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ADDY
Over the months that followed, I settled into this new life with a serene acceptance over what had transpired and what would come.
Instead of being in a panic about life and the new baby on the way, I felt at peace and all I could think was that I must be on the right path.
I stood from where I sat, rereading our book. Alil had found another copy of it and brought it home a few days ago for us to finally find out the ending of the story that had occupied us on our journey through the desert. We were both wrong about the ending, and I liked how Alil described the story more than how the author did, but reading it with him had given me some of my happiest memories. Being able to do something so simple with nothing else to worry about was a happy blessing.
Alil was bundled up under the covers in the bedroom when I went him.
After visiting the market with my om-father and Latif those months ago, he had really settled into the pregnant life.
That day, he had returned home with a happy smile and bundles of blankets and pillows and curtains and all sorts of comfortable things for “nesting” apparently.
I hadn't heard of it, but it made sense that an omega would want to be safe and warm while they were pregnant.
I was still getting used to lying on a cloud of fabrics, but it was so sweet the way that Alil always cuddled happily into me, like I was the comfiest pillow or all.
He was asleep now, hugging an actual cushion that made me feel a little jealous, but I chuckled at my ridiculousness and crawled onto the bed to give him a kiss on the cheek.
When he stirred and opened his sleepy eyes to look at me, I kissed him again, on the lips this time.
“I will be out for a little while,” I told him.
He was too tired to ask where I was going and simply nodded.
Just before I stepped out of the room though, he sat up.
“Bring me back some of those sweet rolls,” he ordered.
“Of course,” I said, smiling, because I loved how outspoken he was with me.
Sweet Alil had always seemed so timid and polite. He hadn't changed, he had only become truer to himself, and this more confident version only made me love him more.
I reflected on that as I walked, only getting distracted by Zulli, whose house I happened to be passing while she was in the front working on the garden.
“Oh, Addy,” she said, dusting off her hands and standing to greet me.”Will you be back to work this week?”
I nodded.
I had been filling my free time by tagging along with some of the city maintenance crews. Zulli's team had welcomed me without asking any questions and I had spent weeks on end repairing the crumbling wall of the art center before moving on to the next job with them.
“Alil is feeling a lot better,” I said, “so I'm planning on being there this week.”
She smiled.
“That's great to hear. An entire omega path needs to be rebuilt on the west end of town. We need all the help we can get, as long as your omega doesn't need his alpha. Just a moment.”
She went back to the paper bag she had been filling with fruit from the cactus in her front garden and brought it over to me.
“Alil will like these,” she said, offering it to me.
I thanked him profusely and went on my way, not out of eagerness to do what I needed to do, but because it was finally time to suck it up and face my brother. And his mate. Repairing our broken relationship mattered more to me than I could explain. That meant being honest with him the same way that I had been with Alil. It felt like ages ago now, but that first night, lying at his side, explaining my misguided opinions had been the catalyst to our relationship.
Still, I was incredibly nervous when I finally reached their door. My heart was racing, but I tapped on the frame, not feeling brave enough to call them through the opening, or to walk in freely. A minute later Blaine pulled the curtain back.
He paused when he saw me standing there, pursing his lips for a moment and then stood aside for me to enter with a heavy sigh.
I swallowed and entered, looking around the room.
