“You’re still perfect to me, anyway.” Olivier blushed. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No need to apologize.” Eric grinned. “As long as I’m perfect to two people—my daughter and my omega—life’s good.”
Ollie chuckled, his entire face lighting up. He was beautiful. When he smiled like this, Eric’s spirits soared. He wasn’t sure why. All he knew was that he wanted to lean in, kiss Olivier’s sweet lips, and share that joy.
So Eric cradled him close, savoring the way Ollie fitted in his arms. Olivier felt perfect against Eric’s chest, like he was always meant to be there, and maybe that said something about the two of them.
Maybe this was meant to happen.
Eric swallowed hard, running his fingers through Olivier’s sweat-damp hair. Around them, Olivier’s bedroom looked... cozy. He had a small writing desk next to his closet, decorated with tiny violin ornaments, and there were music scores carved into his bedside tables, too.
This was Olivier’s safe place. If Eric brought his daughter here... would Ollie still feel comfortable in his own home?
“You’re... sure you don’t mind me moving in?” Eric asked.
Olivier nodded.
“Even Jenn?”
At that, Olivier hesitated. “I... don’t know.”
Jenn looked like Alice, with her red hair and green eyes. It was a painful reminder these days. For Ollie to be around her every day... it would hurt him too, wouldn’t it?
“I’m not moving in until you’re absolutely sure,” Eric murmured. “I don’t want you to regret things.”
Olivier sucked in a deep breath. “I can... meet her. Just once to see how it goes.”
“You sure?”
Olivier nodded, but he didn’t look so certain anymore. So Eric cupped his nape, kissing him softly on the lips.
“I’m not gonna force you to,” Eric said. “It’s not gonna be a requirement that you meet her, okay? I can still come visit you. I’m not gonna judge.”
Olivier smiled wanly. “If you really want to visit.”
“I do.”
Eric pulled him close. His knot was starting to recede, but it felt comfortable, just holding Ollie in his arms.
Would this last, though? When Olivier met Eric’s daughter, would he decide he wasn’t staying around? Or should Eric never have suggested it at all?
Olivier yawned. Eric kissed his forehead. “Sleep,” he murmured.
“I should stay up,” Olivier mumbled, trying to keep his eyes open. “I should...”
“I’ll be here when you wake,” Eric said. “Sleep.”
Olivier nuzzled Eric’s shoulder, his eyelids fluttering shut. He was asleep in moments, his breathing even, his worry melting away from his face. And now, he looked peaceful.
How much weight was Olivier carrying around with him? How much of that had he told Eric?
Eric stroked his hair, studying his omega. Was this the right choice, getting involved with Olivier?
His heart told him it was, but Eric wasn’t sure he believed it. Could this really work out, when Jenn would always remind Olivier of Alice?
12
Eric
“Please don’t burp in his face,” Eric told Jenn as he pulled her socks on. “And I’d really appreciate if you don’t spit up on him, or pull his hair.”
Jenn babbled, patting his face with her tiny hands. Eric cracked a smile. Olivier had finally agreed to meet Jenn. Just a short while—ten minutes, just to see if he’d be comfortable with her.
Eric tried not to squirm. It shouldn’t matter whether Ollie liked Jenn or not. It wasn’t a sure thing that he’d be living with Olivier. For all Eric knew, Olivier would withdraw the invitation to stay in his apartment.
Except... He’d come to anticipate living under the same roof as Olivier.
Eric had been wondering what it would be like, going out on walks with Ollie, watching TV with him. Just being in Ollie’s presence again.
It’s not love. Maybe it was a brotherly feeling. Who knew?
Except there was a hunger low in his gut that wanted to see Ollie naked in bed. He’d tried pushing those thoughts out of his mind, except they’d only come back to haunt him again. Definitely not brotherly.
Eric swallowed, looking up when someone knocked on his bedroom door.
Dad stood in the doorway, his gray hair brushed back, his hands clean—he hadn’t been working on the cars this morning. At fifty-six, Tristan Lancaster had been a mechanic all his life. He’d been a strict father, but when it came time to reward his children, he had always been fair.
“Hey, Dad,” Eric said, waving Jenn’s hand. “Jenn, this is Grandpa. Say ‘Grandpa’.”
“Wa waa,” Jenn babbled.
Dad waved back, coming over to scoop Jenn into his arms. Jenn squealed.
“Who’s a cutie?” Dad asked, a smile blooming across his face. “Looking great today, Jenn!”
Eric couldn’t help grinning. One month back in Meadowfall, and he still wasn’t used to living with his dad. Growing up, Eric had always admired the man he’d come to see as his father.
He’d been five when Mom and Dad married. Dad had taken Eric on road trips, he’d played ball with Eric in the backyard. He’d brought all four of his children down to the park, and Dad liked having them race each other.
But despite his strictness—or maybe because of it—Dad liked sticking to his old ways.
“What’s up?” Dad asked, his nostrils flaring. “Going somewhere?”
“Yeah.” Eric almost said, We’re going to Ollie’s shop, except Olivier’s carnation scent still lingered on his skin. And Eric harbored a faint memory of Dad saying, Incest is terrible. People are jailed for it.
What would you say if you knew I’d slept with Ollie? Eric bit his tongue.
There was an awkward silence. Then Dad said, “I met Mrs. Sullivan at the pharmacy. She told me some things.”
He eyed Eric shrewdly, like he knew something Eric didn’t.
Eric’s heart stuttered. “What did she tell you?”
“That you were in the pharmacy with Olivier when he went to get a morning-after pill.”
Eric swallowed. His neck prickled, and he hoped it wasn’t obvious. “He asked for a ride,” Eric lied, hating that he was fibbing to his dad at all. “I brought him there.”
“Ah.” Dad sniffed again. “You smell like him.”
“Been seeing someone who smells the same.” Lying about Ollie? That
