Page 21 of A Roommate for Ronny

“Have you ever seen this house? Is it a place you’d like to live?”

“Not really. I mean, I knew it was there and walked past their gate but never paid much attention.”

“When can we see it?”

Brach’s eyes lit up. “Really? Are we ready to buy a house?”

“We are ready to start looking, and where better than next door to your friend?” I reached for my keys. “But it still has to be the right house for us.”

“Absolutely.”

I didn’t want to get too excited about the place until we got a look at it. If it was a good deal, we could afford to do repairs and upgrades because my mate definitely loved the idea of living next to his friend. It would be a lot like a pack, too, having Jones next door. My wolf liked that idea even if he was a human.

“Just pull in at Jones’ house and he’ll give us the key.”

“The other people? Aren’t they there?” I was already turning into Jones’.

“No, I understand they’ve already moved.”

Jones was coming out right then, swinging a key on a lanyard. I’d been over to visit with Brach a few times and grown fond of him as well. “I’m so glad you made it. I am going to town, so you just take your time and look the place over. If you want it, we’ll get the real estate agent to start the paperwork.”

I didn’t expect to fall in love with the place. Behind the fence lay an absolutely charming home. Ranch style, it sprawled across the landscape surrounded by native plants. “This is amazing. We don’t even have to do anything with the garden,” Brach marveled. “I want to buy this house.”

“Omega, we have to consider all the options. Get an inspection, all the responsible things a person does when they purchase a new home.”

“Then we can move in?” He casually rested one arm on his belly. “For the baby?”

“If that wasn’t the most shameful attempt at guilting me. Let’s take the self-guided tour and then we’ll see.”

He reluctantly agreed, and we went inside where dust and cobwebs ruled. But underneath, the place had good bones and I could see us there. “So, alpha, what do you think?”

“Omega, if you like it, I like it. I’ll talk to a Realtor and make it formal.”

He was so excited, running from room to room and planning what he wanted to do in each. Where he’d set the sofa and chair, how to use the various cabinets.

“What do you think of a coffee bar?”

“Whatever you like, my love.”

He stopped in front of me, hands on hips. “I’m starting to think you’re not even vested, just letting me make all the decisions. Isn’t there anything you want, something that will make you happy?”

“Omega, what makes you happy makes me happy.”

And two weeks later, our offer had been accepted at full asking price, which was indeed a good deal, and we moved our minimal possessions in. Although I was really behind my omega doing most of the selections for the house, I was all the way vested, loving that it was going to be our house together and where we’d raise our family. There was nothing that made me happier at this moment.

Chapter Sixteen

Brach

I wasn’t one of those omegas who hated being pregnant. I’m not saying the morning sickness didn’t stink the first trimester, but after that passed, I enjoyed growing our baby. I was one of the lucky ones. I kept the parts of work I wanted, and Karma let me step away from the parts I didn’t. And my mate? He was fully present, attending every appointment, picking up pieces that were too much for me, and lulling our sweet baby to sleep by singing to them when they were getting extra kicky.

I adored spending every night with my mate. Our bond grew stronger as time passed. Best of all, we didn’t annoy each other, the way I feared would happen as my hormones got extra wonky. All of the pregnancy books said that tension between couples was normal, and I kept waiting for it to happen to us, but, so far, we were good.

In so many ways, my past felt like a bad dream. I rarely thought of my ex or my old job or my eviction. My life was focused on my here and now.

Our new house kept me really busy, but with the fun stuff. I’d go out hunting the thrift stores to find new pieces of furniture or decor, sketching layouts for each space, and picking out paint for different rooms. Ronny was insistent that I didn’t do the actual painting, despite the salesman assuring us that the kind we picked was perfectly safe. I loved how protective he was of our baby and me.

I also absolutely loved that we were living next door to Jones. He and Ronny got along really well, and I was glad to foster the relationship between the older man and me that began with walking Leroy. He was family, no blood ties needed.