Mom winced, looking Sam over. “Were you hurt?”
“No, but I moved in with Harris and Valen after that,” Sam said. “That was when I was a month along. It’s five months now, so we’re headed for the ultrasound.”
Mom sighed, glancing at Sam’s belly. “Time flies, doesn’t it?”
It really did. Sam touched his belly. Watched as Mom hesitated, trying to find the words for this.
Sam didn’t blame her. It was one hell of a surprise to find out your child had two alphas, instead of one.
“We’re all going to be the baby’s dad,” Sam said. “Harris wants to be Papa, and Valen wants to be Daddy, so I’ll be Dad—”
Mom laughed, sudden and shaky. She pulled Sam into a tight hug. “I’ve missed you,” she whispered in his ear. “Can I visit when the baby’s born? I haven’t seen you in so long. I was starting to wonder if you’re doing okay.”
“I am. Better than the last baby.” A lump rose in his throat, and Sam shut up. He hadn’t meant to say that.
“Oh, Sam.”
Mom rubbed his back, smelling like lily and Mom. Over her shoulder, Sam exchanged glances with Harris and Valen. Wasn’t sure how much to tell her. Wasn’t sure he even needed to, aside from how good Harris and Valen were to him.
“Do they treat you decently?” she murmured.
“Yeah,” Sam said. “Harris took me to the store and bought me a whole wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano, and he—he and Valen have been cleaning the entire mansion so I don’t have to.”
Sam didn’t include the bit where they vacuumed the floors naked, or where Valen chased Harris around with a broomstick, trying to get its handle between Harris’ cheeks. Harris had ended up throwing Valen on the couch and fucking him right there.
Mom pulled away, looking between Sam and Valen. “I thought you’d been doing fine with Valen,” she said, her forehead crinkling. “Back when you graduated.”
Valen opened his mouth, but Sam spoke before he could. “It wasn’t Valen’s fault,” Sam said. “I chose to leave.”
Valen frowned. My fault, he looked ready to say.
Sam met his mom’s eyes. “I know you don’t think alphas go together, and I don’t want you to think either Harris or Valen isn’t good enough. Because they both are. I love them equally.”
He felt the weight of both his alphas’ gazes. Looked back at Mom when she sighed.
“I just want you to be happy,” Mom said, her smile bittersweet. “That’s all. I don’t think a relationship between alphas is bad—but it could be difficult.”
Still made Sam’s heart sink to hear that.
Mom looked at Harris, and Harris bowed his head. “I do agree,” Harris said quietly. “It’s been a surprise every day to realize these two are staying around.”
Harris had never said that before, but maybe he was now because he was the same age as Sam’s mom. What else did Harris think, that he felt he couldn’t tell Sam and Valen?
“Big H!” Valen frowned. “We are so staying around. In fact, we’re getting married.”
Mom raised her eyebrows. Sam’s cheeks heated. “I haven’t agreed,” he mumbled. “I mean... Valen can’t marry Harris, so that’s not fair.”
“We’ll find a way,” Valen said. “All three of us. And you’re invited to the wedding, Mrs. Brentwood.”
Mom eased into a smile. “Looks like you’ve found yourself some good alphas.”
He stared at her, uncertain. After growing up thinking his mom frowned on alpha-alpha relationships, that two alphas and an omega weren’t an optimal bonding... “Really? You don’t mind?”
Mom laughed then. “It’s your life, Sam. Your choices. Valen and Harris care about you.”
“Damn right we do,” Valen said. Harris smiled.
“I’d just like to visit,” Mom said. “If you need any help with the baby, I’ll be happy to.”
“You have Kade’s to worry about,” Sam said.
“And yours.” Mom smiled warmly. “You’re my child too, Sam.”
He blinked hard, his throat tight. “Oh.”
“We’re running late for the ultrasound.” Harris winced. “Sorry to cut this short.”
Mom kissed Sam’s cheek. “Thank you for being honest with me, Sam.”
“I took a while to,” he said. Cringed again.
She ruffled his hair, then glanced down at his belly. “Life is full of surprises, isn’t it? Just when we think we know everything, there is more we need to learn.”
“There is.” Sam sighed, his heart heavy. He didn’t want to leave his mom, after not seeing her for months. Didn’t realize how much he’d missed her until she smiled at him. “I’ll get in touch.”
“You’d better,” she said, her eyes lighting up. To Valen and Harris, she said, “Thank you for taking care of Sam. I’ve been worrying about him.”
“Sam will be fine with us,” Valen said, sliding his arm around Sam’s waist. “I swear we’ll do everything to make him happy.”
Then he pressed a kiss to the corner of Sam’s lips, and Sam blushed.
Harris unlocked the truck doors, then tossed Valen its key. “You drive.”
“Hey!” Valen caught the key, frowning.
“About time you did,” Harris said. “I’ve been driving you and Sam around.”
They exchanged a pointed stare. Sam squirmed. Yeah, he could guess what Harris wanted. And his mom was looking between all of them, wondering what the fuss was about.
“See you later, Mom,” Sam said. “I’ll text you when the ultrasound’s over.”
She beamed, stepping back. The three of them climbed into the truck, Valen at the steering wheel, Sam between his alphas. Then they drove out of the parking lot, and Sam waved, watching as they left his mom behind.
It always sucked, saying goodbye to her.
“Your mom is a lovely person,” Harris said, slipping his fingers into Sam’s hand.
That cheered him up. “You think so?”
“I told you,” Valen said. “Sam’s mom is the best. She could move in with us any day.”
Harris laughed, then nuzzled Sam’s ear. Sam pressed a kiss to his lips. “You were talking about my mom with Valen?”
Valen sighed. “Yeah. My mom texted me the other day.”
Sam winced. He wasn’t particularly fond of Valen’s mom. Not her eagle eyes, or her sharp words. He’d remembered her looking at Valen, her gaze resentful.
