by Beau Brown
His jaw clamped and his gaze became stony. “But you’re considering it?”
“Well, I have to at least think about it. It’d be a huge boost for my career.” I hated the look of disappointment on his face. “You’d probably do the same.”
He shook his head sharply. “No. Maybe before we got together, but not now.”
“Of course I’d want you to come with me.”
“To Los Angeles?” He looked horrified. “You want me to move to a city where we know no one, with a new born? I wouldn’t even have a job. What about my career, Liam? I thought you wanted me to have it all?”
“I do.” He was getting upset and that made me nervous.
“So how does that work if I’m giving up my job? And what about the baby? If we live here my family will help watch the baby. If we move, it would be strangers. You actually don’t mind strangers watching our kid while we’re at work?” He raked a hand through his hair. “Not to mention how devastated my parents would be if I dragged their grandchild across the country, where they’d see them maybe once or twice a year.”
“To be fair, I never said I wanted to stay in Sweet Water forever.” That was true, and when I’d first arrived, I’d had no intention of staying over a couple of years. But then I’d fallen in love with Fox, and staying here had seemed pretty perfect.
“I guess we should have discussed this kind of thing before you claimed me.” He looked sick to his stomach. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Fox, I haven’t said I’m taking the job. I just think I have a right to think about it.”
“You do. You have every right in the world to do that.” He wrinkled his brow. “But I have the right to tell you how I feel too.”
“Agreed,” I said, quietly.
He was silent for a moment, then he faced me. “You should think about this for a few days. I’m going to give you space to do that.”
“What?”
He shrugged. “This is a big decision. Life changing actually.”
“I don’t want to not see you just because I’m considering a job offer.” I felt uneasy at the very idea he wouldn’t be beside me for a few days. Once I’d claimed him, it felt wrong when he was gone. I couldn’t even sleep anymore if he wasn’t in my bed.
“Maybe you need to get used to us being apart. Because if you take that job, I’m not going with you. No way in hell.” His voice was bitter.
I scowled. “So if I take the job, suddenly you don’t love me anymore?”
“I never said I wouldn’t still love you. I’m saying I won’t go with you. You’re asking me to give up my home, family, and job, so that you can advance your career. Even if that was something I could swallow, I don’t want to raise my baby in a big dirty city like Los Angeles. Have I ever once implied that was something I’d want?”
“And it’s all about what you want?”
“No, Liam. But if you’d said you were seeking a job in Los Angeles, I’d have never gotten involved with you.”
“I didn’t seek it. This fell in my lap.”
He threw his hands up. “Well, good for you.”
Frustration rippled through me. “I don’t believe if our positions were reversed, you wouldn’t also want to be allowed to think things over.”
Sucking in a deep breath, he said quietly, “Okay. Fair enough.”
I was surprised at his tempered response. “So then you’re not mad at me?”
He studied me, his expression impossible to read. “You have the right to consider this job offer, but I also have the right to not be thrilled. I… I love you, but I’m not moving to Los Angeles. It wouldn’t be good for our baby, and that’s my motivation right now.” He swallowed hard. “We can try long distance, but I don’t have a good feeling about that.”
The very idea he wouldn’t come with me sent chills through me. “I can’t believe you’d choose living in a town you like, over me.”
“I’m thinking of the baby. Sweet Water is a great place to raise a kid. We both know Los Angeles is different. Plus, if you take this new position, you’ll be so busy, you won’t even be around anyway. I’ll be alone in a city I hate, raising a child mostly by myself. I don’t see the point.”
“The point is you’re my omega and you’re supposed to go where I go,” I growled.
His jaw tensed. “And as you well know, I don’t take kindly to being bossed around.”
“I’m not trying to tell you what to do, I just assumed you’d want to be with me. You’re my mate.” I scowled.
“I do want to be with you, Liam. You’re the one who’s talking about maybe going away from me.”
“I didn’t chase this opportunity.”
“I know.” He sighed. “And I want you to know that if you take the job, I won’t hate you.”
“Is there any chance at all that if I do take this job, you’ll go with me?” I asked hopefully.
“No. But I’ll respect your choice.”
His emotionless tone worried me.
“And hopefully, if you do go, that won’t ruin our relationship.” He turned, and started to walk toward the french doors.
“Wait, Fox.” A feeling of dread went through me. “Don’t go.”
He stopped. “I’m tired. I need to rest.”
“Rest here.”
“I don’t want to.”
“I feel like you’re punishing me.”
“I’m not. I just need to think, and I’ll do that better alone.”
I moved toward him. “Come on. Stay and talk this out.”
“We can talk later in the week.”
I scowled. “I want to talk now.”
“I don’t.”
“God, you’re a stubborn son of a bitch.”
“What a sweet talker you are.” He moved toward the house again.
“You’re making a mistake by just walking away,” I called after him.
He ignored me.
I clenched my fists, controlling my impulse to go after him. If he wanted space, he could have some space. I knew him well enough to know when he was in this mood, there was no reasoning with him. Still, watching him go made my heart heavy. I was afraid he’d decide to shut me out forever, just so he didn’t get hurt.
