Maybe we shouldn’t be here.
Mom glanced over, her eyes locking on Olivier’s baby bump. Then her lip curled for a second, before she smoothed it away.
Eric stared, aghast. Olivier was her stepson. All these years he’d never noticed, because he’d never thought to look at his mom’s reaction to Ollie.
“Did you see?” he murmured to Cole. Aaron looked over.
“I don’t believe it,” Cole said. “I just... It can’t be true.”
Aaron waited until Ollie had disappeared into the bathroom, before he said, “I’ve really missed Ollie at our family outings. We should invite him over next week, don’t you think, Mom? He looks really pregnant.”
“Yes, he’s pregnant,” Mom said, flipping her menu open.
“What sort of baby clothes should we get him?” Aaron asked. “What about baby rabbit outfits?”
“Rabbits are overrated,” Cole said. “What about pelicans?”
Aaron made a face. “I’m not sure those would fit right on a baby. Looks like a pelican swallowed the baby, you know? What about a seahorse?”
“Can you even find a seahorse outfit?” Cole retorted.
“Why don’t we ask Eric what he thinks,” Aaron said, wriggling his eyebrows.
Eric calmed a little. Even though his bond with Ollie was unusual, their brothers had their backs. “Maybe a cow outfit,” Eric answered.
“Cows are awesome. What do you think, Mom?” Aaron asked.
“Whatever you want,” she said.
“But you’ll be there, right? I’m sure Ollie expects a great gift from you,” Aaron continued. “We’ll turn it into a grand celebration just like we did for Jenn’s baby shower.”
Mom smiled. For a moment, Eric’s gut tightened. What if Mom’s placidness undermined whatever Eric had told Aaron and Cole? What if they sided with Mom, instead of Ollie?
“I’m sure you’ll have a great party,” Mom said.
“But won’t you be attending?” Aaron asked. “Don’t you want to throw a baby shower for him?”
“Maybe one,” Dad said. “Two is a little unnecessary.”
“Or maybe three?” Cole added.
“What’s wrong with the two of you?” Mom snapped, her smile strained. “Why the sudden excitement?”
“Nothing,” Aaron said, rubbing his chin. “We just wanted to celebrate Ollie’s new baby.”
“Wait until it’s born,” Mom said. “You don’t know if he’ll carry it to term.”
Something vicious snarled in Eric’s gut. What do you mean, he won’t carry it to term? “I’m looking forward to that baby,” Eric said, low and forceful, enough that both Mom and Dad looked over. “It happens to be very important to me.”
Dad frowned, confused. “What do you mean, Eric?”
Mom met Eric’s eyes, and it was almost as though she was daring him to speak.
Eric felt as though he was on a precipice, right there. Dad was listening.
He’d spent so long working to gain Dad’s approval. Dad had fixed everything Eric had trouble with, and Eric had learned to repair appliances because he’d hung around his stepfather so much. Dad had driven Eric to his school track meets, and he’d given Eric high fives when Eric won his races. Eric craved his approval.
But Olivier... Eric wanted to spend his life with Ollie. He couldn’t hide it from his family.
“Olivier’s my omega,” Eric said.
Behind him, Ollie made a soft, helpless whimper. Cole and Aaron glanced at Eric. Jenn thumped her palms on the table.
But Dad’s eyebrows drew together, and Mom flinched. Then they turned their attention to Olivier, who had come to stand next to Eric. Ollie looked as though he wanted to flee.
“Olivier,” Dad said severely, his bushy eyebrows drawn so close they were almost a solid line. “Is it true?”
Olivier rubbed his wrist where Eric’s marking was. “Yes,” he said quietly.
Dad’s expression tightened. Mom’s lips twisted.
“What is the meaning of this?” she snapped. “Eric, stop joking around. You’re not ten anymore.”
“Damn right I’m not ten anymore,” Eric muttered, reaching behind to tangle his fingers with Ollie’s. “If I were, I would still be blind to the way you’ve treated him all these years. He’s your stepson.”
Mom froze, her eyes flashing. Eric lifted his chin, daring her to disagree.
“Here in this family,” Mom said slowly, “we have a set of morals. That means we stay virtuous and we do not sleep around.”
Olivier tensed against Eric, his face paling. Eric held his breath. Mom wasn’t going to talk about Ollie’s past in front of all of them, was she?
“What’s that gotta do with anything?” Aaron asked.
Mom glanced at Olivier, her lip curling. Ollie swayed on his feet, and Eric wrapped his arm around Ollie’s waist to support him. Dad stared at them in disbelief.
“We’ve all made mistakes in the past,” Eric growled. “Olivier is still your son.”
“I consider those who are upstanding to be part of my family,” Mom retorted.
“And that doesn’t include Olivier at all,” Eric said. “You didn’t greet him once when you stepped in. You’ve ignored him entirely, and three months ago, you told me he’s better off dead.”
Olivier sucked in a deep breath. Cole and Aaron’s eyes grew wide.
“Wendy, did you really say that?” Dad asked, his mustache bristling.
The blood drained from Mom’s face. “I was joking!”
“You weren’t,” Eric retorted.
Olivier’s nails bit into Eric’s shoulder. “We should leave,” he said so quietly that Eric almost missed it.
“Soon,” Eric murmured back. More loudly, he said, “If you really loved him, then you will love that child in his belly, too. That’s mine.”
Dad swore. Mom looked appalled. Aaron whistled, and Cole sighed, shaking his head.
“Thanks for creating a mess,” Cole muttered.
“That child isn’t a mess,” Eric said. “But Ollie is, because of the shit you’ve done to him over the years. You split treats between me and Cole and Aaron, leaving Ollie out completely. You told Cole and Aaron to tell Ollie his grades sucked. And you’ve repeatedly used him as a bad example in front of us.”
Olivier whimpered. Eric’s heart pounded. The entire truth was out amongst his family, and he was damn fucking scared.
Mom stared tensely at him, her lips quivering. “I was merely pointing out his flaws so he could improve.”
“And that involves calling him a slut?” Eric hissed, narrowing his eyes.
The whole
