Cole’s stare burned into the side of Olivier’s head. Olivier closed his eyes, his face scorching. Cole had heard. What if he told Eric’s mom? Or their dad? “I don’t want you to lose everyone,” Ollie mumbled. “Dad will disown you, wouldn’t he? And your mom...”
“What about you?” Eric asked, rubbing Jenn’s back. “Aren’t you worried about yourself?”
“I don’t feel like I’m part of the family,” Olivier said quietly. “I haven’t for a long time.”
Eric’s lips thinned into a line. Jenn was starting to quiet, and Olivier couldn’t meet Cole’s eyes.
“You’re part of the family,” Eric said bluntly.
Olivier shrugged. None of them had missed him, anyway.
Cole was still watching them, a mix of confusion and disbelief on his face. “You’re serious about this,” he said. “The both of you.”
When Cole breathed in again, his nostrils flared—he was sniffing at Olivier. Ollie saw the moment Cole identified his honey scent. Then his gaze snapped down to Olivier’s belly.
Olivier cradled his abdomen, looking away.
“Is that...” Cole trailed off. Is that Eric’s?
“It’s my baby,” Olivier said, avoiding Eric’s eyes. “It’s got nothing to do with anyone.”
Eric’s shoulders sagged. Olivier couldn’t tell if Eric was disappointed in him for lying, or because he thought the baby wasn’t his.
“At least it isn’t Eric’s.” Cole scrutinized them. “Bad enough that you’re getting involved in this—this mess.”
Definitely why Olivier couldn’t tell Eric at all. Except... “I do love Eric, Cole. I always have. You just didn’t know it.”
Cole frowned deeper.
Eric’s gaze softened. He pulled Olivier against himself, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “And I swear I’ll do everything to protect you.”
“But Alice,” Olivier said uneasily. “Would she really...”
“She was a close friend.” Eric sighed into Olivier’s hair. “I think... I think she would’ve understood.”
“You can say that?” Cole asked incredulously.
“She was my wife and best friend.” Eric glanced at him. “I know her better than you do, Cole. I know what she would’ve said.”
Pain flashed through his eyes then. For a moment, Eric’s entire face fell, and Olivier glimpsed his grief. Eric was still hurting. He would always hurt, probably.
It wasn’t something Olivier could prevent, and he didn’t think he could ease Eric’s pain. But he pulled Eric and Jenn into a hug anyway, trying to console them as best as he could.
“I’m here,” Olivier said. “For whatever you need.”
Eric pressed his forehead to Olivier’s temple, closing his eyes. “Thanks,” he murmured. “I’ll take you up on that sometime.”
Olivier nodded, meeting Cole’s eyes over Eric’s shoulder. Maybe he could borrow Eric’s strength, and stand up for himself.
“I’m not looking for another alpha,” Olivier admitted, his nerves pulling tight. “I’ve loved Eric forever. That will never change. I’m sorry if you think worse of me, Cole. But please—don’t assume Eric manipulated me into this. I’m at fault.”
Cole frowned, his gaze flickering from Eric to Olivier. “This just seems really wrong.”
“It is wrong.” Olivier squirmed. “But it’s what my heart tells me.”
Eric pulled away, turning to meet Cole’s eyes. “For Ollie’s sake, though, and for Jenn—could you keep this to yourself? For now. If Mom and Dad are going to find out, I want it to be on my terms.”
Cole looked at them for a long moment. “Fine,” he said, watching Jenn. “But only because of Ollie and Jenn.”
“Thanks,” Olivier said, relief swelling through him.
They watched as Cole left the backroom, disappearing out through the front door. Olivier’s strength fled him then. He leaned against Eric, dread piling up in his gut. “We’re so fucked.”
“Stop swearing in front of Jenn,” Eric murmured, gathering Olivier in his other arm.
Jenn waved, cracking a small, toothy smile.
Olivier waved back, groaning. “I’m sorry. First I throw up on you, and then Cole shows up, and now I’m swearing all over the place.”
But Eric only pulled Ollie tighter against his chest. “Yeah. And you’re still my omega anyway.”
Ollie’s stomach flipped. “Why are you even saying that? You aren’t obliged to. You don’t love me, so—”
“I like you.” Eric met his eyes. “Not in the way I like Cole, but in this way.”
Then he leaned in, and kissed Ollie ever so lightly on the lips.
Olivier’s heart stumbled. “But... but you didn’t even like me.”
“Yeah, that’s changed.” Eric kissed him again, his soft lips brushing against Olivier’s. “I don’t know what happened. But I saw the way you smiled at Jenn, and—and things are different now.” Eric touched his chest with his fingertips. “Feels like my heart’s beating again. When you’re around.”
He likes me. Olivier couldn’t breathe. He’d been wishing for Eric’s affection for years. “Oh.”
“Yeah.”
He stood with Eric in the backroom, his mind spinning, wondering how else things would change between them. Or whether they’d still stay the same.
“Does your stomach feel better? No more nausea?”
“I feel better, yes.” Olivier leaned into Eric’s chest, wary that this was all a messed-up dream.
Jenn grabbed a fistful of his hair.
“Jenn, no,” Eric said.
“I don’t mind,” Olivier answered. “It tells me this isn’t a dream.”
“Still.” Eric cracked a smile. “She shouldn’t turn hair-pulling into a habit.”
“Only I can, huh?”
Eric’s smile widened. Then he leaned in and kissed Olivier, deep and slow, and Olivier’s heart almost leaped out of his chest.
“So... what do you say to me and Jenn moving in?” Eric whispered. “I’m off today and tomorrow. We can start moving soon.”
Olivier held his breath, his heart tripping into a patter. “I’ll think about it,” he breathed. He couldn’t say for sure that he and Jenn would get along fine. But Eric coming to live with him, them sharing a bed? Eric right there when Ollie woke up in the mornings?
Maybe. If Olivier could convince himself that he deserved it, then maybe Eric and Jenn could move in.
15
Eric
Eric sank into the sweet heat of Olivier’s body, his breath rushing out of him.
“Was just here last night,” he panted, sliding his wrist down Ollie’s side to mark him with cedar. “You’re always so damn tight.”
Beneath him, Ollie’s spine arched, his back an expanse of sweaty skin. Olivier rolled his hips
