Chapter Sixty-Three
Carlos
Three months later
“It’s hotter here than I expected. Also, the bugs. Ugh.” Fiona fanned herself with a paper program, as we sat on white folding chairs, on the grass at Briar University.
“I know.” I waved an insect away as graduation droned on, one department at a time for undergraduate commencement. Unfortunately, chemistry wasn’t under C. No, it was under S for science.
Fiona squeezed my hand. Saoirse sat on the other side of her, Dusty next to her. All of Hale’s siblings had come. Big brother Creed. Grace and her pack. Verity and her pack. His brother Dare. Even his little brother from Bayside and those two parents, and the little ones.
None of the other parents had been invited. His omega dad had apologized. Most of the money had been returned. But Hale wasn’t ready for a relationship again. Mercy was also not talking to them either. She had to get a lawyer involved to get her money.
It made him sad, though. I could see him go to text his dad a million times about classwork things and stop himself.
Somehow, Grace had brought out the three little siblings from London, who were hysterical. That cheered him up.
Finally, we got to science, and of course we had to wait for the T’s.
“Hale Thorne, Organic Chemistry,” somebody called.
Hale walked across the stage in his cap and gown and got his diploma, beaming. We cheered. Then he set off a confetti cannon and did a backflip off the stage.
Graduation finished and we went to find him.
“I did it.” Hale picked me up and twirled me around, giving me a big kiss.
“You did. I am so proud of you.”
“I’m proud of you, too.” Fiona jumped into his arms and he held her, giving her a kiss.
“We’re all proud of you.” Dusty put an arm around him.
“We are,” Saoirse agreed.
He had worked hard this semester, and it wasn’t just his studies or his research. It was him learning to schedule everything in order to maximize his time. It was him growing into an alpha we could all be proud of.
Yeah, Hale was absolutely not the same person who’d stolen his sister’s car to race in Manhattan After Midnight.
But still a lot of fun.
That’s not to say the past months hadn’t been without hardships.
There were definitely a few times Hale wanted to quit his classes.
The nights Fiona sobbed, because both Hale and I were away at the same time.
Days when Saoirse looked like she’d change the locks on us.
Times I felt guilty, because I was happy to have a night to myself at an away game.
Moments where Dusty apologized for things he didn’t do, because he wanted to keep the peace. Times where the puppy ate my things.
But we were working through it. I was so fucking grateful for health insurance that covered therapy and all the support we got from new pack services. They held our hands every step of the way.
The puppy was a lot more work than I ever anticipated and that was with Saoirse doing most of the training, walking, and taking Ispín to puppy classes.
But here we were, very close to when we could file the pack application. Everything was complete, including our pack charter. We were just waiting for the big day. Once our pack application was submitted and accepted, we’d be official.
Mercy ran to him and gave him a big hug. “I’m so proud. Not just about this, about everything you’ve accomplished in the past six months.”
Even Fiona’s dads had begrudgingly admitted, when we met with them to go over the pack charter and our application before it was submitted, that we had done a good job. They even approved of the asset we got Fiona. She wanted investment jewelry, which AJ helped us acquire.
“We did it. No extra alpha for us.” Hale grinned.
Her dads had even agreed that they wouldn’t be adding an alpha. They’d be giving Fiona all the resources and assets they’d promised.
Honestly, her dads were good people, who just wanted Fiona to be happy. They'd warmed up to us as they realized that we did make her happy and treated her well.
Big Tad came over and tackle-hugged Hale. “We made it.”
“We did, you’re coming right?” Hale asked.
“We are.” Tad nodded.
Grace had rented out a restaurant so that everyone could have a nice lunch together. Not just all the people who’d come from out of town for Hale, but Hale’s friends and professors.
“Look at you. I’m so proud of you,” Verity said.
“Thanks, Ver. And thanks for believing in us.” Hale hugged her pack.
“We appreciate everything you’ve done for us,” I added. It was nice to just have the support of another pack, especially since I was already close to her mates.