The thought of that terrified me.
Chapter Fourteen
Fox
“Just relax.” Aaron, pressed the stethoscope to my abdomen. “Stop moving.”
“It’s cold,” I hissed, wiggling on the examination table.
He sighed. “Fox, do you want me to give you an exam or not?”
“Yes.” I clamped my teeth and made myself stay still.
Aaron had been kind enough to give me a checkup when I’d canceled my regular OBGYN appointment. I’d canceled because I’d feared Liam might show up. He’d tried calling me the last four days, but I’d been avoiding him. I didn’t want to see or talk to him because I was still too confused about us. But being apart was draining the life from me. I missed his soothing touch so much it was physically painful being apart.
“The baby’s heart beat is really good.” Aaron stepped back. “Okay, now let’s draw some blood.”
I sat up, and slid off the table. “Thanks again for doing this.”
“Sure.” He frowned. “I’m still unclear about why you didn’t just go to your regular appointment.”
“I told you, I’m avoiding Liam.” I sat in the chair he gestured to.
He studied me as he slid the stethoscope onto a hook by the door. “You’re being immature.”
My face warmed at his chiding tone. “I’m being practical. He needs to make a decision.”
“And for some reason he can’t do that with you around?”
“I want him to feel what it’s like when I’m not at his beck and call,” I grumbled.
“Like I said, immature.”
I held out my palm, and he tied a tourniquet around my forearm.
“You don’t understand.” I sighed.
“I understand he
’s your alpha, and you’re both miserable right now.” He chuffed.
“He needs to make up his mind about what it is he really wants, without me there influencing him.”
He shook his head. “He’s probably not thinking straight without you around. You know how it is.” He inserted a needle carefully into my vein, and I tried not to wince.
“Would you take the job if you were him?” I asked.
He flicked his wary gaze up to mine. “Oh, no. I’m not playing that game.”
“What?” I laughed. “I’m just trying to get the perspective of another alpha.”
“Hmmm.”
“I’m serious.”
He shrugged. “Frankly, I don’t know what I’d do if I had a great offer like that from Children’s Hospital. I can’t imagine I’d risk losing you over a job though.”
I smiled. “Aww. What a nice thing to say.”
“You know I have a thing for you. I’d have happily snatched you up if Liam hadn’t warned me off that day.” He laughed.
“Hey, I’m free this evening. Why don’t you take me to dinner?”
He glanced at the mark on my neck. “No can do, Fox. I don’t want my nose broken.”
Frustration prickled me. “If he takes the job, are you still going to be such a chicken shit?”
“As long as you two are together, even long distance, I’m not going to make a move on you. That would be disrespectful.”
“What a good little boy you are,” I muttered.
He ignored me as he switched out the full vial, for an empty one.
“You seriously won’t even hang out with me if he goes to Los Angeles?”
He shook his head. “Too tempting.”
“You alphas sure like to stick together.”
He scowled. “Excuse me? I’m giving you an exam that could easily get my ass kicked, and you’re gonna pull that on me?”
I grimaced sheepishly. “You know I’m grateful.”
He finished drawing blood and released the tourniquet. “I know you’re mad at Liam and you want comfort. But I’m not going to be used like that. It’s not right. He claimed you and you’re his. Unless you two officially call off the claiming, I’m just your work buddy. As much as I hate to have to say that.”
I rubbed my big belly. “It’s probably because I’m unattractive now.”
He flared his nostrils and moved away. “Fox, that’s not even close to the truth. You’re about the sexiest omega I’ve ever met. If you were single, I’d happily sleep with you.”
My face warmed at his compliment. “Oh.”
He crossed his arms. “But for now, I’m simply your friend. If you need anything of a friendly nature, call me.”
“Okay.” I grimaced. “Sorry to give you a hard time.”
“It’s okay. I get it. You’re under a ton of stress.”
“And I’m a hormonal mess.” I rubbed my face tiredly.
He chewed on his lower lip, and then he said, “Want a little friendly advice?”
“Sure.”
“Talk to him. If you love him, you must want what’s best for him.”
I frowned. “And you think that’s this fancy job offer?”
“I didn’t say that. But I’m sure it’s frustrating for him that this damn job offer only came after you two fell in love. Now he’s between a rock and a hard place.”
“Yeah. I have sympathy for him, but I guess I’d just put us first if I’d been offered the job. The idea he’d even consider leaving me and the baby behind hurts.”
“He wants you to come with him, isn’t that what you said?”
“Yes. But I don’t want to leave my family and job to live in Los Angeles. Would you want to raise a kid there?”
“No.”
“Well, I don’t know how to fix this. We’re at an impasse.”
“That’s why I’m saying talk to him. You can’t work anything out without communicating with each other.” He frowned. “Don’t you even miss him?”
I flinched. “God, yes. I feel like I’m dying inside. Of course I miss him. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in four days. I can’t eat either, and that’s saying something coming from me lately. I’d been eating like a horse before this happened.”
