“You mean you... Oh, gods, you’re pregnant.”
“Looks like I am.”
“That’s Eric’s, right? You didn’t use protection?” Levi looked incredulously at him. “He’s your stepbrother!”
Olivier groaned, hiding his face.
“I mean, I would recommend condomless fucking,” Levi said. “But not with your stepbrother!”
“I had the morning-after pill,” Olivier mumbled. “I did an enema. I did everything I could.”
All of that fucking had felt right with Eric, and this... Olivier didn’t know if he wanted to laugh, or cry. He was pregnant with Eric’s child.
“The pill does have a possibility of failing,” Levi said, scratching his chin. “I believe it’s a five-percent chance...”
Olivier covered his face. “Do I smell pregnant?”
Levi sniffed. “You do smell kind of sweet.”
Same as what Eric had said.
Olivier whimpered, his relief so thick that it tightened his throat. That was Eric’s baby inside him. Eric’s flesh and blood, and Olivier could never tell him. But oh, to have part of Eric as his to hold, his to cherish...
“I’m sorry.” Levi hugged him.
Olivier sniffled. “I’m not sad.”
Levi frowned, confused.
“I’m just... happy.” Olivier managed a wobbly smile. He touched his belly, imagining the tiny, growing clump of cells there. “This is something I want.”
Levi looked dubious. “If you’re sure.”
“I am.”
“You make questionable decisions, Olivier.”
Olivier laughed, hugging his belly. If he’d been through the pill and enema, and the baby was still here... then he was meant to have Eric’s child, wasn’t he?
A quiet, secret joy bloomed in his chest. When he saw Eric later, he would be vague about the child’s alpha dad. Maybe it wouldn’t look like Eric. Maybe it would look like Olivier, and no one would question its parentage.
But with his failing business, how would Olivier care for his child?
Olivier shoved those doubts away, cradling his belly. He was pregnant. He had someone he could call his family.
Maybe things were finally looking up.
9
Eric
Eric crossed the parking lot to Olivier’s Strings, his stomach twisting.
He’d fucked up again. He hadn’t meant for Ollie to find him at Total Sounds. He’d seen Ollie’s gaze drop to his badge... and that had spelled out all of what Eric had done. Opening the branches, advertising to Ollie’s customers. Stealing Olivier’s livelihood away from him.
Gods, I’ve been such a bastard.
Eric had wanted to explain all his wrongdoings. He’d wanted to apologize, maybe offer some help. Instead, he’d gone and kissed Olivier.
I want to be your alpha, he’d said. Because it felt right. Because a tiny part of his chest had said, We can make things right once more.
Things were never that easy, though.
At least, Olivier hadn’t acknowledged it. What had Eric been thinking, anyway? Did he think Olivier would accept him after today?
Eric needed to fix this mess. Make things up to Ollie. And maybe, if Olivier forgave him... he’d think about the other things. Like the baby in Olivier’s belly that wasn’t Eric’s.
Jealousy gnawed in his gut. So what if he’s slept with someone else? Maybe he doesn’t want that baby. He’s probably trying to abort it right now.
Eric steeled himself when he stepped up to Olivier’s Strings. It was late; the shop’s warm glow poured through the windows. Eric glimpsed Levi in one corner of the shop, and Olivier at the counter, fiddling with something.
His nerves strung tight, Eric pulled open the door. The bells jingled.
Olivier turned; Eric expected him to look miserable.
Instead, Olivier wore a tiny smile on his face. He touched his belly, the look on his face warm and soft, like an expectant omega. Like he wanted the child.
That child wasn’t Eric’s, was it?
Eric stopped at the door, the bells jangling behind him. You want that baby? It felt like a punch in the gut.
Olivier looked up, his smile fading. “Eric?”
“You did a test,” Eric croaked.
“Yeah.” Olivier blushed. “It came out positive.”
“You’re—you’re keeping it.”
Olivier nodded.
“You don’t know who the other dad is, do you?”
Olivier paused, before he shook his head. Eric wanted to growl. You were so keen on getting rid of that baby when you knew it was mine. Do you hate me that much? I thought you cared about me.
Why was he even this upset, when Olivier had only just stepped back in his life? None of this should matter.
An older lady bustled up to the counter, a wide smile on her face. “Oh, Olivier! I didn’t know you were pregnant!”
Olivier tensed, his eyes flickering to her in alarm. “Mrs. Antoinette! I didn’t realize you came back—is something the matter?”
“Oh, no!” She waved and gave a cheery smile, the bells on her shawl jingling. “I was over at Total Sounds and realized they didn’t carry these bronze strings. My nephew was looking for them.”
She set a box of strings on the counter, looking curiously over at Eric. Eric shrugged and turned away. Didn’t know what to do, aside from waiting in the aisles for Olivier.
“Is that your first child?” Mrs. Antoinette asked. “You must be so excited!”
“I am,” Olivier said, a smile in his voice.
Eric closed his eyes, his stomach turning. I thought you didn’t want one.
“Have you decided on a name?” Antoinette asked.
“No, I haven’t.” Olivier beamed. “I only found out today.”
“That’s wonderful news!”
“It sure is.”
Eric almost left the shop. Maybe it was a bald-faced lie. Maybe Olivier didn’t actually want the baby.
But by the time the transaction was over and Mrs. Antoinette breezed out through the door, Olivier was still smiling.
Eric stared, at a loss for words. Do you even want me here, or would you rather I leave? Clearly you’d rather have some other bastard’s child.
When Olivier met his eyes again, his cheeks were pink. “Sorry. I... realize you’d probably rather not know about that.”
“What, the baby?” Eric growled, stalking up to the counter. “I thought you didn’t want one.”
Olivier glanced around the shop, panic flickering through his eyes. In a mumble, he said, “Can we not talk about this here?”
Eric followed his gaze. There were a few customers in the shop, probably brought in by the new red SALE! sign in the window.
Olivier turned to
