He led Sam around the engines and the ladders, then the ambulances, admiring their clean surfaces, the folded-up hoses. There was a spill unit and a rehab unit, too. Everything was prepped and ready to go, and if there was a three-alarm fire right now, Valen would drop everything and head out.
“Is there food?” Sam asked, sliding his hand down his belly. “I’m craving some éclairs.”
“Sure there’s food—éclairs sound great.”
Valen brought Sam to the refreshments table, eyeing the fruit punch and cake squares. There were pasta and alfredo sauce to the side, fried chicken wings, broccoli florets, cobs of corn.
“The desserts are incredible,” Sam whispered. “That strawberry cake looks so fluffy.”
It was just regular catered food, but Sam had been craving all kinds of things during his pregnancy, sometimes graham crackers on ice cream, sometimes noodles from the other side of town.
“I’ll get some for you,” Valen said, squeezing Sam’s waist. “Wait here.”
“Valen!” his father called from the other side of the garage.
Valen froze. Dad? He cast his gaze around and found Harris first, wearing a starched white shirt with his sleeves rolled up, and the first button undone. Harris would’ve been so damn hot, if it weren’t for the frown on his face. Made Valen’s stomach plummet.
Sam squeezed his hand. “It’ll be fine.”
Valen wanted things to be fine. But as his father strode over, Harris behind him, Valen wasn’t sure this would turn out okay.
“So you’re back with Sam.” Dad stopped in front of them. His eyes fixed on Sam’s face, then slid down to his belly.
Valen wanted to growl, step between them so Dad wouldn’t stare at his omega. “Yeah, Sam’s mine.”
He met Harris’ eyes, then, and couldn’t read that look, either. Wasn’t sure what Harris was thinking.
Gods, this is a shitty birthday. I’m sorry, Big H.
“So when are you marrying?” Dad asked. He was dressed in the fire department’s T-shirt and orange pants, a crease on his forehead.
Valen glanced at the other alpha-omega pairs in the station, smiles on their faces, their arms around each other.
“Soon,” he said. Wasn’t in any mood to get into a fight with his dad, either. “We’ve got rings.”
Dad looked down at their ringless hands. “You aren’t wearing them.”
Because Harris refused to, that bastard. Valen shrugged. “We’ll wear them when we get married.”
He looked at Harris, lifted his chin. Wanted to say, And you’re included in that ceremony. Valen could taste the words on his tongue, could almost smell Harris’ breath on his skin.
Gods, he wanted to feel Harris’ chest pressed against him, Harris’ teeth on his lips. He had Sam with him. He wanted Harris, too.
“And when are you announcing it to the station?” Dad asked, frowning deeper.
Valen swallowed. It isn’t even your wedding, he wanted to say. My wedding will have three people in it, and I’m gonna marry my alpha, too.
Was it worth it, saying it aloud? Showing his dad that he’d found happiness with two people, not just one?
“You remember the consequences of not marrying,” Dad said.
Yeah, there was the inheritance. Dad could never forget that, could he? And neither could Valen. Valen’s stomach flipped.
“Maybe later,” he said. Wasn’t gonna rub the wedding in Harris’ face. He wasn’t turning his dad against Harris, either. Harris had enough to deal with. “Have you heard from Mom? I think she’s visiting this month.”
Dad’s expression soured. “She’s asked me for your address.”
Valen froze. “Did you tell her?”
“Not yet.”
“Please don’t,” Valen said. “I have no space at my place.”
“She’s your mother.” Dad frowned deeper. “Talk to her so I don’t have to, son.”
“I can’t afford to have two omegas in my life,” Valen said. Which was a lie, because he’d totally adopt Sam’s mom. Dad didn’t have to know that, though.
Dad snorted and turned away. Valen breathed a sigh. If he could avoid talking about his future, or his marriage, or his mother...
Harris lingered for a while after Valen’s dad left. He glanced at Valen, then Sam.
“Look,” Valen said. “About earlier—”
“We shouldn’t be talking here,” Harris said. Valen still couldn’t read his eyes. Couldn’t fight the rising unease in his stomach, that this was bigger than he’d thought it was.
“Damn it, Big H.”
“Valen,” Harris muttered, glancing around the station. “Not right now.”
There were station staff around them, Valen’s coworkers and Harris’ subordinates. People who didn’t need to know about their relationship.
“I’m headed upstairs,” Harris said. “Got things to see to.”
Then he turned and climbed the stairs to the office, and it felt like a rejection all over again. Like Harris was shutting out Valen and Sam from his life, like he didn’t want to belong.
“Talk to him,” Sam murmured, his eyes worried. “I’ll come with you.”
But it would attract attention, both of them following Harris upstairs. Maybe Ken or Amos would think there was another party in the office, or something they were missing out on.
“I should go alone,” Valen said. “Kinda doubt Big H wants you in the station’s office.”
Sam winced. “Okay.”
“Here, I’ll get you some food,” Valen said. “You wanted the éclairs, didn’t you?”
“I’m not eating while you and Harris fight, Valen.”
It wasn’t like Valen wanted Sam there, if he did end up punching Harris. Definitely did not want Sam trying to step in. “I won’t fight him, okay? Things will be okay.”
Sam eyed him dubiously.
“C’mon, sit down. I’ll get you some food. Then I’ll convince Big H to come home with us.”
“And you don’t need my help?”
Valen puckered his lips. “My mouth will be more than enough.”
Sam cracked a smile then. “You can be so silly sometimes, Valen.”
“All for you.” Valen led Sam to an empty chair by a wall. “Stay put. I’ll be back.”
“I’m not an invalid, Valen.” Sam rolled his eyes. “Just pregnant.”
“But you’re my omega,” Valen said. “Allow me to be a decent alpha. I’ll get you one of everything. Two éclairs.”
Sam shook his head, sighing. “Make that three.”
He seemed exasperated, but as
