’s just me and Aidan standing there. “Are you happy, kitten?”

“So, so happy.”

We stand there grinning at one another until Carter calls for us from downstairs. I guess it’s showtime.

Who doesn’t want to announce their pregnancy to their entire family all at once?

I shake my head, but I know I’ll be fine because I have my mates at my side.