Chapter Eighteen
Hudson
The app said my baby, our baby, was the size of a cantaloupe. Strange to compare a living, breathing being to a fruit, but at least there were updates and I had an idea of how much he or she weighed.
What I did know was that my belly hadn’t gotten the memo. It was more like a basketball or a small watermelon.
Thank goodness they made extra-stretchy scrubs and my pregnancy hadn’t given me an aversion to blood, other than seeing it in crime docs.
“Is today the day?” my friend Davis said as we sanitized our stations between patients.
One this morning had fainted on me, and Davis’ first patient screamed so loudly during his draw that the other staff rushed in, thinking there had been an accident or an emergency.
It had been one hell of a day already and it was only noon.
I’d already eaten three times and still was getting impatient for lunch.
“Today is the day. But there’s really not a lot to be done.
Evander hired someone to get what I wanted out of the apartment, but the furniture…
there was nothing that I really wanted. His house is beautifully furnished already. ”
“We still need to have a housewarming party.”
“Maybe. We don’t really need anything.”
He nodded. “How’s the nursery coming? I’m living vicariously through you since I haven’t found my mate yet.”
“The nursery is being painted this week, I think. I have to check our schedule.”
Evander bought us a digital wall calendar that was hooked to an app on our phones.
We could see each other’s schedules along with doctor’s appointments and things like my book club on Sundays.
Everything was in there. It was the only way we could make time for one another with his more demanding schedule.
We decided on a very faint mint green for the nursery and white furniture. Evander went nuts buying everything the baby sites said we needed. Last night, I came home to a brand-new glider rocker all put together in the corner of the living room just for me.
“Are you excited about moving in?” Davis knew some of my history. We had lunch and yap sessions almost every day.
“I am now. Did I tell you Evander put my name on the new house? He didn’t want me to think my home could be taken away. It was to make me feel more secure.”
Davis stopped moving and turned to me. “You found a good one, Hudson. I know it’s hard for you to trust but he’s showing you how much he truly loves you.”
“I know.”
At the end of the workday, I went home and found that moving in was taking place without me. There was a truck in the driveway. Workers filed out of the small moving van holding boxes with my handwriting on them. Mostly books.
In the doorway, letting everyone in was Evander, dressed in sweatpants and a tight shirt. If there were omegas among the movers, they were getting an eyeful. He shouldn’t be allowed to dress like that in public, too sexy for his own good.
He bounced down the stairs and walked over to me. I’d parked on the curb since there was a moving van in the driveway. “Welcome home, Hudson.”
I laughed and leaned into his hug. “I basically already live here.” After finding out I was pregnant, Evander wanted me to sleep over every night. Even the nights he was working. His house, our house now, was in a better part of the city, and the neighborhood gated.
I certainly didn’t mind.
“That’s true but now you never have to leave.” His hand skimmed over my belly. He didn’t mind how big I was getting. In fact, he liked it. Enjoyed how my body was changing.
I wondered if he would still say that once my watermelon was fully grown.
“Any chance we have some dinner left over? Would it be rude to eat in front of the movers?”
“You are eating for two. Come on. I’ll heat it up for you.”
Before the spinach, feta meatballs, and roasted potatoes were heated up, the men from the moving company were gone. We’d hired them out of convenience. Evander wasn’t sure he could get off to bring all the boxes before my lease was up and insisted I not do it.
It was easier to pay someone else to do it.
I ate my fill and began unpacking boxes of books. We’d bought some shelves to go in the living room. Plus, built-ins providing extra rooms.
Evander came into the room and let out a low growl.
“What was that for?” I asked.
“I never thought I’d meet my mate but you’re here, nesting in our house, our baby inside you. It’s quite the sight for an alpha.”
“We have more to do on the nursery before I’m due.”
He nodded. “We have to order furniture. All you have to do is click “buy now” on your lists. I’ve been saving for these moments, omega. I know you fret over finances, but we have the means, and if we buy high-quality items, then we can keep them for the other children.”
I rubbed my belly. “I haven’t even gotten this one out yet. But you do have a point. It would save us money in the long run.”
After the books were put up, Evander insisted I put my feet up. Somewhere in his schedule, he’d managed to make me a cookie-butter cheesecake and also insisted I eat it while getting a foot rub from him.
He taught me what life was all about. Living in harmony. Loving each other. Being kind even when arguing about something. Making sure your mate felt loved. Feeling safe.
Trusting my alpha with my whole life.