Wyatt squirmed. That lie, he didn’t feel bad about. Especially when Mom and Dad talked about Hazel’s pregnancy with Hazel around. “Yeah, I do. I’d rather not have them know about... well, you know.”
It was better to hear about your mystery dad without knowing who he was, than knowing the sort of sick bastard you shared your genes with. At least, Wyatt thought so.
“I understand,” Raph said. His lips were still in a thin line.
“Anyway, they lent me money. I worked a couple jobs and paid them when I could.”
“I should’ve—”
“You need to stop apologizing for that,” Wyatt said, glancing around. The couples in the waiting area were absorbed in their own conversations. “That’s in the past, Raph. I’m stronger for it.”
Raph’s eyes gleamed with a quiet sort of pride, that warmed Wyatt from the inside. Raph looked between Wyatt’s hand, and the other couples. Wyatt understood. There was a risk if they touched too much in public. But no one was watching them right now.
So he took Raph’s hand and gave him a squeeze, savoring his warmth.
It seemed so easy for the other couples, people who weren’t related to each other. Of all the billions of alphas in the world... Wyatt had to fall for his stepbrother. What were the odds of that? Had Meadowfall even seen such a relationship?
“Let’s look at stuffed animals,” he said, shoving those thoughts out of his mind.
Raph grinned, pulling his phone out. “Do you want one for yourself, or the baby? You used to have a bunch of tigers and lions.”
“I want a stuffed cow,” Wyatt said. He’d given Hazel a number of toys over the years, and sometimes he borrowed a couple, hugging them to sleep. “For... the baby.”
“Sure.” Raph’s eyes glimmered, a smile tugging at his lips. “We’ll get each of you one. That way, you don’t have to share.”
Wyatt stifled his laugh. “You like teasing me, don’t you?”
“Depends on when.” Raph’s voice dipped to a low murmur, sending a thrill down Wyatt’s spine.
They scrolled through different websites, looking at various stuffed cows. Wyatt was beginning to imagine a nursery of animal and flower drawings—maybe Hazel would want to help with the murals on the walls. He was about to mention the idea, when Raph’s phone buzzed.
From the top of the screen, a preview of the incoming text message slid down.
Raphael Fleming, your next payment is due in 7 days. Amount due: $5,735.42. Payoff amount: $156,188...
Wyatt’s stomach dropped. $156,000? That’s insane. Worse than all of Hazel’s bills.
“Ah, shit.” Raph flicked the preview away, grimacing.
“You didn’t—didn’t mention that.”
But it was so clear now, why Raph avoided discussions of their future. It wasn’t that he didn’t want their baby; Raph hadn’t wanted to burden Wyatt with a debt like that.
All Wyatt could think about was how Raph had kept this a secret from him, just like how Max had lied about being sterile.
Stop thinking about Max.
Raph’s cheeks darkened. “You don’t need to deal with shit like that.”
“I’m your—I should’ve known it anyway, Raph.” Wyatt frowned, his pulse thudding. They’d been fucking for five entire months. They were even talking to Hazel about marriage. “Is that the only one?”
“Yeah. Just this.” Raph’s gaze was honest. “We shouldn’t be discussing it here.”
So they weren’t a million dollars in debt, at least.
“Fine,” Wyatt said, sucking in a breath. But it made sense now, why Raph had hedged on quitting his job. Moving to Meadowfall. He couldn’t afford to. And maybe it was embarrassing, for an alpha to be too poor to pay for a baby. Wyatt understood that. “I’m just saying I can help. You don’t have to deal with that alone.”
“I can’t.” Raph frowned. “You have your business to worry about.”
“I’m turning profits. I can make it work,” Wyatt said. “Maybe not all at once, but it’ll be better than you doing it by yourself.”
Raph exhaled, long and slow. “I’m barely keeping up with the payments, Wy. And I’m at the highest pay grade for my level.”
For a regional manager, that was saying a lot. If Raph quit his job and found another in Meadowfall... Wyatt wasn’t sure they’d make enough between the both of them, and still afford to raise two children. His heart sank.
“Was that from Alpha Associates?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Grandma knows about it?”
“She signed the loan agreement.”
Wyatt closed his eyes, a vicious fury surging through his chest. She’d terrorized Wyatt since he was a child. That was fine.
But Raph had done nothing demeaning, aside from that afternoon with Wyatt in the piano room. Instead of helping her grandson soar, Grandma had shackled Raph with debt like she’d done with their parents. What kind of bitch was she?
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t murder her right now,” Wyatt growled. “She has a weak heart, doesn’t she?”
“I’d prefer to see you in my be—my home, Wy. Not behind bars.” Raph reached down, catching Wyatt’s hand. Wyatt squeezed back, his pulse beating in his fingertips. How did I get myself into this?
The drive-in made a few thousand a month, after he’d deducted the business expenses. But there was his apartment and utilities to pay for, and after all his expenses, it would take forever to make a dent in a hundred and fifty grand.
And Raph hadn’t even planned on mentioning the debt, had he?
Wyatt sagged into his seat. “You’re not forgiven yet.”
Raph looked down at his clenched fists. “I know. I mean... I understand if you don’t want me as your—”
“No, don’t say that,” Wyatt whispered, squeezing Raph’s hand. He couldn’t turn Raph away just because of that.
But Raph had lied, and that still prickled at Wyatt’s skin.
He leaned away from Raph, looking at the pastel mobiles hanging from the ceiling. Then he looked at his belly, wondering how he could bring his baby into this mess. I’m sorry, hon. This won’t be easy for all of us.
He was about to reach for Raph’s hand again when a door opened.
“Wyatt Fleming,” a nurse called.
He jumped, his heart kicking.
“Want me to follow?” Raph asked.
They
