Chapter Sixty
Dusty
I drove the SUV toward the restaurant, Saoirse in the front seat next to me. My brother Marcos had texted me.
Marcos
See you soon.
I told him not to go overboard, but I’m sure he would.
Saoirse looked over at me and nodded to the back seat. It was time. Excitement zinged through me.
“I have some news, but you cannot tell anyone at dinner. Not your parents, not your sisters, not your besties, not your group chat. This does not go beyond this car until I say otherwise, so help me,” Saoirse stated.
Fiona gave a little squeal.
“What’s going on?” Hale looked concerned. “Oh, wait, did you get a new job?”
“I knocked Dusty up.” She tried very hard to keep a straight face.
So did I.
Hale gave a look of surprise. “I didn’t realize alphas males could get pregnant. Dusty did you know even though you’re an alpha, people draw you pregnant online, mostly with Beefy Pot Roast?”
“People do what?” Saoirse gave me a look.
“Fan art. It’s funny.” I grinned. “As far as I know, alpha males can’t get pregnant. We’re going to be increasing the family, and we wanted to bring this up sooner rather than later. But she’s right, we’re not ready for it to go beyond this car.”
Fiona was bouncing up and down in her seat. “I’m so excited and I’m going to plan that amazing baby shower for you. My friends will help, of course, when you’re ready for me to tell them.”
“I’m sure your omega assassin brunch society will plan quite the party,” Saoirse replied. “But I get to design the nursery myself.”
“Cici’s pregnant? Oh, my goodness you and Dusty are going to have a baby! There’s going to be a little lovely.” Carlos squeezed my shoulder. “Man, I am so excited for you, are you going to write a song?”
“Maybe. I want to do a Christmas one called Santa Dad.” I looked at Saoirse. She didn’t mind being called Cici now, but I’d eased back on it, knowing how much she liked me using her name.
Carlos’ fingers waggled as doing the mental math. “I’m guessing you’re due close to pre-season and Hale starting classes, but we’ll figure it out.”
“Yep. I’ll absolutely clear my schedule of anything other than things super worth my while or her explicitly wanting me out of the house,” I replied.
“Next season we’ll have a tiny baby in a jersey!” Fiona replied.
“Baby Himbo will be in good company, JP’s wife is pregnant, too,” Carlos added.
“And when I have a baby there will be two. Don’t worry I’ll figure everything out so Saoirse can participate, but we still make the summer window,” Fiona reassured.
“Two babies nine months apart might be a lot,” Hale said softly. “Just speaking from when my twin siblings were born. But they could also be best friends. I mean, Verity and Creed are like six months apart. I wasn’t around for that. We’ll do the math and see what we can figure out.”
Relief flowed through me. “That’s the spirit."
“When we are ready to tell everybody, can we do tiny boots? I’ve always wanted to do that,” Hale added.
“What is that?” Saoirse asked.
“We have a picture of all our boots sitting by the door–my boots, Carlos’ boots, Dusty’s boots, Fiona’s boots, your boots, and then we have the tiny baby boots.
We just drop the picture with a quote like bought some new boots and leave it like that,” he replied.
“We can continue it for any other babies with captions like boot shopping again or sometimes you need more boots.”
I nodded. “I like that.”
“It’s such a cute idea,” Fiona squealed. “I could use some cowboy boots.”
“I like how it establishes a boundary, We’re having a baby, but that’s all you get to know,” Saoirse added.
“We are thinking Baby Lovely, though, not Baby Himbo, even if we aren’t Pack Lovely,” I added.
“I like Pack Lovely, since that fits with you, unless you want to be Pack Peace & Beans?” Hale offered.
“That could also work, we do stand for peace and beans in this pack. Or Pack Lovely Beans?” Carlos replied.
“Ooh, we’ll have to ponder that,” I replied.
We had time. “Did you all see the dates in the group chat for the party Carlos’ mom and my moms are planning?
Fifi, we have zero control of this one, but it’ll be in a few weeks.
It won’t conflict with your party, this is more of a meet-and-greet.
” With food, music, liquor and every tia and tio in the tri-state area.