“Anytime. We’re really excited for your mating party,” she said. “Also, I’m so happy you decided on Pack Lovely, not Pack Himbo. But Hale, now that your pack is going to have a baby, maybe ease up on the street racing?”
We’d both gotten into it, though mostly I was taking the videos.
“Most of them are parents, I can’t wait to take Baby Lovely on a baby-and-me race,” Hale replied.
For a moment I wondered if Verity would have a panic attack.
“I see. Oh, our pack would like to get your pack professional baby-proofing services for your baby gift,” she stated.
“That would be wonderful, thank you, Verity,” Fiona replied.
I wasn’t really sure what that was. Wasn’t baby-proofing just cabinet locks, baby gates, and foam corners?
Fiona and I watched as everybody gave Hale hugs and told him how proud they were of him. I could see how much he needed that, especially when his baba said it.
Hale had gotten into several PhD programs, but had gone with NYC State. The fact that they’d thrown him a bunch of funding, and he got to work with Professor Mathers hadn’t hurt.
He’d also gotten one of those scholarships his baba had him apply for.
Grace joined Hale, Fiona, and me. “Um, the professor sent a message. I told him that I wasn’t his carrier pigeon.”
Hale sighed. “I read his letters. He let me down. But…”
“You don’t have to forgive him. You don’t need to forgive any of them. Not to excuse him, but you were right,” she added.
“I was?” Hale blinked.
“He was absolutely projecting his marriage problems on you. Which he shouldn’t do.
Things have gone to shit in England, and he still won’t admit it.
When we got the littles, Tru presented me with a two-page proposal on why she should come live with me.
Which tells me everything,” Grace said quietly.
“Oh, shit.” Hale’s shoulders slumped. “What is even happening?”
“From what I can discern, Pippa’s job is stressful, which makes her mean.
Harry’s been taking care of the kids full-time instead of being a chef and hates it, and is resentful.
While Nate likes his job at his new university, he’s also a little lonely and realizing all the little privileges omegas have in this country that those in England don’t.
Not that life is bad for English omegas, it’s just different,” she explained.
Fiona nodded. “It was an adjustment living in Ireland. They’re a little more progressive than in England, but more traditional than here.
Like, yes, I have an undergraduate degree from the academy, but the amount of cooking, parenting, omega arts, and household management classes was much greater than what my friends took at their academies. ”
“Yeah, but there’s a lot of arguing and regret, and the little ones are paying for it. There might be other things happening, too. But I don’t know everything yet. It’s so hard to get information,” Grace confessed.
Hale nodded. “I remember him talking about how different the professorial hierarchy was at his new university and how some of his colleagues paid him no mind because of his designation. Wow. Dad is still having relationship problems? I was wondering. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so hard on him?”
I hugged him tightly. “None of that is on you. He doesn’t get to make you feel bad–or be an asshole–because he has regrets.”
“We can’t help grown-ass adults who won’t accept assistance.
But what we can do is make sure the littles are safe,” Grace said.
“And by we, I mean Creed and me. I just want to let you know in case it gets messy. They’re not in physical danger, but I need to make sure they’re mentally and emotionally safe. ”
“Thank you.” Hale hugged her tight. “Thank you for not abandoning us siblings. Are you going to keep Tru, since she asked to stay with you?”
“I’m going to try. Because she’s a math genius, it’s easier to appeal to them. We have all three kids until after your wedding, and Tru longer because of math camp,” she said. “So hopefully, by then, I’ll have a better idea of what’s going on and how to best fix things.”
“Let us know if we can help,” I offered. I was worried about them. They were sweet, and those parents sounded awful. Also, a two-page proposal? Tru was like eight.
“I will,” Grace replied. “But let me figure it out for now. You have so much to focus on. Like your weddings and mating parties, your honeymoon, and….” She looked at Saoirse and Dusty who were playing with Hope. “Your baby. I am so happy for you.” Her look went a little wistful.
