“What’s it for, if you don’t mind sharing?” Boone set his hammer down and watched Feilix hunch his shoulders.
“I don’t want the others to know.”
“We won’t say anything,” Boone promised.
Felix finally looked up, dark eyes shining with tears. “I’m having the IVF procedure today. If they know, they’ll get all protective and make me stop working. I like working.”
Boone wasn’t sure roofing was the ideal activity for an omega before the in vitro procedure, but he sure as hell wasn’t about to say anything.
“I’m not supposed to do anything stressful, but this isn’t stressful to me.” Felix shrugged and continued hammering. “Physical work helps me relax. They’d have me loafing on the sofa, being pampered and fussed over all day. Talk about stress.”
Patrick spoke to Boone with his eyes again, but Boone was way past understanding what his friend wanted him to say.
“Are you going alone?” Patrick finally asked, giving up on Boone’s ability to pick up what he was putting down.
Felix nodded. “The others will just get excited again. I don’t want to tell them until I know if it works.”
“You shouldn’t have to do this alone.” Boone frowned. “Do you want us to come?”
Felix froze in place, hammer held in mid-air. “You two would do that?”
Patrick dragged the bundle of shingles closer to Felix. “Sure. It has to be more fun than roofing this gigantic house.”
“Ah, so you just want to get out of work.” Felix nodded in understanding. “Okay, sure. If you two don’t mind coming with me, we can take off early and get a late lunch.”
“Yes.” Patrick pumped a fist. “Last one down the ladder has to pay for lunch.”
“For the love of –” Felix began. “I didn’t mean right this second.”
The waiting roomwas too quiet for a place that felt this big. Boone sat with his elbows on his knees, staring at a framed picture of sunflowers that had probably been chosen to calm people down. It wasn’t working. His leg bounced, heel tapping against the tile in a steady, nervous rhythm.
Across from him, Patrick leaned back in the chair, arms folded loosely, watching him with a small, patient smile. “You’re gonna wear a hole through the floor,” he said.
Boone exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. “I know. I just… This is really important to him.”
Patrick nodded, like he understood completely, even if he had not been around the four omega friends long. “Yeah. It is.”
There was a pause. A nurse walked past, the soft squeak of her shoes echoing down the hallway. Boone followed the sound until it faded, then looked back at Patrick. “What if he forgot something? Some form, or test, or whatever? What if he really wasn’t supposed to be out roofing before the procedure? This is so stressful, and he’s not even my omega. How can he possibly handle this on his own?”
Patrick leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs now, mirroring Boone without making a big deal of it. “One thing Felix is not alone. Those four men have each other’s backs just as we do. They are ready for this. Don’t underestimate Felix just because he’s the smallest. Hell, he’s the steadiest of them all.” He smirked. “I think you’re projecting a little here. Demarien is pregnant, and you want to be with him. That means you’re going to be a daddy soon. Areyouready?”
“That’s different. With Demarien by my side, I can do anything.” Boone huffed out a small laugh, tension easing just a little. “You helped paint the nursery yesterday. We’re prepared.”
“Yeah, and I regret letting you pick that shade of yellow.”
“It’s a good yellow.”
“It’s aggressive,” Patrick shot back, then softened. “But it’ll be a happy room.”
Boone’s gaze drifted down to his hands. “I wish my mom could see it.”
Patrick didn’t rush to fill the silence this time. He just nodded once, slow and steady. “She’ll come around.”
Boone swallowed, blinking a couple of times. “I hope so.” Another quiet stretch settled between them. After a moment, Boone glanced up again. “You didn’t have to come, you know.”
Patrick shrugged, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Yeah, I did.”
Boone gave him a look. “No, you didn’t. This is… kind of a weird thing to tag along for. Both of us probably shouldn’t be here.”