“Like I said before, I want all the parties, I want to meet everybody,” Fiona said.
Hale’s phone rang. “It’s Grace.”
“Take it, though we’ll be there soon,” I replied.
“I’m in the car with my pack. We’re meeting Fiona’s parents for dinner,” he said.
Hale went quiet. “Wait, really? Have I told you lately that you are my bestest sister? What? No, I don’t tell Verity and Mercy that, much or often.
” He chuckled. “We’ll have dinner next time you’re in town. Love you, too.”
He ended the call, beaming.
Fiona grinned. “Did she just tell you that they’re funding your research?”
“Yes. So glad quitting my job at the Titty Tank wasn’t for nothing,” he replied.
“Congrats! That’s amazing,” I said as Carlos and Fiona kissed Hale.
“Speaking of the Circle, the police called me to follow up with everything. Obviously, I’m not at fault–and none of you are responsible for anything.
There might be a kidnapping trial. Though Clegg was hurt pretty bad.
At least no one died,” he added. “I didn’t realize how much they were marking my drug up or who all they started selling it to.
No wonder recently he’d been pressuring me for it more and more and got big mad.
Well, that’s not my problem. Compass BioTek legal is already sending out cease and desist letters. ”
“Speaking of letters, we need to send that one to your parents. Unless they gave you a magical bank transfer,” Fiona prodded.
Hale sighed. “Fine. Also, I’m not going to call or visit Mom or send her money anymore. Mercy isn’t either.”
“You don’t have to. I’m surprised you still spoke to her after everything she did,” Carlos said.
“I know. I always felt so conflicted. She did a bad thing, but she’s still my mom. Also, she has been so supportive of Mercy after she got signed to the Maimers when the other parents weren’t. But no more.” He shook his head.
“I’m proud of you,” Carlos said.
“Me, too,” Fiona added.
The restaurant came into view. I’ve been here a number of times.
“Fifi, did you know your dads picked my brother Marcos’ restaurant?” I said as I pulled into the valet line.
“He did? That’s exciting,” Fiona replied.
“Is your brother going to be obnoxious like when we took Anita here for her birthday?” Carlos asked.
“Probably worse.” I laughed. Though I had asked him not to send wine.
We left the car with the valet and went inside.
We called it my brother‘s restaurant, but he wasn’t the owner. He was one of the head chefs and had designed a number of the dishes on the menu. It was a European-Latin fusion restaurant. Him getting noticed was entirely my fault.
I took Saoirse’s hand as the five of us walked inside. It was amazing that she wanted to have a baby with me.
We were led into the private dining room, not the party room, but the one where packs who wanted a nice meal but weren’t out to be seen liked to book. Her dads hadn’t reserved it–Marcos did.
While I’m sure someone had already posted a photo of us going into the restaurant, we didn’t need people watching us.
Saoirse immediately relaxed. “Much safer,” she said softly.
“Exactly,” I agreed.
We greeted Fiona’s dads and took a seat. Finn had seated himself at the head of the table, the dads along one side. Fiona sat next to him, us along the other side, I seated Saoirse at the opposite end. This was all a game of alpha strategy.
The dads all had drinks. I excused myself, went to the bar, and got everyone’s preferred beverage, including the mocktail Saoirse liked, so no one asked why she wasn’t drinking.
When I came back, Fiona was updating them animatedly.
“Thank you,” Saoirse said softly.
A server came in with plates set with elegant tiny appetizers. “The chef sends this with his compliments.”
“Thank you.” Finn looked a little perplexed.
“We’re so excited to host Pack Himbo at your first official pack outing.” She grinned. I also knew her–she was a very trusted member of Marcos’ team.
“We’re excited to dine here. You have the most excellent chefs,” I replied.
“Who’s ready to order?” she asked.
I turned to Saoirse. “I recommend the schnitzel tacos.”
She beamed. “I can’t wait to try them.”
As we ate our appetizers, Finn and the other fathers grilled us on how everything had been going. This wasn’t dinner, this wasn’t a get to know you meal, this was a how are you doing interrogation.
Fiona, Hale, and Carlos kept them busy with updates. We didn’t mention that last night we rescued Hale from moonshiners.