“Thank you,” Hale replied.
“We’re really excited. I’ve never been to Ireland.” Grace nodded. One of her mates called her and she went over to him.
“I want you to throw me.” Pax, his littlest brother, one of the ones from London, ran over to us and raised up his hands.
“Wow, you’re gonna be too big to throw pretty soon.” Hale picked him up. “Dare, think fast.”
Dare, Hale’s goth-cellist brother who went to BosTec, turned and caught Pax, who was laughing.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the throwing of the children,” I said to Fiona. “Do you think he’ll throw our children like that?”
“Probably.” Her eyes fell to Saoirse, who was now talking to Grace’s mate who boxed.
We’d been telling people about the pregnancy. Dusty’s moms were very excited as was mine. Fiona’s dads had the self-preservation instincts to simply offer their congratulations. Saoirse’s grandpas had sent a hand-carved cradle.
However, we hadn’t made it super-public yet. She was very good about hiding it, but it was getting difficult. After Hale’s graduation lunch, he was taking us to the boot store, so we could get our boots for the public baby announcement.
The baby shower of the century was in the planning stages. The wedding shower of the century had already happened. Our honeymoon, mating party, and trip to Feral Ratville were all arranged… and in just a few weeks.
“Little Brother.” Hope, the littlest Thorne, came over and held up her arms. I’d first met her at Verity’s wedding, she watched Monstero Lane and recognized me.
I picked Hope up and held her as she put her head on my shoulder and promptly fell asleep.
“That is the cutest thing ever,” Fiona cooed.
Hope and the twins were too little to know what designation they were.
The basic prick-test was administered in middle school, though it didn’t indicate designations other than alphas, betas, and omegas.
I’d been tested for being a kappa not long after because my parents and teachers were pretty sure of it.
“Grace says it’s time for lunch,” Hale said. “I’m so hungry.”
“Me, too,” I replied. “What do I do with this one?”
“We’ll take her.” Verity appeared with AJ. AJ took the sleeping Hope, and they walked towards the cars.
We went to Hale’s truck. This was the final ride. He was selling it to an undergrad tomorrow before we headed back to New York. While we’d talked about getting him a new truck for graduation, he wasn’t sure he needed it, so we were getting him a motorcycle.
“Let’s go to lunch,” I told him. “You’ve certainly earned it.”
“This place is insane,” I said to Hale as we wandered around the boot store. It was giant, and while there were some hats and belts, it was almost entirely boots.
I’d never been in such a place before.
We were all getting boots. Not just for the photo, but because life with Hale did have occasions requiring boots, as I had discovered.
“I like these.” Fiona posed. The brown boots she chose had little hearts on them. We were going with a brown theme.
Hale swept her up. “They’re perfect.”
She’d already tried on a ton of pairs.
“What about these?” Saoirse held up tiny brown boots.
Wow, they were small.
“I love them.” Dusty gave her a kiss. It was so amazing to see him in dad mode as they started to get the nursery together.
Pack Lovely was getting a daughter. Dusty’s abuelita had been right.
“Fiona?” Saoirse asked.
“They match the ones you chose. Oh, my goodness.” Fiona hugged her.
For a moment Saoirse looked self-conscious. “Is that too much?”
“Never,” Fiona assured her. “It’s perfect.”
“I think it’s cute,” I added.
“Me, too. Honey Bun, try these on?” Hale held up a pair.
I tried them on. “Oh, I like these.”
Hale tried on a pair. His foot hooked with mine and he took a picture of our entwined feet and posted it. When you’re sole mates.
Awww.
We brought our six pairs of boots to the register and checked out.
Six pairs of boots. Wow.
In a matter of weeks we’d officially be five.
In a few months we’d be six.
We got into the truck.
“Should we go back to the hotel?” I asked.
“Can we stop at Pig-E’s and get some honey buns first?” Hale asked as he got into the driver’s seat.
I climbed into the passenger’s seat and squeezed his hand. “Always.”