“Okay. You’re lucky I lo—like you so much that I’ll put up with thismysteriousstuff.”
Calder’s face softened. “Ilo—likeyou too.”
Zinn and Calder headed toward the door just as Ryde came racing into the house from the backyard. “Dad, the hot dogs are burning!”
Assa and Wes looked at their son standing in the archway.
Next to them, Zinn gasped, collapsing into Calder’s arms.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Wes
Wes was relieved when the omega came around quickly, out less than ten seconds. Considering how big a shock he’d had, Wes figured this was good evidence that Zeller—who was also somehow Zinn the baker—was as tough as Asher said he was.
“Is the man okay?” Ryde asked, looking at Zinn, who sat on their couch leaning heavily into Calder.
“He’s fine, nugget,” Assa said. “Just a little lightheaded.”
Ryde surveyed the room. “Did one of my friends come? Are they the dads?”
Zinn squeaked.
“No.” Assa looked at Wes with tearful eyes, even as he spoke to their son. “You remember Calder from the bakery. He and the other man made your cake.” To Zinn, he said, “This is Ryde.”
“Ryde,” Zinn whispered.
“I only delivered the cake,” Calder said, offering the boy a ghost of a smile. “My friend Zinn here was the one who made it. But we wanted to wish you a happy birthday.”
“Oh…thank you.”
Ryde looked at Zinn again and blinked. Wes experienced a brief panic that he might notice his resemblance to the omega but was saved by the obliviousness of youth. Ryde showed an appropriate amount of curiosity about the man who had fainted in front of him, but nothing on theare you my birth father?level.
“Let’s get those hot dogs,” Wes said.
Ryde trailed him for a few steps but stopped short at the dining alcove.
“Oh, wow! Is this my cake? … That’s so cool! It looks like a stack of books and some art stuff.”
Wes couldn’t pull his son away. He ran outside quickly, yanked the hot dogs off the grill, and closed the lid. When he returned to the house, Assa was pointing out the details on the cake to Ryde. Zinn and Calder remained on the couch, motionless.
But Zinn’s eyes as he stared at Ryde were so filled with emotion, Wes almost looked away. The omega must have so many questions. They all did.
“You had the right instinct to wait until later to talk,” Wes said quietly to Calder. “Except maybe it would be better if you hung out in the den.” Or would they rather go to Felton’s and come back? The party was three hours long. Either way, they couldn’t stay in the living room. “Ryde didn’tsee it, but there’s always the chance other people might.”
“Yes, it’s…hard to miss.” Calder helped Zinn to his feet. “And we don’t want to cause any disruption,” he added pointedly. “We’ll take you up on your offer to hang out since I doubt Zinn wants to go back to the bakery right now… I’m assuming the den is at the end of the hall?”
Wes nodded. From the table, they heard Ryde admiring the pictures in the artist’s palette. “That one looks exactly like the video game I got for my last birthday!”
“He likes the cake I made for him,” Zinn said softly into the alpha’s shoulder.
“I know, sunshine,” Calder said before leaning over to Wes. “We’ll stay in the back room until you’re ready to speak to us.”
Wes didn’t want to create friction, but he also didn’t want any misunderstandings. “Just so we’re clear, Ryde won’t be a part of this discussion yet.”
“No.” Surprisingly, it was Zinn who answered. “Ryde needs to enjoy his party.” Frowning, he added, “They changed his birthday. That’s why we never found any records.”
Calder kissed the omega’s forehead. “It’s difficult to wait, but there are so many details to unravel here. It’ll be easier once we can all sit down.”
