Chapter Nineteen
Evander
“Don’t you think I’m a little big to play?
” Hudson sat beside me in one of the new cars we’d bought just the day before.
My two-seater, we agreed, was anything but a good choice for a family vehicle, and his car was old and questionably reliable.
My omega had protested that it was too much, that we could get by with one and keep one we already had, but I overruled him.
“As your alpha, I insist we have two good family cars.”
He dropped his protests.
But he was arguing about going to the club.
We hadn’t been in a few weeks, and even before that, we had limited our visits to socializing since the start of his third trimester.
Normally, I wouldn’t have cared about going if he preferred to stay home.
But tonight was special, and barring him feeling sick or exhausted, we had to show up.
“We’ll just go and chat for a little. It’s good for you to get out and see other omegas.”
“If you say so,” he grumbled. “But I don’t see why it’s such a big deal. You’re there almost every night of the week anyway.”
“In the kitchen. There are a couple of other owners from Cuffed who plan to be there tonight, and we’re going to visit. Tomorrow, we’ll have some official meetings, but this is a nice way for me as the newest owner to break the ice.”
“Okay, I understand. I didn’t realize you had business to transact.” My omega’s voice softened. “I’m just a little tired and grouchy.”
“We won’t stay long. I’m anxious for you to meet them as well.
” With the majority of the investors in the other city, it was rare that they came up this way, and Gatlin had been adamant that I should come tonight if at all possible.
“I would have mentioned it to you sooner, but I thought you’d be glad to come.
We’ll put in an appearance and leave. They all have families themselves, so they will understand. ”
“You take as long as you need to, and I’ll just relax and have a cold drink and a snack.”
“I have the most understanding omega. Maybe we can go out tomorrow night for dinner.”
“Or a breakfast date?”
“That sounds even nicer.” My omega loved breakfast dates. “My meetings won’t be until afternoon, so it’s perfect.”
We arrived at the club and parked in my slot. It was the same one I had as head chef, but they had changed the title next to my name.
“Lot’s crowded,” Hudson said. “Must be a busy night.”
“I think so. We’ll go in the back.” As the owner’s mate, and technically an owner himself since we shared all assets, Hudson could hold on to his phone now.
Not that he could whip it out and take pictures.
Nor would he. Privacy of our membership was important to us.
That never changed. “Something’s wrong here.
” The kitchen was empty. It was never without at least some staff member at this time. “Where could they all be?”
Alarmed, I pushed into the club, Hudson on my heels.
I could think of no reason that the staff would not be cooking.
There was no reason I could come up with that they would have all left at the same time.
It was obvious that there was cooking going on, everything in process, but not one single person there to do anything.
If they’d abandoned their posts, I’d fire every one of them.
And the club…was dark. Not a light to be seen. What the heck?
Hudson bumped into my back. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, but stay close.”
Suddenly, a spotlight shone in my eyes and cheers and applause broke out. Then the whole place was lit up to reveal the bar decorated in pastels, a huge pile of presents, and a multitiered cake.
“What is it?” Hudson gasped from behind me.
“I think…it looks like a baby shower.” I pulled him up next to me. “And they’ve shut down the whole club for it.”
Before we could recover, we were surrounded by new friends and old.
Before I came here, I’d spent as much time as I had free at Cuffed, and one of the reasons I’d been willing to buy in was my friendships with many of the other owners.
It never occurred to me that they were all coming here for this reason, but it touched me deeply.
Of course, there would be meetings, but it would have been cheaper and easier to have Gatlin and I travel to Cuffed.
This was all about us. Hudson and I moved through the crowd, and I got to introduce him to all my old friends and their omegas.
The club was opening late, which was why all the prep work was done in the kitchen so my staff could join the celebration.
There was a huge bowl of punch, plates of tiny sandwiches and pastries, and, of course the cake and presents, and I just sat back and watched my omega glow.
I’d never forget the evening when friends honored my omega and made him so happy.