25. Lucky
“Remind me again why you’re doin’ this?” Rhys asks skeptically.
I roll my eyes, stretching my arms high before lacing them behind my head in a casual position that hopefully hides my nerves. Is getting a tattoo for Lainey my smartest decision? Maybe not. But is it my best decision? Without a doubt. Well, my pack mates have some doubt.
Okay, a lot of doubt.
But I trust that Lainey is going to bond me and Wyatt too someday and until then, I need people to know in no uncertain terms that I am a taken man. If she thinks I’m crazy in the meantime well then that’s not really any different than usual now is it?
“Just admit you’re jealous you didn’t think of it first,” I taunt.
He shrugs, which has me barking a laugh. I love when my pack mates admit I’m right, even if it is inadvertently.
He sighs, donning gloves and going through the pre-appointment spiel he knows I know by heart, but I feel like he is giving me time to change my mind. It’s not going to happen, but I appreciate the thoughtfulness. “Alright, you know the drill. Try not to flinch and if it hurts keep it to yourself.”
I bite back the chuckle that wants to escape because he already has the needle on my skin, and settle in for the ride. It shouldn’t take all that long since it’s a simple design, but this area is extra spicy so each second feels three times as long.
Wyatt saunters in when Rhys is about halfway through and stops in his tracks when he finds me in the chair.
I did not inform him I would be doing this today, so he is as surprised as Lainey is going to be.
“What the hell is that?” His question is full of exasperation, which kind of irritates me.
He was there when I brought up the idea of a tattoo to Lainey, why is he acting like he’s surprised?
“It’s a puppy.” I deadpan.
He narrows his eyes, taking a seat in the extra chair against the wall. “She’s going to freak when she sees it.”
I shrug again, not really seeing the problem. “Worst case scenario she yells at me. And in that scenario I still get what I want because a mad Lainey is a hot Lainey.”
He nods slowly, the skepticism in his expression lightening to something like amusement. “I hate to validate your insanity, but I’m almost jealous I didn’t think of it first.”
“I know.” I answer smugly.
Rhys has been quiet most of the appointment but finally lets loose a deep laugh that hits me right in the chest. He doesn’t laugh often, and it always strikes me dumb when he does.
The sound is rich and full, even when he’s trying to be quiet about it.
“I also hate to agree, but I really do. Maybe we should all get tattoos for her in some way or another. I would give anything to ink her perfect skin but since I can’t, inkin' someone in her honor feels like the next best thing.” He nods decisively, wiping away some excess ink on my abs.
One wipe with some diluted Green Soap and a few photos later, the skin just above my waistband is officially branded for my girl, and it turned out exactly how I pictured in my head.
He covers it with a thin layer of ointment and a sterile bandage, careful to seal the edges with tape so nothing can get in for the next few hours.
I grin brightly at him when he finishes.
“Thanks man,” I stand and give him a hug, careful not to disturb my fresh ink as he pats my back.
“If she hates it, I had nothin’ to do with it,” he grumbles in my ear.
I give a sarcastic salute and rush out before he can hit me with anything. Wyatt follows close on my heels. My smirk is pure trouble when I look at him over my shoulder. “I have one more stop planned, wanna join me?”
“She is actually going to murder us. Why did I let you talk me into this?” Wyatt complains the next day as we walk on to campus.
Normally we would come in with Lainey but since neither of us had a class until several hours after her first, we decided to let Rhys drive her and come in late so we can surprise her with my incredible idea.
“She’s going to act like she hates it but pay attention to her scent.
Bet ya ten bucks she gets all sweet and syrupy like she does any time we do something nice for her.
” I don’t think our omega has known a lot of kindness in her life, and we have been determined to change that.
Something as simple as remembering her coffee order (an iced americano with peach and vanilla), or bringing her a snack when she’s sitting on the couch just because we worry she might be hungry will send her scent spiraling dangerously close to perfume territory.
It’s heaven and hell and only serves to remind me that we have never been through a heat with her and won’t for at least another year because of the babies.
Lainey is just over halfway through her pregnancy now and every day the babies grow a little more.
She says she hasn’t felt them move yet which seems really strange, but Doctor Mel assured us first time moms don’t always recognize the feeling at first because it can feel like bubbles or butterflies and be pretty subtle, especially if the twins are on the small side.
I am dying to feel them for myself, but I know it could be a few more weeks before that happens. After our tryst in the locker room, we have been slowly getting closer and I no longer have to worry about not sleeping since Wyatt spilled the beans and she all but forced me into her bed at night.
Not like I was fighting it too hard. Or at all.
Most nights she ends up squished between me and Rhys or Wyatt, but there have been occasions where I’ve woken up to both of them puppy piled on the bed with us and I even caught Law sleeping on the end of the bed once.