It continued into dinner. I’d ordered my favorite, which was the filet mignon and fingerling potato fajitas.
“According to my granddaughter you’re popular?” Finn asked.
“My recent album did well, and I just finished my largest tour ever. I was recently booked to play Feral Ratville in June.” And so excited.
Scary dad eyed me. “That’s a good thing?”
“It’s the best thing. Really, we’re fine.” Fiona rolled her eyes.
“If you’re doing so well, why haven't you returned the contract,” he replied.
Saoirse met his gaze, holding her knife in one hand. “You do know that we’re not obligated to sign anything or participate in your ultimatums? We can comfortably exist without your infrastructure.”
Finn sighed and rubbed his temples.
“Is this where she threatens to fight you again?” the congenial dad asked. “Saoirse, dear, I would pay good money to see that–and it would all be on you.”
Finn sighed again, unamused.
“We’ve been going back and forth with our contract lawyer, Fiona’s advocate, and the legal person at the Omega Center,” I replied. “Everyone’s residency is official, so our six months have started, and the mating agreements are all signed.”
Finn nodded. “I see.”
“I told you, we have everything under control, Dad,” Fiona replied.
The door opened and Marcos, in his chef outfit, walked in.
“Good evening, I’m Marcos Villanueva, one of the chefs here, and I just wanted to check in and make sure that everything was to your liking,” he stated.
“Chef Marcos, the schnitzel tacos are absolutely delicious,” Saoirse replied.
“I’m quite proud of that dish,” he stated, eyes flickering over to me.
We chatted with him for a few moments.
“I’ll be bringing out a complementary dessert soon,” he added and then he left.
“You're related, aren’t you?” the congenial dad asked.
I laughed. “Yes, Marcos is my brother. Schnitzel tacos were something we created as a family when we were kids. When he needed a unique dish for something in culinary school he refined it into something suitable for fine dining.”
And it caught attention, eventually leading to him being here.
“They do look well so far. Everyone seems clean and fed?” one of the dads added.
“We do know how to be adults,” Fiona retorted.
“Accidently,” scary dad coughed.
“We’re getting everything figured out one step at a time. I’m sure there will be a lot of hurdles, but we’ve got a solid start,” Carlos added.
“And a puppy. This is Ispín.” Fiona brought up pictures of the dog and passed them around.
A hand went to Finn’s face. “You got a dog?”
Hale nodded. “He can keep us company when Carlos is away and go running with Saoirse.”
“Just please don’t rush into anything, Fiona, like children,” Finn added.
For a moment I froze wondering if somebody would say anything, but Fiona just flashed him a giant smile.
“Oh, with Hale and Carlos’ schedules, it’s best for me to have a summer baby.” She gave him one of her innocent looks.
The server brought in their signature dessert, which was a chocolate cake with tequila ice cream and a chipotle raspberry sauce.
Carlos glanced at his phone. It looked like he was going to laugh, then he put it back down.
“Would you like to share?” scary dad asked.
“We were spotted entering the restaurant and now are trending,” Carlos replied.
“Oooh, we are?” Fiona got on her phone. “Not a bad photo either. Maybe we should keep Pack Himbo.” She smirked at Finn.
The server came back in with the bill, and they gave it to Finn.
“I can take that, Finn,” I offered.
He gave me a measured look, was this also a test?
“I’ll cover the bill, though I’m guessing it’s all or mostly covered,” he replied.
“Actually, I’m not sure what my brother did, you never know with him.” I’d text him later.
Finn paid the bill and we finished up.
“Thank you so much for tonight. We’ll have to do this again,” I said. It went better than I expected. I slipped an extra tip under my plate, unsure if Finn was a good tipper.
Saoirse put her arm around Fiona and murmured something to her. Fiona giggled.
“Yes, let’s give them something to really take pictures about.” Fiona laughed as we left.
I used the app to let the valet know we were ready. As we walked out, Saoirse swept Fiona up into a big kiss.
Yes, that was my pack. My lovely beans. I texted my brother our thanks while we waited for the car.
Today was a good night. One of many, many ones to come.