Chapter Twenty-Eight
Calder
Calder looked around the cheerful kitchen of the rental house, with its yellow-hued walls and potted plants, thinking he was as ready as he would ever be. At least when it came to plans for Zinn’s heat.
For the days after that—how could he possibly prepare himself?
Between signing a formal agreement and surrendering his parental rights, Calder had gone far against his nature in how he would have preferred to handle this.
In his ideal scenario, he would act as Zinn’s good friend, taking care to ensure they enjoyed a pleasurable time together.
In an exceptionally ideal world, it would be the beginning of their exploring a longer-term relationship.
But that wasn’t what Zinn wanted. He had insisted on the formality.
The contract. He’d told Calder that he wanted to stick as close to his original plan as possible.
With his heat coming any day, he said that he simply didn’t have the brainpower to negotiate different terms, although he’d also been clear that nothing would have compelled him to compromise on the parental rights issue.
Still, Calder questioned what they would have agreed upon if he’d made his offer sooner.
He chided himself for not foreseeing Zinn’s dilemma months ago.
The omega had worked for him for two years and didn’t have a partner.
Obviously, he would need an alternate plan to deal with his heat.
But Calder had been so busy fighting his attraction, explaining away his response to Zinn’s gentle laugh and whip-smart asides, his drive and his work ethic, that he hadn’t allowed himself to wonder about it.
He’d pushed his feelings aside and was now scrambling to catch up, to figure out what Zinn needed, and he wanted his preparations to show how much he cared.
That was why, after they’d signed the contract, he’d asked Zinn if he could make the arrangements for where the heat would take place, with Zinn having veto power, of course.
After a brief hesitation, Zinn agreed, and Calder knew it was because their contract was so lopsided. Zinn had said many times he feared he was taking advantage of him.
Allowing Calder to make these plans was the omega’s way of restoring some sense of balance and reciprocity between them.
Calder suspected it was also the reason Zinn had explicitly told him not to hold back on giving or receiving pleasure during his heat waves, stating bluntly that he didn’t want Calder to be nothing but a hard cock for him to use.
“I had awful experiences with heats in the past, but I’m not terrified this time,” Zinn explained after they signed the papers.
“You’re the first person I’ve trusted in forever, and I don’t plan on holding back.
I want you to enjoy my body, and I want to enjoy yours.
That might be the best thing about you doing this.
I would not have given the grad student the same privilege. But with you, I know I’m safe.”
Calder’s inner alpha lit up at Zinn’s brave words. He didn’t know if he could erase the omega’s bad memories, but he vowed to do everything in his power to make new, better ones.
That was why he’d rented this small house for the month.
Sure, it was extravagant considering they’d only need it for less than a week, but the thought of being with Zinn in a heat services hotel did not sit right with him.
He also didn’t want to have Zinn in his home, so close to the bakery and potentially in earshot of Jordie and Ked.
Lolo would take over Calder’s duties at Felton’s so he could stay with Zinn for his entire heat, uninterrupted. Lolo had also agreed to stay at the house to monitor the boys.
Calder put fresh sheets on the bed and laid towels in strategic locations around the living room.
He’d bought bubble bath and soothing oils for the bathroom and packed the fridge with fresh fruit and sandwich fixings.
Most omegas weren’t particularly hungry during the first few days of heat, but by the third day, Zinn would be ravenous.
Especially if Calder bred him.
Calder seized the kitchen counter as he thought about the part of this there was no way to plan for.
He’d kept busy renting this house, buying supplies, and talking through logistics with Zinn. He wanted to give the omega as much pleasure as possible.
But he hadn’t let himself dwell on what would happen after.
He knew they’d be okay in terms of work and not letting this affect their relationship.
The bakery staff would not make an issue of it. Although he and Zinn hadn’t broadcast their intentions to the crew, Calder was confident they would figure it out. But he trusted everyone to be discreet and respectful.
He also accepted that Zinn might never develop an interest in pursuing something romantic between them after this heat.
Ultimately, no matter what, their friendship would be fine.
Work would be fine.
The part of what happened after he couldn’t wrap his head around was what he’d do if he gave Zinn a baby.
He’d already signed the agreement, and he wouldn’t go back on his word.
