36. Phineas
Chapter 36
Phineas
October, Nashville
“ A ll of you, quit hogging. Meadow is all mine today.” I tugged our beauty off the couch, earning a round of frowns from the others. “Don’t look at me like that. I asked for my date and I got it.”
Meadow was in a sweet red dress that highlighted all of her growing curves, white leggings, and sturdy, matching shoes. Beckett had helped her braid her hair, and she fiddled nervously with the end.
“You ready?” I asked.
“You’re sure it’s safe for us to go out like this?”
I gestured to my outfit: red flannel shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots. “Pretty sure not a fucking soul is going to recognize me in this.”
She slipped her hand into mine and let me pull her off the bus. There was no one anywhere nearby, and we wandered over to one of the hop-on-hop-off bus stops. I had purchased the tickets for us last night. Meadow had been missing out on so much sightseeing, but we had gotten to Nashville a day before our concert, and I refused to waste it. We could reconnect with the others later tonight, but during the day, she was all mine. The others were so fucking good at weaseling time with her, and the only way I’d ever get attention myself was if I staked my claim. I learned that much being the youngest child in my family. Squeaky wheel gets the grease, and all that.
“You look cute as hell in that dress.”
Meadow blushed. “Thanks. It’s one of the ones Clover picked out for me.”
“She has good taste on how to enhance how gorgeous you are.”
“ Phin , I’m already pregnant. You don’t need to woo me.”
I laughed, swinging my arm over her shoulders. “Sweets, you’re gonna have to get used to me wooing you until the day we die.”
She snuggled against me, her scent bright and content.
“You have to keep me apprised of how you’re doing, okay? We can take as many breaks as you need. It’s not my first time in Nashville, so today is all about you having a good time. Promise?”
“Pinky promise.” She held up her pinky finger for me to hook mine around. Obviously, I made that promise.
When the bus came around, Meadow claimed us a spot up top at the front. It was a bit chilly in the breeze, but I had doubled up on my layers specifically so I could take the outer one off and let Meadow use it as a blanket while she snuggled against my side.
“I like riding the full loop and seeing what looks interesting on the way,” I told her. “It’s a good way to orient yourself in a new city.”
“Oh, that’s smart.”
She was so fucking cute as we drove. I watched her little head swivel, taking in every detail, making a list on my phone whenever she saw something to come back to later.
“You seem pretty chipper today.”
“I’ll tell you why if you promise not to rat me out.”
I raised a curious eyebrow. “I would never rat you out.”
“I poured my smoothie down the sink when Ellie was distracted.”
That got a laugh out of me. “Do they really taste as bad as they look?”
Meadow wrinkled her nose. “Worse.”
“Well, your secret is safe with me. I’ll be sure to feed you anything you want today.”
“Chocolate cupcakes?” she asked, eyes hopeful.
“I said anything . Let me find a good place to go.” I searched on my phone, finding a little boutique bakery and cake shop one stop from where our route had started. “Target acquired. We’ll get you fueled up there before we start working through your list.”
Meadow let out a happy squeak, clutched both of my cheeks, and dragged me in for a kiss. Her mouth tasted all the sweeter when it was graced by a smile she couldn’t contain. Meadow bounced in her seat until it was time to get off the bus. She swung our joined hands as we walked, happy as a little clam. The bakery was a bit busy, but Meadow seemed perfectly content to stand in line with me.
“Why don’t we get a dozen of the mini ones?” I suggested. “We can eat them while we walk.”
“Sounds perfect.”
With a tray of fresh cupcakes in hand, a coffee for me, and a cinnamon steamed milk for her, we set about wandering. Meadow alternated feeding me cupcakes and feeding herself, and I couldn’t fucking stop smiling. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted to be out with her like this, like we were a normal couple, like I wasn’t part of a world-famous band, and she hadn’t gotten knocked up by my best friend during a one-night stand. I was totally at peace with both of those things, but it was nice to strip away the complications and simply be an alpha and omega out in the world together.
“God, those were so good,” she groaned as we polished off the last of the treats. “Ellie is going to feed me into a wood chipper for consuming that much sugar.”
“She’s kind of a tyrant for healthy food, huh?”
Meadow pouted. “She really fucking is. The baby doesn’t want lettuce. Nugget wants hamburgers, and French fries, and cupcakes.”
