Eric snorted. Dad chuckled, and Levi lowered his phone. Eric had forgotten that he’d asked Levi to record the whole thing.
“So, wanna go down to the park?” Eric said. “I was planning for us to go feed the ducks with Jenn.”
Jenn heard her name, racing over with a big grin. Ollie was about to reach for her when he clutched his belly, grunting in pain.
Eric’s stomach squeezed. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s a contraction,” Ollie said through gritted teeth. “And I think... I think my water broke.”
37
Eric
Eric panicked. He gathered Jenn up in his arms, his stomach flipping.
Ollie was going into labor soon. The baby would be here in the next day or so, and Eric wasn’t ready.
Wasn’t ready for the baby, wasn’t ready to share his omega with their new family addition, wasn’t ready for the danger of complications that childbirth involved.
He’d lost one omega. He wasn’t prepared to lose another. At that thought, his nerves twisted tight.
“Eric,” Olivier murmured, holding his hand. “It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not.” Eric pulled Ollie close, his heart thumping.
These few months, he’d read up on childbirth again, made sure he knew what he needed to prepare for. But that also involved reading about the things that could go wrong—placenta abruptions, hemorrhages, blood clots...
There were other complications, too, that Eric was afraid to think about. Didn’t want to imagine Ollie in his arms, Ollie’s life fading away.
“I’ll be okay,” Olivier insisted, narrowing his eyes.
It said something, didn’t it, that Eric was deathly afraid of losing Olivier? “I’ll stop worrying when the baby’s here,” Eric muttered.
“Decide on a name,” Ollie said. “Maybe that’ll help distract you?”
“Taylor,” Eric blurted. It had been one they’d been considering. “Fits both girls and boys.”
Olivier chuckled. “Taylor it is.”
“I third the name,” Dad said.
Eric blinked; he’d completely forgotten that their father was still around. “Thanks, Dad,” he said. “Now, back to worrying.”
Olivier elbowed him in the ribs.
He turned to Levi, bobbing Jenn in his arms. “Levi—sorry, didn’t see this coming today. Could you watch Jenn for a bit? I’ll drop by in case she needs anything. But Ollie and I will probably be at the hospital all day.”
They’d discussed bringing Jenn to the labor ward and having her around at birth, but at eighteen months, she was refusing to stay put in one spot. Made it difficult for Eric to watch her, when all his attention would be fixed on Olivier.
“Sure,” Levi said, shrugging. “You know where to find me.”
“You could always ask Cole for help,” Olivier said, wriggling his eyebrows.
Levi gave Ollie an incredulous look. “Shut up.”
“Maybe.” Ollie grinned.
“I would kick your butt so hard,” Levi muttered. “Maybe when you aren’t pregnant.”
Eric shook his head exasperatedly. “His butt, not mine. I’m not sticking up for you on this, Ollie.”
Ollie pouted, and maybe Eric was a little bit swayed. Then the next contraction rolled around, Ollie paling as he clutched his belly.
“We’re going,” Eric snapped, giving Jenn a quick hug. “Be good, Jenn. Don’t make Levi pull his hair out. Leave some for Cole.”
“Hey,” Levi squawked.
Brad waved, and Ollie hugged Jenn. And then they were off to the hospital, Eric double-checking every single intersection just to make sure the roads were completely safe.
Everything went by in a whirl. They got Ollie checked in; Ollie changed into a hospital gown, and Eric was squeezing onto the hospital bed with him, running his wrists all over Olivier’s body. Marking Ollie as his.
“You’re being paranoid.” Olivier snuggled into Eric’s chest, the honey scent of his pregnancy stronger than ever.
“I want you to know that I love you,” Eric said, low and forcefully.
For a moment, Olivier eyed him, thoughtful. Then he asked, “Is this about Alice?”
Eric breathed out the weight in his chest. “Yeah.”
Because Alice had never gotten to know what Eric felt about her. Eric had been thankful for her friendship, he’d been grateful for her support, and she was gone before he could ever tell her Thanks for the memories.
So Eric clasped Olivier’s hands, holding them to his lips. “I want you to know. If anything ever happens to you, or to me, and I don’t get a chance to say it—I love you with all my heart. Every day you’re in my life, I count it a blessing.”
Olivier swallowed hard. “The same goes for me,” he croaked. “I love you with every bit of me, too. Not that anything will ever happen. Knock on wood.”
Eric cracked a smile, running his fingers through Ollie’s hair.
Then Ollie hunched forward, clutching his abdomen. Eric swore, rubbing Olivier’s back. “You’re doing great, Ollie. It’ll be fine.”
It was a long moment before the contraction passed, though. Eric held his bondmate, smoothing his palms down Olivier’s body, just holding him. Promising Ollie that he’d be there no matter what.
Ollie panted, a sheen of sweat on his skin. Eric closed his eyes. The labor would take a long time for Ollie’s first child.
The first hour, they sat and waited.
The second hour, Olivier turned on the TV.
The third hour, Eric’s phone rang.
He winced at the number—it was the Total Sounds corporate office. Eric hadn’t heard from them ever since they’d let him go. He didn’t miss his bosses, but his employees—those guys had been a great bunch.
Eric’s current job was a manager at a telephone company, but it was nothing like working in a music store.
He missed being able to help Ollie’s shop, too... not that Olivier’s Strings needed as much help these days.
After that evening with Brad and the crowd, Ollie’s stream of customers had been steady. He’d hosted some live gigs at the store, he’d done a tiny percussion workshop for children.
Ollie’s Strings was starting to flourish again, and Eric was so proud of his omega for seeing it through.
“Do I want to take this call?” Eric asked, glancing at Ollie. “It’s the people from Total Sounds.”
Olivier winced. “I guess? It’s not like we have much to do other than wait.”
Eric sighed. Ollie was right. So he hit the Answer button. “Eric Lancaster.”
“Eric,” the general