But how would he ever live with that decision?
His temperature rose at the thought of Zinn round with his child, his seed taking root in that gorgeous body.
He would want that child. He did want that child.
A low growl formed in his chest thinking about it. How could he walk away?
A knock at the door shook him from his reverie. Jordie and Ked walked in.
Calder had texted his children asking them to meet him at the little house. It was a rare afternoon when Jordie wasn’t scheduled at the pizzeria and Ked had no afterschool activities.
As betas, the boys didn’t have the same biological instincts as the other genders, but they’d received alpha/omega sexual education in school and understood Zinn’s dilemma.
Calder had worried they might have strong reactions when he told them his plan to service Zinn’s heat, but their answering “okays” had been the verbal equivalent of shrugs.
It had been a few days since that talk, and Calder wanted to check in now that they’d had more time to think things over.
Since Denni passed away eight years ago, they had been a cozy family of three.
Jordie and Ked never expressed feelings about Calder being with another omega because it hadn’t been an issue.
Calder had never dated anyone seriously and had kept his casual encounters away from his sons.
Those were rare events, anyway, only enough to keep him from going crazy.
He’d never come close to investing his heart.
Jordie stood and glanced around the compact living room, crossing one arm over his chest to hold his elbow. Ked was more animated, making a lap through the house before stopping to examine the contents of the fridge and cabinets.
“Cookies and brownies? Don’t you get enough of that at work?”
“Omegas can be very particular about what they like to eat during their heats. I just want to cover all the bases.”
Jordie dropped his arm. “It’s a good thing you’re doing this, Papa.
For Zinn. It’s really, really super-duper weird.
But it’s good.” He looked at Ked before continuing, “We’re just confused why you asked us to come here and…
see this place. It’s not like we want to have a clearer visual of what’s about to happen between you two. ”
“Yeah, hard pass on the specifics,” Ked added.
Calder snorted. “I’m glad you approve… And I’m serious about that. It means a lot to me that you’re old enough to understand what’s going on, and also that you haven’t made this difficult. Just the opposite, in fact.”
Ked rolled his eyes. “Why would we make things difficult? We love Zinn. We wouldn’t want to risk him having to be with some asshole alpha during his heat.”
“Watch your language, son.”
“Sorry. But it must suck being an omega and having to deal with all this.”
Calder nodded. “None of this has been easy for Zinn. Heats are difficult for omegas in a lot of ways.”
“That’s why we’re glad you can help, Papa,” Jordie said. “But I still don’t understand why Ked and I had to come here.”
“Honestly? You and your brother haven’t said much about this plan other than okay.
I thought being here might make it more real, perhaps spark some questions you hadn’t thought of.
I love you, and I want you to feel like you can ask me anything.
” He paused before bringing up the subject that he’d been most apprehensive about.
“It doesn’t bother you that I’m going to be with someone else? An omega who isn’t your daddy?”
Jordie hung his head before peering up. “Daddy’s been gone a long time. We don’t want you to mourn him forever.”
Calder glanced at Ked, who dipped his chin.
Jordie sat on the couch next to Calder. “We know you loved Daddy. That doesn’t mean you have to be alone.”
“Papa! Frozen pizza rolls! You don’t even let us have these!” Ked sounded genuinely outraged.
“What?” Calder defended himself. “Zinn brings them in for lunch sometimes, so they were a safe bet.”
“You could just ask him what he likes,” Jordie reasoned. “Instead of buying the entire grocery store.”
“I know. I guess I’m just trying to anticipate some of his needs. Take the burden off him having to plan things. Or tell me things.”
Jordie and Ked shared an odd look.
“What?” Calder asked.
Ked snickered. “Nothing. Anticipate his needs. That sounds like some weird alpha-omega stuff.”
“Yeah,” Jordie said. “Sometimes I forget you’re not like us.”
“That’s not a bad thing, is it?” This wasn’t the first time Calder had questioned if the boys needed more beta influences in their lives. Lolo was a great friend to the family, but he wondered if they needed more.
“Uh, definitely not.” Ked snatched an apple from the bowl on the coffee table and flung himself into a side chair. “I’m feeling pretty lucky to be a beta right now.”