Chapter 19
Mable
Jasper
What are you up to today, my Maple girl?
It was the next morning, and in the harsh light of day, it dawned on me just how insane my situation was. The story of my life had become so convoluted that it could have resembled a daytime soap opera.
Mable
It feels silly to use that name now.
Jasper
Nah, you’ll always be my Maple girl! I’ve got a riveting day of practice and an exhibition game.
Now that you know about our jobs, I can talk about it more.
We’ve got to take press photos, you know, the kind that they put on trading cards and things like that.
So I’ve got to make sure I look my prettiest today!
Mable
I’m sure you look amazing.
Jasper
The best out of all my pack?
Mable
I don’t know, have you seen Devin’s jawline? Don’t tell him, but that thing is a work of art.
Jasper
*sigh* No one can beat Daddy Devin’s jaw. It’s sad… I totally have the best hair, though.
Jasper
Maple?
Jasper
Talk to meeeee
Mable
I put my phone down for two minutes to run to the bathroom!
Jasper
Oooo, naked omega. All will be forgiven if you send me a photo.
Mable
I have a feeling I’m going to regret asking this, but why do you think I would be naked? Please don’t tell me you pee buck-ass naked.
Jasper
Well, not all the time, because that would be silly, but there’s nothing more freeing than relieving oneself while nakey.
Mable
Okay, go take your pretty pictures, I have class!
Jasper
Good luck with the smart person stuff, I’ll miss you.
I’ll miss you. Those three little words hit me harder than they should have. The only person who had said anything like that to me over the last two years had been my mother. I hadn’t really been close enough to anyone else for them to actually miss me.
There was something oddly normal about texting Jasper. Sure, his full name was now on our text messages, instead of his initial like before, and there was no denying that we now knew each other a lot better, but still, there was a sense of familiarity to texting that was comforting.
Saint
Work is boringgggg, is your day going any better?
Devin
Really? You can’t focus on work for a few hours?
Saint
Shoot, I thought I was texting Mable, not the group chat!
Percy
Maybe you’ve been hit in the head with a hockey puck one too many times.
Mable
Is that actually a concern? How dangerous is your job?
Jasper
Don’t worry, Maple girl, we all wear helmets like good, responsible boys.
Jasper
Well, head helmets, at least. We now know that Percy and Saint aren’t that good at using protection. Not that I’m complaining—I am so excited—but still, I’m going to judge them. Mainly because, if the tables were turned, they would never let me hear the end of it.
I stared at my phone screen for a moment; the lecture on the life cycle of grass was hardly captivating to begin with, so I was easily distracted.
I knew that the guys had active social lives.
It was easy enough to assume that they had had plenty of sex during their time living near a university campus…
But what if they didn’t use protection? Like they didn’t use it with me?
Maple
Do I need to get tested?
Saint
No! Until you, we all had a very strict no glove, no love policy.
Jasper
Also, we get tested pretty regularly for work. They make us do physical checkups every three months, and unfortunately, getting our dicks swabbed is part of it.
Maple
That’s quite the mental image.
Jasper
We could always play doctor and nurse.
Percy
Jasper!
Saint
Down boy… but also, good idea.
Mable
You know what, I need to get back to focusing on class. I will talk to you guys later.
Jasper
I will cry many tears until you decide to talk to me again.
Biting back a laugh, so I didn’t disturb the class, I put my phone down and looked back at the front where the lecturer was still droning on about grass.
I was in the middle of a darn good nap when the incessant ringing of my phone woke me. After class, I had been exhausted, so I grabbed a chalky protein bar and crawled straight into my nest, unwilling to even think about homework. Not when the weight of my eyelids was impossible to ignore.
“Hello?” I answered groggily, not bothering to see who was calling. The prospect of staring at a bright phone screen when I was napping in the dark of my nest was not appealing.
A familiar, gruff voice rang out. “Mable, are you okay? You haven’t been answering.”
Devin. Shit.
Trying to focus, I rolled over onto my back, glad I still could at this point, and forced myself to keep my eyes open. “Oh, uh, sorry. I kind of fell asleep. The baby is tiring me out so badly…”
It wasn’t a lie in the slightest, but something about who I was talking to made it seem like maybe it wasn’t the best excuse for napping in the middle of the day.
