“But Harris...” Sam sighed, sagging against Harris’ arm. He knew he should stay away. Didn’t help the worry thrumming through his chest. He couldn’t see Valen hurt. Couldn’t lose Valen, either, so soon after they’d found each other again.
“I’d prefer it if you stay out of harm’s way, too,” Harris said, offering a tiny smile. “Two lives to consider, Sam.”
Sam needed to remember the baby. Funny how Harris had to remind him of that.
“Okay,” he said, leaning into Harris’ chest. He touched his belly, where the baby was. Harris looked certain now; part of Sam calmed along with him. “I just... don’t want to see him hurt.”
“Neither do I.” Harris squeezed Sam’s waist lightly. “I’ll have to get going. Alert the neighbors, then keep an eye on the team.”
“Sorry,” Sam said, pulling away. He could imagine Harris needing to return to the scene, making sure Valen was doing okay.
He could trust Harris with that.
“I’ll text you when we’re done,” Harris said. “And I’ll tell Valen to do the same.”
“Thank you.”
He didn’t know Harris well, but after yesterday, it felt right to want Harris’ touch. They’d had sex. Harris had promised support for the baby. His warmth was good, comforting.
Harris brushed his lips against Sam’s forehead. “See you soon?”
Sam’s heart skipped. What was that supposed to mean?
He squeezed Harris’ hand. Then, so Harris knew Sam was concerned about him, too, Sam said, “Stay safe, the both of you.”
Harris squeezed back, his eyes warm. Then he stepped off the porch, nodding again. “Good afternoon, Sam, Mrs. Brentwood.”
Sam froze, his pulse stumbling. He turned and found his mom watching him, her eyebrows raised.
“So, Valen,” she said slowly. “And Harris?”
Sam’s face burned. There had been once, back when Mom was picking Sam up from middle school—they’d seen a couple of alphas in his class kiss. Mom had frowned and said, That’ll make things really difficult for them. Sam had grown up wondering how terrible life was for those two guys.
He didn’t want his mom thinking that about Harris and Valen now. Harris and Valen had been doing fine... hadn’t they?
“It’s complicated,” he said. It wasn’t as though his relationship with either alpha was guaranteed. “Harris lives with Valen.”
“And you?” She gave him a pointed look.
“I need to get back to the diner, Mom,” Sam said, forcing a smile. “See you soon?”
He didn’t wait for her response, hurrying down the sidewalk and into his car. Her gaze lingered on his back.
It felt like he was copping out. But it was also too early to tell with the baby, too soon with either Valen or Harris. They’d both invited him into their lives, but how long would the welcome extend?
He could slip and fall in the bathroom a week from now, and bleed again.
With no answers he could give, Sam drove off, leaving his mom standing on the porch.
In a month, in maybe a year, he could give her a better answer. Hopefully, that answer would be something that’d make her smile.
For now, Sam would keep his head down, and pretend there was nothing going wrong with his life.
12
Harris
With three engines, two trucks and two ambulances, Meadowfall’s fire department was Harris’ pride and joy.
It was corny, feeling proud of the station. But he’d been with the fire department for over a decade, seen his share of accidents, saved a number of lives. Harris had confidence in the abilities of his team. All his staff were hand-picked, had gone through rigorous training; he could count on any of them to have his back in a rescue.
He glanced at the alphas running a routine check on the engines, then the ones hanging up their protective coats to the side. Valen was in the back, doing an inventory of their supplies.
An hour ago, they’d helped the electrical company with the downed power line. Harris hadn’t any idea that Sam had family there, or that Sam was visiting.
When he’d gotten back from knocking door-to-door, Valen’s nostrils had flared, and he’d met Harris’ eyes.
Bumped into Sam, Harris had told him. I said you’d text him when we’ve got the line secured. A surprised, delighted grin had spread through Valen’s face.
Did you text him? Valen had asked.
I told him I would, Harris had answered.
Valen hadn’t stopped nagging Harris until Harris had sent Sam a quick text. Pushy of Valen, but maybe Harris hadn’t minded. He’d been dragging his feet on reaching out to Sam, in case it seemed overeager.
He shouldn’t want Sam for himself. Harris was nearly twice his age. Years ago, there’d been a controversy in Meadowfall, when rich alphas had imported young omegas from exotic countries to be their mates.
Harris had his share of ragging the alphas on TV. He saw the odd looks whenever he found an older alpha and younger omega on the street, and wondered how he and Valen seemed to others. To drag Sam into the picture...
Stop thinking about him.
But he couldn’t forget Sam. It had felt nice to hold Sam, brushing his fingers through Sam’s wispy hair. Harris remembered the slightness of Sam’s body, the quiet sigh that had left his lips. Sam knew the pain of losing a child, and Harris recognized the same pain in himself. He wanted to hold Sam, comfort him.
Valen never needed that kind of comfort; he was alpha. If Valen felt hurt, he yelled at Harris, fought Harris until they both collapsed in a pile on the bed.
But Sam was different—Sam had worried about Valen, his eyes large and fearful. Then he’d darted toward the power line, needing to see Valen.
They were similar that way, Sam and Valen. Both disregarding their own safety, as though they thought the other more important than themselves. It was cute. Endearing.
They probably needed someone to knock sense into their heads.
If Valen was right, that Harris was the perfect person to provide that...
