“He’s big,” Michael heard Micha say.
Alex chuckled, weakly. “Yes, he is.”
“Will I be that big when I grow up?” Micha asked.
“Probably,” Alex answered, handing Micha a stuffed dinosaur. “Just treat your omega with respect.”
“Huh?” Micha asked.
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
“You’re ready?” Michael asked.
Alex nodded.
Michael lifted Micha and took one of the suitcases in his other hand. Alex grabbed his cell phone, wallet, and keys, and followed. He secured the door the best he could. Michael put both cases in the trunk. Alex placed Micha in the back seat and buckled the seat belt. He and Alex got into the front seat. Alex’s soft scent of sunshine and honey caught Michael’s attention.
“Where are we going?” Micha asked.
“To my house,” Michael answered.
Micha settled back and stopped asking questions. Michael stopped at McDonalds on the way. His cook, Maya, wouldn’t be back until in the morning. The food arrived at the window. Michael paid for it, then he handed the big bag to Alex.
“It’s not like you to eat fast food,” Alex said.
“It’s late and the kid’s hungry. I checked your refrigerator. All I found was milk and juice.”
“I’ve done the best that I could, considering people judging me by my biology and being an omega a weakness instead of an asset.”
Michael didn’t comment. He just drove away from McDonalds and headed home. He did feel guilty for the hard life Alex has had these last five years. But he also thought it was all Alex’s own fault for being so stubborn and not asking for help. Pride does not feed an empty stomach.
* * * *
They arrived at Michael’s home. It was a tall building made of steel, bricks, and lots of glass. Michael pressed a button and a large garage door opened. He drove in. Instead of them getting out and riding an elevator up to his floor, the entire elevator moved with the car up to what seemed like the heavens.
Micha had fallen asleep and had missed this. Once the elevator stopped, Michael drove his car into a parking spot. The elevator closed and went back down to the bottom. He got out and took the food from Alex.
Alex lifted Micha from the back seat.
Michael opened the door, then allowed Alex to enter first with Micha. He brought in the food and put it on the counter. He left to go get the luggage.
Micha had awakened. He looked around. “Papa, it’s so big. Does my dad live in a castle?”
Michael chuckled as he came back inside. He closed the door with his foot. “I’m going to put Micha’s things in one of my spare bedrooms.”
He didn’t mention where he was putting Alex’s things.
Alex washed and dried his and Micha’s hands. He put him on one of the big barstools at the counter. Then he opened one of the bags and removed the kid’s meal. He found some paper plates in the cabinet and added a package of ketchup to the side of the plate.
There were two other meals. One had a triple burger. There was no way he could eat anything like that. There was a fish sandwich. He couldn’t believe Michael had remembered that after all of these years. Alex must have not been paying attention when Michael ordered it. There were supersized fries and a drink. He put that on a plate for Michael. The medium fries and drink had to be for him.
Michael reappeared, dressed more casually in gray sweats. His scent, ozone and pine, hit Alex, making his stomach clench with desire. He shook it off. Their relationship days were long over. He was only there to keep Micha safe until he could find another apartment for them to live in. He would start looking the first thing in the morning.
Michael sat on a chair next to Micha. “That smaller drink is for Micha,” he said.
“No liquids after six P. M.,” Alex said.
“Why not?”
