The air around them smells like vehicle exhaust, like a bit of freshly-cut grass. Kade thinks about bringing Felix out of town instead, somewhere they can be alone. After a while, he pulls his phone from his pocket, tapping out a search query.
“Here, this is a prenatal clinic in Meadowfall. Make an appointment now before they close.”
Felix huffs into his chest, his shoulders shaking. “You’re bossy, aren’t you?”
“If both me and your brother are telling you to see the doctor, then you better see the damn doctor,” Kade says, pushing his phone into Felix’s hand. “They close at five. You’ve got half an hour.”
“Fine,” Felix says, thin fingers wrapping around the phone. He steps away from Kade, wiping his face, and peers at the screen.
Five minutes and one appointment later, Felix hands the phone back. “They only had the last slot left for tomorrow,” he says, wincing. “But I guess it won’t clash with my hours.”
Kade pushes the phone into his pocket, watching him sidelong. “Need a ride there?”
“I don’t want to inconvenience you.” Felix bites his lip.
Kade rolls his eyes. “I’ve been picking you up from everywhere the last five months.”
“I’m sorry about that, too.”
“Jeez, you’re an idiot,” Kade says. Felix cringes. Kade swears inwardly. Idiot had been an affectionate nickname years ago. He hadn’t thought it would hurt Felix now. “I’ll pick you up from here tomorrow, okay? It won’t affect my work.”
“Okay. Sorry about that.” Felix hugs himself, his shoulders drooping.
Kade sighs, pulling him back into his arms. “I didn’t mean you’re an idiot. Just... you don’t have to keep saying sorry. Okay?”
“I guess.” Felix’s arms slip around him, and Kade breathes him in again, savoring his omega’s scent while he still can.
In some ways, Felix hasn’t changed since he left. He’s still apologizing. Still feeling guilty about everything. Kade sees the invisible tendrils of the mayor’s influence on his son, and he wishes he could have changed that, some way or another.
“Need a lift home?” he asks.
Felix shakes his head, pulling away. His hands whisper along Kade’s sides, and he takes a slow step backward. “I’ll get home myself. Thanks.”
“Okay.”
Kade watches as he turns to the bus stop, his footsteps dragging down the sidewalk. But Kade will be seeing his omega tomorrow, taking him to the doctor, and maybe they can salvage a new normal out of this.
33
Kade
They pull into the clinic’s parking lot the next day. Kade turns off the ignition, unbuckling his helmet.
Felix slides off the bike behind him, his eyes wide. “Aren’t you going home?”
“I’m going in with you,” Kade says, checking the time on his phone. They’re minutes early for the appointment—Felix had skipped out from work. “You expect me to leave?”
“I thought you wouldn’t be interested,” Felix mumbles, looking at the pastel pink signboard above the glass doors. His cheeks flush prettily, and Kade can’t help staring at him, at this man he still wishes he could marry.
Instead, he sets the helmets in the trunk, touching the ring in his shirt. “Just making sure everything goes all right.”
“Oh.” Felix trudges to the door, peering through the glass. Kade joins him at the welcome mat and pulls the door open.
Inside, bright posters of babies cover the walls. Plastic mobiles dangle from the ceiling, and teddy bears and baby bottles sit on either end of the receptionist counter. A lullaby plays from the speakers overhead. Kade clenches his jaw, the jealousy in his gut growling again. That child should have been his.
The receptionist smiles up at them, smelling like roses. “Hello. Do you have an appointment with us?”
“Yes. I have an appointment under Felix Henry,” Felix says, his smile brittle. Kade wonders if Felix would rather be alone for this visit. Should he have left instead? “It’s my first time here.”
“Welcome! We’re glad to have you with us,” the receptionist says, handing a clipboard over. “Mr. Henry, could you fill out this form for me? And you’re welcome to bring your husband in with you when you see the doctor.”
Felix tenses, and so does Kade. I wish, Kade thinks, and the thought sits bitter on his tongue.
He nods at the girl, grasping Felix’s elbow lightly to steer him away from the counter. Felix sits woodenly on the sofa next to him. Kade stares at the carpeted floor, instead of the two other couples in the waiting room with them. The scar on his wrist mocks him.
Felix blinks after a minute, clearing his throat. “Sorry about that,” he says, looking at the form. “Maybe... maybe you should leave.”
Kade winces. Why would Felix be sorry that someone thinks they’re husbands? Because Kade had been the one to propose, and Felix had rejected him. “You want me to leave?”
Felix squirms, red creeping up his neck. “I understand if you’d rather not go through this. Things are fine here.”
He’s right. The baby in his belly isn’t Kade’s. But Felix is also his omega, and damn it if Kade isn’t going to sit through this with him. “I’m staying.”
Felix nods awkwardly. He fills in the form, leaving Spousal Info blank. Kade swallows, looking away. It hurts.
When Felix returns the clipboard to the counter, the receptionist glances over the forms. Kade knows exactly when she sees the blanks, because her eyes widen, and she glances at him, blushing. “I’m sorry about earlier, Mr....”
“Brentwood,” he says. Heat washes through his face. Anyone can smell his scent on Felix. And if Felix is pregnant, and Kade isn’t listed as a spouse, well. “It’s fine.”
It still isn’t.
Felix settles on the couch again, his gaze on the floor. “I’m really sorry.”
Kade blows out a breath. “It’s not your fault,” he says. He doesn’t feel like talking about the past right now. “Just a routine check, right?”
Felix sighs. “Yeah.”
And Kade feels sorry again, because Felix doesn’t look excited at all. The other couples seem at
