It made him recall the conversation he had with Zinn when he found out about his pregnancy.
In another universe, this was his new baby, his and Zeller’s. But in this universe, the stars had decreed that Lachie was Calder and Zinn’s baby, and that Valentin’s destiny was to build a family with two gorgeous betas. And that reality felt right, too. He wouldn’t change it. And in both universes, he loved this baby. They all did. Just like with Ryde. In the middle of the sterile hospital room, with Zinn grinning at his sons like he’d just won the lottery, Valentin’s attachment to Lachie was instant and complete.
But he didn’t know if Calder would appreciate that. Or Zinn. And he would rather die than cause Assa or Wes to question his commitment to them for even one second. So, he kept his revelation to himself. He stayed on the sidelines, letting other people hold Lachie, coo over Lachie, love Lachie, never giving away the depth of his feelings.
Lachie grunted. Valentin had been around his younger siblings enough to know that naptime was ending. Why was Assa taking the longest shower in history? And when would Wes be back? He’d left half an hour ago.
The baby stretched his fists to his ears before performing his new trick of rolling onto his belly. A moment later, he pushed up onto his arms. He’d be an early crawler, Valentin thought. Smart kid.
Lachie must have realized he wasn’t in the nursery he was used to. They’d dimmed the lights, but that didn’t disguise that the Pashuks’ den was large and unfamiliar. He fell back onto his stomach, fussing mildly.
There were prepared bottles in the fridge, and Zinn had left a warmer on the counter. Valentin put a bottle in it, crossing his fingers that Assa would come downstairs before Lachie began crying in earnest.
But the shower kept running.
Valentin hoped Lachie didn’t need changing, since Wes wasn’t back yet. He looked into the diaper bag, thinking there might be one on the bottom Wes had missed. He was surprised to see at least five diapers in plain view.How had Wes not seen these?Valentin texted him quickly to say that he could come back from the store.
The baby’s quiet fussing turned into genuine wailing just as the timer went off on the warmer. Valentin brought the bottle into the den and peered into the crib again. Lachie looked up at him with big, watery eyes and opened his adorable bow-shaped mouth.
Sighing, Valentin reached for him. Was he worried about his attachment to Calder and Zinn’s baby? Absolutely. But he wasn’t going to stand there and let Lachie cry.
He picked him up and perched him on his shoulder. “It’s alright, little man,” he said gently. “I’ve got you.”
Valentin smoothed his palm in figure eights over Lachie’s back. “Shh…shh.” Turning his face toward the crown of the baby’s head, he inhaled. Like all infants, Lachie carried the faint scent of his omega father. “I’ll tell you a secret,” Valentinwhispered into his hair. “Your daddy’s sugar maple scent is the best thing I’ve ever smelled.” He leaned his ear toward Lachie’s mouth. “What’s that? … You want to know what my other favorite smells are?”
Adjusting the baby into the crook of his elbow, he walked him around the room. “Well, let’s see… Last year your brother Ryde made me blueberry muffins for my birthday. Your papa taught him how to make them at the bakery… Those smelled pretty great.” Valentin couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss Lachie’s forehead. “Then there’s your de-de Wes’s coconut shampoo. Have you ever noticed how he has the best hair in the world? So black it looks blue when it catches the light… What’s that you say? You haven’t noticed? Hmm. I suppose that’s acceptable, since you’re only four months old.” Lachie stuck his fist in his mouth. “There’s also your de-de Assa’s eggplant parmesan. As far as food goes, that’s the best I’ve ever smelled. Don’t tell your daddy and papa, but I prefer it to the cake smells at Felton’s.”
Lachie began mouthing his hand in earnest and Valentin conceded he couldn’t wait for Assa to feed him. He sat down in the recliner and tested the bottle. A minute later, Lachie was resting in his arms, eyes closed, blissfully sucking away.
Valentin looked up to see Assa in the doorway, arms folded over his chest.
“Why don’t you look wet?” Valentin raised his brows.
“I think you know,” Assa answered wryly. He glanced at the baby. “We needed you to pull your head out of your ass.”
“Zinn was in on it?”
“Calder too.”
“And I suppose Wes isn’t at the store.”
“Nope,” Wes said, coming into the room. “I’ve been sitting in my car down the block waiting for Assa’s text that you’re finally acting like the de-de you’re supposed to be.”
Assa pulled out his phone and took a picture. “I’m sending this to Zinn. He’ll want to see it.” He sat on the edge of the chair and kissed the top of Valentin’s head, then ran a thumb across Lachie’s cheek. “That was a beautiful monologue you just gave. I’ve always meant to ask you what Zinn’s scent is…sugar maple, you said?”
“How?”
Assa held up the baby monitor he’d stashed on a shelf. “I’ve been listening, so I wouldn’t come down too early. It’ll be worth the extra on the water bill. And just so you know, we fully expect you to stop being weird about Lachie. Whatever was tripping you up, it’s done now, okay?”
“Why didn’t you just ask me?”
“We would have,” Wes said. “If tonight didn’t end yourI don’t hold Lachiestance. But we wanted to give you a chance to work through it for yourself.”
Valentin huffed. “You realize that you’ve created a monster here? Now that I’m holding him, I might never let go.”
“Pretty sure Zinn and Calder are counting on that.”
“You really think so?”