“Fine,” Eric said drily. “My omega’s in labor right now.”
“Oh!” Mr. Banks paused. “Should I call you back?”
Eric met Ollie’s curious gaze. “Now’s fine. What’s up?”
“There’s an opening for a regional manager at Total Sounds,” Banks said. “Are you interested?”
Eric’s heart skipped. “Why are you offering me this? You hired someone to replace me.”
“Lewinsky—the last person—he wasn’t a good fit. We’ve been receiving complaints about his marketing strategies and staff handling.”
“And you’d rather have me take the position than someone else?”
After a pause, Banks said, “Yes. The employee turnover was also much lower when you were around. We had fewer cases of shoplifting, and the general customer sentiment ranked a lot better.”
That sounded positive. Eric brushed his thumb over Ollie’s fingers, weighing his options. “I’m back with my bondmate, you know. The owner of Ollie’s Strings. If you hire me again, you’ll have to deal with that.”
“I understand,” Mr. Banks answered. “The staff drew together a petition to bring you back as regional manager, Eric. That’s the real reason why I’m calling.”
Eric stopped breathing. The staff had done that? He hadn’t been especially lenient as a manager—all he’d done was help Julia with her locker, and cover Bick while he collected his kid from childcare.
There were probably other things he’d done, but they were small things he’d do for anyone else.
“My going rate is six grand a month,” Eric said. “You’ll have to beat that.”
“Eight grand,” Banks replied. “But with a five-store expansion into the area around Highton.”
Eric covered the mic on his phone, meeting Olivier’s eyes. “Total Sounds wants me back as their regional manager. Eight grand a month, and I’ll have to travel between here and Highton. Do I take it?”
Olivier stared wide-eyed at him. “You’re asking me? That’s a lot of money, Eric!”
“Yeah, and you’re my omega,” Eric said. “We make decisions like this together.”
Ollie blushed, squeezing Eric’s hand. “Go ahead. I mean, if it makes you happy.”
Eric hesitated. There would be traveling involved, some time away from his omega.
But as the regional manager of Total Sounds, he could ease up on the competition for Ollie’s shop. And that would make Olivier happy, wouldn’t it? More money for their children, and perhaps Eric would be able to help Ollie’s Strings, too.
“Is it an issue if I have a vested interest in the competition?” Eric asked Banks. “Just the one store.”
Banks paused. “It’ll be fine,” he said eventually. “If you improve Total Sounds’ public image at the same time.”
“I’ll take the job,” Eric answered.
“Thanks,” Banks said. “We’ll be getting the paperwork ready. Will next week be a good time for you to come down and fill it in?”
“That works. Thanks.”
Eric ended the call. Glanced at Ollie, who was biting down a smile.
“You’ll get big and famous, and you’ll become the CEO someday,” Olivier said, nudging Eric in the side. “You’ll forget about little old me.”
Eric snorted. “I’d rather quit than forget about you.”
“Really?” Ollie’s grin spread through his face. “If you ever get into trouble at Total Sounds for associating with me...”
“Then I’ll leave that place. It’s not worth it, Ollie. You’re the most important.”
Eric set his phone down, gently tackling Ollie with a bear hug. Ollie laughed. Eric wrapped himself around his omega.
He froze when the midwife knocked on the door, clearing her throat. Olivier’s face turned a bright red. Eric coughed, extricating himself from Olivier. At least, he hadn’t been touching Ollie anywhere inappropriate.
“Be gentle with him,” the midwife chided, bustling in. She was a plump, short beta with reading glasses perched on her nose. “Olivier’s a delicate flower!”
“Not all places,” Eric said beneath his breath. Ollie stuck that cruel point of his elbow in Eric’s ribs.
Eric met Olivier’s eyes, promising with a look to get back at him later. With a mess of kisses, probably. Or maybe a grope. Ollie blushed.
They waited as the midwife took Ollie’s vitals, then the baby’s. Eric held Ollie’s hand, remembering the gravity of their situation. He could still lose Ollie.
“It’s gonna be okay, right?” Eric asked.
“Everything will be fine,” the midwife said, clucking. Then she pulled on gloves, made Ollie open his knees, and pressed two fingers into him.
Mine, the possessive part of Eric said. He couldn’t help growling. Olivier bit down a smile.
“Always grumbling, you alphas.” The midwife clicked her tongue at him, did a final check on Ollie, and then bustled off.
Eric gathered Ollie in his arms, just cradling him. Except Ollie went into another painful contraction, wheezing. Eric’s heart ached.
“Sorry for getting you pregnant,” Eric said, rubbing Olivier’s back. “I’d take that pain if I could.”
“It’s fine,” Ollie panted, pressing his face into Eric’s chest. “I want this baby just as much as you do.”
Eric did want this child. He wanted to know what Taylor would look like. Wanted to take the baby and Jenn and Ollie out to the park, on family trips and vacations, where all of them could be themselves, be happy without anyone judging them.
“When Taylor grows up, I’m gonna tell them how much you went through because you love your babies,” Eric murmured, stroking Ollie’s back. “And they’re gonna love you more than ever.”
Ollie said nothing, but his growing smile told Eric all he needed to know.
The contractions increased in frequency. Eric held Ollie’s hand, until the midwife said he was fully dilated. Then Ollie gasped, his hair matted with sweat, his body straining with his labor.
“Push,” Eric said. He knew he wasn’t supposed to. But the midwife was telling Ollie to push, and Eric wanted to help, too. Wanted to matter.
“Shut up,” Olivier growled, baring his teeth. “I’m fucking pushing, Eric!”
Then his contraction swept through him, and Ollie cried out, gripping Eric’s hand so tight, it felt as though his fingers would come right off.
Eric bore the pain. Held Ollie by the shoulders, pressing kisses to his forehead. “Just a little more. You can do it. I know you can.”
“No more babies,” Olivier hissed. “Any more, and you’d better hide
