Making a Family [Full Collection]

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

AIDEN

I check my email on my laptop. It’s been three days since I emailed Hailey, and she still hasn’t responded. I feel much less sure about keeping this all to myself now.

What if something really bad happened to her? What then? Should I have told my parents sooner? Should I have known if something was wrong?

It’s not like this was a total surprise. Sure, her leaving was a surprise, but I knew she wasn’t happy. I knew that Seb and being pregnant and having to drop out of school, it all took so much out of her.

So, yeah. The actual action isn’t a surprise, just the leaving part…

I open a new email, I don’t want to do this, but I need to make sure she’s safe.

Heyhey,

Email me back before Monday, or I’m getting Mum, Dad and officials involved.

I need to know that you’re safe. I need to know that you’re not just lying in some ditch somewhere, dead.

I don’t care that you left, I just care that you’re okay.

I’m your brother, I love you, you know I’ll do anything for you. For you and for Seb.

Just let me know that I still have a sister and Seb still has a mother.

Let me know that you’re okay.

Aid

I look it over. That’ll have to do.

I just need to know that she’s safe. That she’s still alive. I’ll be Seb’s father, if that’s what it takes for her to keep living and to keep going on with life.

But I need to know that there’s nothing more sinister going on than a teen being overwhelmed by life. I can’t imagine the pressure she’s been under. I can’t imagine her struggles. Heck, I’m twenty-three and a college graduate and this is hard.

Having to take care of a kid at my age is hard, it can’t be any easier on Hailey at eighteen. And because she was pregnant last school year and we moved away from home at the start of the school year. She’s not even finished high school…

The clock in the bottom edge corner of my screen tells me it’s nearly nine in the morning, it’s probably time to start to get dressed. Clay is picking me up at eleven and I’m still in my underwear…

Last night was the first time that Seb actually slept through most of the night again and I used that to get some more sleep this morning. He’s been playing with his mobile since I gave him his bottle a little while ago and washed him, and he seems pretty content. Which I hope he’ll stay, as today is going to be exhausting enough…

I check in on Seb in the living room, but he’s fast asleep again, probably still a little tired. But he’ll be fine for a while. I quickly step into the shower, turning on the water and letting it warm up as I check myself in the mirror.

I should probably shave… I know it’s not my wedding, but I think that looking at least a little cleaned up will be good. I grab my razor and step under the warm water, letting it flow over me, enjoying the warmth.

I run my hands over my body, spreading the shower gel around, but suddenly, the image of Clay’s hands instead of my own on my body pops into my head.

Without warning, my body starts to respond, excitement rushing through me…

Fuck. I shouldn’t do this…

But my hands start wandering and I wrap my fingers around myself, slowly moving, slowly tugging.

Clay’s eyes on me. His smile. The way he says my name…

I let out a shuddering breath, the sensations overwhelming me. I’ve never done this before, I’ve never jacked off to the image of someone I know…

Clay’s hands on me. His hand on my excitement, him jacking me off…

Clay pushing his excitement against my back…

I moan and come all over the shower wall…

My legs almost giving out on me.

Fuck.

How am I supposed to face him now? How can I face the man I just jacked off to?

I can’t believe myself. I’ve never done this before. I’ve never really had much interest in anyone, and now Clay keeps popping into my head, taking over my thoughts when I let them wander even a little.

I quickly rinse off and shave, hoping that I don’t miss a spot, because I can’t stay in here much longer.

In this space…

Surrounded by this smell…

I’ve just finished packing Seb’s bag when the bell rings. Clay!

I quickly check the mirror next to the door, but you can’t see what I did this morning. Not unless you know why I’m looking so guilty right now…

I push the button to open the downstairs door and then open the front door, standing in it as I hear Clay walk up the steps.

When he comes into view, he takes my breath away. He’s… Wow.

He cleaned up even better than expected.

When his eyes meet mine, I can see that same feeling in his eyes and quickly look away again, stepping back into the house, my cheeks heating up.

“Hi.” I step so he can walk past me.

“Hi. Morning.” He smiles and then looks around. “Nice place.” It’s a kind compliment, but most of the stuff in here is still Wilder’s, the guy that used to live here, who’s letting me live here until I find something better. I do have to admit, the guy had taste.

“Thanks. I’m about ready to leave.” I walk into Seb’s bedroom and grab the bag with Seb’s things; diapers, extra shirt, things to make bottles for him, anything I may need to keep him happy today and potentially overnight.

I know that Clay said that we’d return today if I wanted, but that there would be a room at the hotel for us to stay tonight if needed. I also grab the smaller bag with my own things right outside the bedroom and walk to the living room where Clay is already playing with Seb, like he’s never done anything else.

Clay looks over, smiling softly. “He’s such a happy man.”

“He’s got his moments.” I go over to them. “Have you got like, seats and stuff?” When Clay raises his eyebrows at me, I know enough. “Probably not. Okay. Ehm.” I look around the room. “Can you grab that car seat? It also clicks into his stroller, which we’ll probably want to take too.”

Clay grabs the seat. “Sounds good.”

I put the bags on the floor and help Seb to get into his jacket, then we put him into his seat, the little man just curious about what’s going on all around him. Which I take as a good sign today.