“Hamburgers have lettuce on them,” I pointed out.
“I tried to use that argument. She didn’t go for it.”
“I am a big fan of intuitive eating. Plus, I feel like if you don’t indulge a pregnant omega’s cravings, you’re asking to be stabbed.”
Meadow snorted. “Believe me, I’ve thought about it a few times.”
We spent the next couple of hours going through the Musicians Hall of Fame. Meadow dutifully read every plaque and relayed the most interesting information to me. She stopped to rest every so often, and I sat by her side, sometimes massaging her little socked feet, sometimes her shoulders.
She was reading a particularly lengthy music history plaque when I pressed up against her back, laced my fingers beneath the swell of her stomach, and gently lifted. Her fingers latched onto my arms, a practically orgasmic sound sliding from her lips.
“Holy shit. I hadn’t even realized how heavy Nugget was getting. You’re obligated to hold them like this forever now.”
I chuckled, kissing her cheek. “If I could, I would. I have heard about some witchcraft they do with taping bellies to relieve some of the pressure. We could look into that if you want.”
“I’m probably okay for a little while longer. Once I get deeper into the third trimester, I’d be down for that, though.”
“I’ll make sure we have some in stock, then. You’re gonna grow so fast.”
“It’s weird to think about. Nugget is totally person-shaped in there now. Just gotta pack on the little baby pounds to get ready for their debut.”
“Remind me when the actual due date is?”
“Around Christmas, if Nugget stays put the entire time.”
“You’re not going to give the baby a Christmas name, are you? I’ll totally support you if you do, but I can practically hear the bullying already.”
Meadow leaned against me, purring happily. “I haven’t thought about it too hard. Everything that floats through my head feels wrong. I think I need to pick when I have a little face to look at.”
“Totally fair. That’s what my mom did. She had a list of top contenders that she completely threw out the window the second they put me in her arms.”
“I’m really eager to meet Nugget, but I’m also scared shitless about it.”
I got my purr going, nuzzling her cheek with mine. “Pretty sure it’s normal to be scared about this. You don’t have to do any of it alone, though. We can all be scared shitless together.”
Meadow drew me into a soft kiss, and then pulled me along to the museum gift shop, where she picked out a magnet for the bus fridge, a stuffed music note for the nugget, and a postcard to send Clover. She filled it out on the spot, and the staff popped it in the mail for her.
“Ready for some more fuel?” I asked.
“Always.”
We settled on some Nashville hot chicken. Meadow nibbled the corner of mine before deciding it was too spicy, and instead she ate all of my fries. We passed the whole day like that, with frequent cuddle and food stops, until she was finally exhausted enough I needed to take her back. If I had my way, I would have hogged her all to myself until I had to leave for the show the next day, but I knew the others would be anxious, and they deserved time with our omega too.
We met the pack at a barbecue restaurant to end our evening. Beckett had rented out the space way in advance, and it was a stop we usually made when we came here. The staff was blessedly chill, which made the experience one we were always happy to repeat. Meadow picked off all of our plates, so she could try the most new things, but she was still full of treats from the day.
When we finally got back to her nest for the night, I helped her strip down and shower off the day. I couldn’t be too luxurious with the minimal water supply, but I made the time last extra by turning off the water while I scrubbed her down, keeping her warm with my body. Once we were both squeaky clean, it was time to get in the nest.
“I really think we should try and cram all of us in there,” said Arlo. “I’m all needy for omega time.”
“We can move a few things,” Meadow conceded, “but none of you are allowed to starfish.”
“I’m pretty sure we all intend to be as close to you as possible,” said Hendrix.
“Okay, but I reserve the right to kick anyone out.”
“You’ve got it, sweets,” I told her. “The nest is your domain.”
“Phin and Hendrix on the inside,” Meadow announced. “We can trade spots tomorrow.”
Beckett frowned, and Arlo full-on pouted, but Meadow was already making her way up to the nest, all of us on her heels.
Today had been the best fucking day. I wanted a thousand more of them, tens of thousands more. I wanted to watch Meadow experience the world and bask in every small joy she could grab, and when the nugget made their outside debut, I knew, without a doubt, that I wanted the same for them. I snuggled around Meadow, Beckett at my back, all of our purrs filling the quiet. This was a perfection I had never experienced before and wanted to savor forever.
Nothing was going to ruin this.