It hadn’t been easy on Wyatt and Raph, with the new baby.
James had been born with jaundice, but it had been fading away in the past week. It explained why Raph hadn’t been sleeping well, and why Wyatt had been absent from the diner for almost a month.
Made Sam wonder how he’d fare, himself, if there were no problems with his pregnancy.
He cradled his belly, hurrying past the few guests in the diner.
Sam found Valen’s spiked blond hair first, then Harris’ crinkled eyes. His heart skipped a beat. Having a pair of lovers was one thing, but having them visit you at work... That made everything better.
He stopped by the table, studying the empty bowls. “I guess you liked the noodles.”
“Sam!” Valen grinned. He shuffled to the end of the booth, wrapped his arms around Sam’s waist, and hauled him close. Nuzzled into his belly. “I’ve missed you.”
Grinning, Sam ran his fingers through Valen’s hair. “I saw you a few hours ago.”
“He’s been missing you the whole day,” Harris said, a smile playing on his lips.
“Still too long.” Valen pushed Sam’s shirt up his belly, planting sloppy kisses on his skin. Then he flicked his tongue into Sam’s navel.
“Valen!” he squeaked.
“V,” Harris said. “Do that in the truck.”
“Ha! You’d kill me if I started anything in the truck.” Valen grinned. Planted a kiss on Sam’s belly. “How’s the baby?”
“Mine, or Wy’s?”
“Both,” Harris said.
Valen glanced at Harris, eyebrows raised. “Still worried, huh?”
“James is getting better,” Sam said, his heart warming. It was sweet of Harris to worry. “And I think... I feel a flutter.”
Both alphas perked up. Harris reached over. “A flutter?”
Sam set Harris’ hand on his belly. “Here,” he said. “But I guess you can’t feel it yet. It’s like... a light pressure inside. Almost as though I need to pee.”
Harris smiled anyway, rubbing his thumb over Sam’s abdomen, his calluses catching on Sam’s skin. Then he took Sam’s hand, pressing a kiss to his wrist. “We should start heading out, the appointment’s soon—”
“Sam? And Valen?” someone asked to the side. Sounded familiar, like...
“Mom?” Sam squeaked, glancing over his shoulder.
She was a yard behind him, her gaze flickering between the three of them. Sam tugged his shirt down, stepped away from Valen and Harris. Wasn’t sure what to think about her witnessing this.
Mom was in a knitted sweater and pants, her hair curled, like she’d dressed up to come to the diner. To see Sam, probably—Sam had told her where he worked.
“Why are you here?” Sam asked, his voice high.
“To see you,” Mom said, looking between them uncertainly. “I haven’t heard from you in months, Sam.”
Valen swore under his breath, scooting out of the booth. He stood up next to Sam, holding his hand out. “Mrs. Brentwood.”
Harris stood, too, and now it was awkward, Sam flanked by two alphas, all of them taller than his mom. A few of the other patrons were looking over.
“We should head outside,” Harris murmured. “If that’s fine with you, Mrs. Brentwood?”
“Well, yes,” she said, glancing at her table. “It’s fine. I hadn’t placed an order yet.”
“Oh.” Sam squirmed. How long had Mom been here? She’d probably seen Valen and Harris kissing him. It wasn’t how he’d expected to introduce them.
He took her hand, walking out of the diner. Felt everyone’s eyes on him—Harris, Valen, probably even Raph, back in the kitchen.
He only breathed again when they were some distance away from the diner, by Valen’s truck. He couldn’t deny being in a relationship with two alphas. Especially not when he smelled like oak and sandalwood. That hadn’t been an issue in the kitchen.
Sam sniffed at himself, shivering. It was cold in early February. Then he froze when a warm coat draped over his shoulders, oak-scented air puffing around him.
“I was gonna do that,” Valen said, elbowing Harris. “You beat me.”
“Try harder next time.” Harris grinned back.
“So,” Mom said, looking between all of them. “Valen? And...”
“Harrison Fields.” Harris held his hand out, sobering. “I believe we’ve met before—when the power line came down behind your home.”
“I remember.” Mom shook his hand. Looked back at Sam.
Sam remembered that, too, Harris kissing him on the forehead. They hadn’t even done much, back then. And now he wore Harris’ mark. Harris would be his baby’s dad, too.
Mom’s gaze fell on the scent gland at Sam’s shoulder. Sam blushed.
“Were you going to tell me at all?” she asked, hurt flickering through her eyes.
“It was our fault,” Valen said. “Harris and I got Sam into some trouble. Things kind of snowballed from there.”
At least he didn’t say We got him pregnant, which would’ve been twice as embarrassing.
Mom’s nostrils flared. She looked at Sam, and Sam squirmed.
Growing up, he hadn’t been as close to her as he probably should’ve. She’d had Kade and Chris to care for, too, and Sam had wandered off, digging holes in the backyard as though he were a dog. But Mom had been there for him when he’d scraped his knees, when he’d fought the very first time with Valen, and perhaps he should’ve trusted her with more of his life.
“Things have been... complicated,” Sam said, wincing. “Actually, Valen and I broke up after I left high school. I only just... recently met him again. He, uh...”
“I’ve been living with Harris,” Valen said, his gaze unafraid. “We’re partners. And now Sam’s living with both of us.”
Mom’s gaze roved between Valen and Harris. Sam looked at the asphalt. Remembered when he’d been in middle school, and there had been an alpha-alpha couple on TV, bank robbers or something. Mom had shaken her head and clucked.
“Valen and Harris are firemen,” Sam said, suddenly protective of them. “They’re good people. They’ve taken me in. Harris is really generous, and Valen’s really brave. They’ve been driving me to work ever since I’d been robbed—”
“You were robbed?” Mom stared at him in horror.
“Yeah, Big H and I were worried,” Valen said. “We weren’t gonna risk it again.”
“Especially when it happened during Sam’s pregnancy