“You take your son, I’ll take care of the rest.” Clay grabs the bags and walks back to the front door.

Reminding me very clearly of the fact that Clay in no way doubts that Seb is mine, like everyone else does. It’s a little uncomfortable, but I know that I just don’t want people to look at Seb differently.

I’m old enough to have a kid, easily, and I’m an Omega, so people always assume he’s mine. I just don’t correct them. Makes life easier for both of us.

“The stroller is under the coat rack, folded up.” I walk past him, then turn around. “And can you grab my black jacket?”

Clay lets out a sound but then looks up at me, smiling a little. “I guess this is going to be how today is, isn’t it?”

“You invited me.” He gets an Omega husband and a kid to show off, I get an Alpha husband to carry my stuff around when I want to.

“True.” He smiles broader and then grabs the items and follows me out, starting down the stairs.

I close the door, locking it, and then follow him down the stairs too.

From the back, the suit does him even more justice. And I really need to stop staring at his ass, or things are going to get very awkward very soon…

Outside, he walks to one of the cars —a pretty fancy one I have to admit— and opens the trunk, where he puts the bags and the buggy, then he looks up. “Do you need Seb’s bag with you up front?”

“Yes, please.” I look into the back of the car and see that it’s going to be pretty easy to install Seb’s seat. I open the door. “Okay, little man, let’s get you in here.”

He looks at me and smiles, grabbing in my direction as he lets out a laugh, and I stop for a moment, running my finger over his adorable little chubby cheek.

“Damn, you’re adorable.” Then I start installing the seat and Clay opens the door on the other side to help me from that end.

When he’s strapped in all secure, I lean over to give Seb a quick kiss. “Now, behave, please.” I catch Clay looking at me and feel my cheeks warm up. Then I pull back and close the door, getting into the front seat.

Clay checks the back one more time and then gives me Seb’s bag before he sits in the driver seat. “Ready?”

“No.” I shake my head with a smile. “But I guess I made a promise.”

“Yep.” Clay’s eyes sparkle, then he looks at Seb in the back before he starts the car. “Time to face the music.”

Of course, what Clay didn’t tell me was that it was his sister’s wedding.

His sister. Younger sister. About my age, maybe just a little younger. About to sit for her final exams in college, and now getting married to her Omega classmate…

What he also failed to mention was that he doesn’t generally see his family very often, which is how he can pull this off… If we can pull this off.

The closer we get to the venue, the more he changes. The smiles and smart mouth fades and he starts looking more and more serious.

Just looking at him… This is a different man. A man who is very aware of how he presents himself and how he’s expected to present himself as an Alpha. Just the way he changes, I feel it says a lot about his family…

“Clay.” I try to get his attention for a moment. He’s been looking ahead of him, focused on the roads a little too intense for the mostly straight road in front of us.

He lets out a breath, then looks my way for a moment, his face relaxing, before he focuses back on the road. “Yes?” His voice is more strained than he shows.

“It will be fine. We got our story together, there shouldn’t be any issues. Hell, I’m just an Omega, I have a kid they’ll want to talk about, people always want to talk about the baby.” I let out a laugh. “That may work in our advantage now.”

“I guess.” He doesn’t seem convinced.

I reach out, carefully touching his arm. I don’t want to startle him, but at the same time, I don’t want him to look like he does right now either. I like the Clay I saw in the cafe much better, the one who always smiles. Who always tries to make me smile too.

He eyes the hand for a moment and then puts his other hand over mine, squeezing a little. “Thanks. You’re right. It will be fine.”

We drive like this for a while longer, the places where our bodies touch hot and sensitive. It gives me butterflies in my stomach. It feels silly and I feel so naive, almost innocent, but this is the first time I’m holding the hand of someone who isn’t a friend or a family member.

It’s… different. It’s different when it’s someone you may actually be…

Nope. Nope. Not going there.

Then Clay lets my hand go and turns onto the driveway of a beautiful hotel. Wow.

I’m stunned by the look of it, the beautiful building and the grounds around it. It’s still April, but they’ve decorated the place with spring flowers and evergreen.

There are already cars lined up down the side of the entrance, but there is a spot right at the front that is still empty. Clay drives there and parks. He turns the car off and looks at me for a bit, taking a few deep breaths.

“Give me a safe word or a sign.” I smile as Clay frowns at me. “For if you want me to save you and get you out of there.”

“I don’t know. I can only come up with… stupid things.” He shrugs.

“Well, what about… ‘I think it’s time for Seb to get a nap somewhere quiet’? It’s innocent enough, and it gets us away from almost any situation, I think.”

Clay shrugs. “Sounds like it should work. And if you want to leave?”

“Seems like it would work both ways, doesn’t it?” I reach out to his hand again and he entwines his fingers with mine. I feel my skin heat up a little, my cheeks burning.

Damn. Why do I react like this to him? We’re just holding hands.

If there’s anything more innocent…

“Yes.” Clay clears his throat. “I think it’s time to go inside.”

“I think so, too.” Is he as affected by this as I am?

I let Clay’s hand go and grab Seb’s bag, then I open the door and get out, welcoming the fresh air on my face.

Crap.

This is going to be one interesting afternoon…