“Are you taking all your prenatal vitamins?” Devin asked, and even though I couldn’t see his face, I could imagine the scowl darkening his expression.
Still, I hummed in agreement, even though as I did, I glanced at my table and realized I had yet to take today’s dose. “Yes, I have been. I will be taking today’s dose momentarily,” I said sweetly, rolling out of my nest and toward the table and grabbing the bottle.
“Shouldn’t you be taking those things in the morning?” The confusion in Devin’s voice was actually kind of adorable. It was clear he wanted to help, to be sure everything was getting done when it should, but that didn’t mean he actually knew anything about being pregnant.
“I mean, technically, but I had to rush out because I was late for class this morning. It won’t hurt anything to take them now.”
“You need to take care of yourself,” he chided, probably glaring at the phone as he did.
“I am!” I insisted. “You know, I’m only one person, and I’m doing the best I can. I was actually getting my rest. You should be thrilled with me.”
“I am not disagreeing with that, Mable. I…dammit.” Devin groaned, the line hanging quiet for a moment, and then I heard him sigh.
“I was thinking…how would you feel about going to our doctor for one of your prenatal appointments? The campus’s doctors are fine, but you’re probably going to need some more advanced care later in your pregnancy.
We have amazing insurance through our jobs. ”
I blinked, my mouth dropping open. I hadn’t really thought about that, but I could hardly deny that it was a good idea.
It was a little strange for Devin to offer, only because I figured he was busy with a million other things.
And it struck me that he’d been thinking about this, about getting me care from a better doctor.
“I… are you okay with me doing that? Using your resources for myself?”
“I’ll get you added to the insurance tomorrow morning,” Devin said in a firm but friendly tone.
My heart warmed, and I smiled, putting the vitamin into my mouth and swallowing it with a chug of water. “Thank you,” I mumbled.
He snorted, and I could picture the eye roll that went along with it. “Don’t go thanking us yet. This is the bare minimum we could do.”
“You’re aware that a lot of people don’t offer what you consider the bare minimum, right?”
There was a pause, only a brief second, and then Devin’s voice came through the line, with a hint of a growl. “Anyone who wouldn’t do as much for their pregnant omega is a piece of shit. I would never neglect anyone in my pack.”
A tiny gasp escaped me. I believed every word Devin said, not only because his tone brooked no argument but also because, even through the phone, I could sense the way his alpha instincts were roaring.
There was something about it, about the way he swiftly and decisively took action on my behalf, that was endearing.
Hell, it was hot as fuck too.
“You’re something, Mr. Grump.” I smiled to myself, imagining Devin’s intense stare, the way his dark hair looked against his skin. “I appreciate it. You’re pretty damn good at making sure things go off without a hitch.”
“Is that all you think I’m good at?”
My heart stumbled, hearing what I believed to be a rather obvious dose of innuendo in that question. Still, I had a hard time believing that Devin was flirting with me after everything that had happened. We’d been pen pals forever, of course, but this felt different.
We’d actually met now, and…
“No. I’m sure there are…other things you do very well.” What the hell was I doing? “Like hockey, for example.”
A rumble echoed through the phone, one that had the unmistakable edge of an alpha whose mind was in the gutter. Was this really happening? I’d fooled around with Jasper on the phone, but we’d seen each other now.
There was no anonymity anymore. Devin knew exactly who I was and that I was pregnant.
“Mable,” Devin growled through the phone, his voice going straight to my pussy, “you said you’re still in bed, is that right?”
I nodded before I remembered he couldn’t see me. “Yes. I’m alone in my bed. I was napping. I told you that.” Playing innocent, I kept the conversation going, eyeing the lock on my door, just to be safe. A low hum sounded from Devin, and my attention went right back to the phone call.
“You know, Maple”—he paused, and I knew Devin had used my little code name on purpose—“Jasper had quite the story to tell about his phone call with you. Lots of details.”
My cheeks burned, and I flung my arm over my eyes. Maybe I could pretend like I wasn’t here? I could imagine that I was back in their house again, where…where Devin could get his hands on me.
“Oh, God. He really told you about that?” Was it giving the grumpy pack lead ideas? Because these hormones inside me were surging, and it was enough to ease the embarrassment so that I could offer a repeat performance. “I mean, he didn’t know me when that happened. You know, like in person.”