“You do look a little thin.” He frowned. “You need to eat. Are you taking your prenatal vitamins?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s good.”
I stood, and moved to the door. “Thanks again for doing this.”
“It’s good practice for me.”
I smiled and started to leave.
“Hey, Fox?”
I turned, and met his glance. “Yeah?”
“Did it ever occur to you what’s best for the baby is to be with both his dads? I mean, yeah, maybe Los Angeles isn’t your ideal spot to raise a kid, but millions of people do it. I’m not sure how splitting the family up is better than raising him together in a city you dislike. I get the part about not liking the city, I didn’t like Houston, that’s why I came here. But keeping the family together seems like that should be the goal.”
“Maybe.” I studied him, remembering how he’d said he left Poppy Field for personal reasons. “You ever going to tell me why you didn’t go back to Poppy Field when Houston didn’t work out?”
He tensed. “It’s not very interesting.”
“Too personal to talk about?”
He shrugged.
“Even though you know all my personal business, you won’t share your story?” I nudged.
He sighed, and gave a gruff laugh. “Trying to guilt me into a confession?”
“Sure. Why not?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, holding my gaze. “I was in love with my best friend, but he got pregnant with another alpha. It was too painful to be around.”
“Oh, damn. I’m sorry.”
“It happens.”
“Did he not feel the same way toward you?”
His mouth drooped. “He came to me and said he’d made a mistake after he was already pregnant. He wanted to be with me. But I couldn’t break up his family. Seemed wrong to get in the middle. So I took off.”
“I’m sorry, man.”
“It is what it is.”
“Now I see why you feel so strongly about me and Liam working this out. Keeping a family together is important to you.”
Shrugging, he said, “My parents split when I was a kid, and it tore me up so much I almost flunked out of school. I always think if you can stay together, you should. Barring abuse or anything like that.”
“Sure. I get it.”
He met my gaze. “You should talk to Liam.”
I grimaced. “I’ll think about it. Thanks again for today.”
“You’re welcome. Can’t stall forever, Fox. Talk to him,” he called after me.
I waved at him as I left the office, feeling muddled and depressed. I walked through the parking lot distracted by my gloomy thoughts. As I neared my car, my heart leapt at the sight of Liam reclining against my vehicle. My body tingled and ached to go to him, and I almost couldn’t draw a breath it hurt so bad.
“Why’d you cancel your appointment, Fox?” His voice was hard.
“I had reasons.”
“Uh, huh.” He narrowed his eyes.
“How did you know I’d be here?”
“I saw your car, and figured I’d just wait you out.” He looked smug, but his eyes were heated. “I thought you might go see your buddy, Aaron.”
“Are you stalking me?” I sounded breathless as I neared him. His clean scent wafted toward me, and my pulse sped up. Just seeing him was like pure oxygen.
“I’m your alpha. You can’t hide from me.”
“I can try,” I said softly.
“Why are you doing this? We need to talk. We need to figure this out.”
I stopped in front of him, aching to touch him and feel him against me. “We just keep going around in circles. What good is rehashing the same things over and over?”
/> “Are you just never going to see me again? How the hell can you be this cold?” His voice wobbled.
“If you think I don’t miss you, you’re nuts.”
“Yeah?” His eyes were pools of uncertainty.
“I… I don’t know what to do.”
He surprised me when he pushed away from the car, and slid his arms around my waist. He pressed his face into my shoulder, and shuddered against me. “God, I’ve missed you so much.”
My arms wound around him instinctively, and I pressed closer, needing to feel his hard body against mine. “Liam,” I whimpered.
We kissed, hot, hungry kisses that weren’t nearly enough. He cupped my face and studied me, as if he couldn’t believe I was really there. “I need you with me, Fox. No matter where I go, you have to be there.”
My eyes stung. “I don’t want to be away from you. But I don’t want to live in Los Angeles.” I clung to him, feeling so depressed I couldn’t stand it.
“Could Los Angeles possibly be worse than the past four days?” His voice was hoarse. “I feel like I’m dying without you. Don’t you feel that?”
“Yes.” I hugged him closer. “Of course I do.”
“How can you stay away from me?” His eyes were red rimmed. “I obviously can’t do that with you.”
“You’re choosing a job over me and our baby.”
“No. I’m not. I want you with me.”
“Why can’t you just be happy here? I thought you liked it here?” Even I could hear the frustration in my voice.
He let go of me. “I do like it here. But this is a huge opportunity. I’ve worked my whole life for something like this. I’d never hold you back from taking a job offer like this.”
“We both know I’ll never be offered anything even close to what they’re offering you. I’m just an omega, remember? I don’t get opportunities like you,” I said bitterly.
He narrowed his eyes. “Is that what this is really about? You’re jealous because I got something you’d never get?”
I scowled. “No.”
“You sure about that?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Unlike you, I’m not just thinking of myself. I’m also thinking of our baby. But there are other things to consider, like, how about the fact that I’d have to go job hunting while I’m pregnant? Even if I could get a job, I’d have to start over again at a new hospital. And what about my family? They’d be broken hearted if I moved away. Do you even care about them?”