I don’t know what the hell his deal is, but if he doesn’t pull his head out of his ass and fix things with our omega soon, he and I are going to have a talk.
I’m not used to being the grown up between the two of us, and I am man enough to admit I don’t love it.
I want my bossy, overbearing brother back.
Not whatever this ghost is that he’s turned into since he bonded Lainey.
“If this goes sideways I’m throwing you under the bus,” Wyatt mutters under his breath. He knows I can hear him, he just doesn’t want anyone else to. He has to maintain that good guy persona somehow, and casual murder would really harsh his vibe.
A flash of bright yellow catches my eye, and I spot her sweat suit before I actually spot my girl.
She has the best taste in clothing and decor, often choosing bright colors and patterns that draw your eye.
This outfit is no exception. Her sweatshirt and sweats are two different shades of yellow, and she’s sporting a hot pink headband and matching slipper boots that I always forget the name of.
But I tried them on one time and they’re comfy as hell, so I am going to have her help me pick out my own pair to wear after games and practice when my feet are killing me from being in cleats for hours at a time.
“Lainey!” I shout. She’s standing outside the library talking to who I am guessing is Posey, based on the pink hair, but she turns an icy glare on me as her eyes dart around, likely embarrassed I’m drawing so much attention to her.
Pregnant omega’s aren’t a rarity on campus, but a pregnancy being claimed by two of the most popular guys on campus?
Yeah, that’s stirring up some shit. We have tried to shield her from as much of it as we can, but neither of us can be with her 24/7 and I know she has been catching some shit from some of the girls on campus.
Probably some of the guys, too. Though those comments tend to lean more towards the lewd side and I can usually solve it with a fist to their face.
Not that I’ve done that. I can’t risk my throwing arm when the draft is so close, so I drop a photo to Rhys and he comes to campus to put the fear of god in anyone with the audacity to badmouth our omega.
Thankfully, it hasn’t been many people. Mostly they’re just curious and want to know everything they can about Lainey, the babies, and our relationship.
The last thing I am more than happy to answer questions about, because getting to tell people I fell in love at first sight and found her again by accident is fun and makes for a pretty kick ass love story.
“Lucky,” she hisses the moment we’re within hearing range. “What have I said about inviting unnecessary attention to us?”
I draw a blank. “Umm…” I glance to Wyatt, but he’s too busy chuckling to be of any help.
Lainey huffs, crossing her arms and resting them on top of her bump that is now visible through her hoodie. “I said don’t fucking do it. I’m already the size of the Goodyear blimp, I really do not need even more people staring at me.”
“First of all,” I boop her nose, grinning when she smacks my hand away.
“You are beautiful. Your body is incredible and the fact that you are creating not one, but two human beings from scratch right now? These looky-loos should be putting you on a literal pedestal and offering cinnamon rolls of praise for the sheer magnificence of what your body is doing right now.”
Her lips part, but no words come out so I take that as my sign to keep talking. “But since that probably won’t happen because I would scare off any person that came near you with mystery food, we have a little surprise to show you just how proud we are to have you as our omega.”
Wyatt and I whip open our jackets in sync and wait for her to process everything we’re showing her.
I made our pack matching t-shirts with Lainey’s face on them and under that are the words, “don’t get too close, my omega bites.
” I had the idea before I scheduled my tattoo and realistically I could have just done the shirt thing, but I have always been a firm believer in the “go big or go home” ideology. Doubly so when it comes to my omega.
Naturally, my shirt is cropped to show off the lower half of my stomach, and my jeans today are low-slung to appropriately show off my new tattoo.
The words “Lainey’s Luck” are emblazoned in bold font just above the waistband of my boxer briefs, which sit ever so slightly higher than my jeans.
She told me not to get “property of Lainey” so I did the next best thing.
“Oh. My. God.” Her hand fly up to cover her mouth in shock, but I wait, subtly nudging Wyatt with my elbow when the breeze shifts and wafts her sweetening scent our way. He owes me ten bucks.
Posey giggles, placing a hand on Lainey’s shoulder.
“On that note, I’m gonna go. Maybe see if I can convince my alphas to get a tattoo for me,” she winks at me, and I feel like a king.
Lainey’s best friend, my friend approves of my decision, which feels like a battle won.
I know my omega holds her opinion in the highest regard and she’s been nothing but kind to me when she could have been awful and made this whole situation harder than it needed to be, but she hasn’t.
She’s been a total gem and even though we only share the one class together this semester, she has gone out of her way to make me feel included in their friend group.
More so than I already was. It probably helps that Jude, Posey’s alpha and our professor last semester, has lightened up significantly since it came out that I’m the father of Lainey’s babies and no longer a threat to his omega.
I have known since the night we first met that Lainey was it for me, but hopefully now everyone else will know what I have known for months. Lainey Ryan owns me.