Page 84 of Glitterati Omega

“Family.” Rupert gave him a quizzical look.

Winston scratched the back of his head. “My, uh, mothers,” he murmured.

Rupert’s heart dropped. “Oh no.”

Winston lifted his hands. “It is not so bad!” he said swiftly. “They … invited us to visit them.”

“Oh,” Rupert said. “Well, I suppose I have a surprise for you then—I booked tickets for us to go to Johannesburg and take care of the properties there, and then I thought we could visit.”

Winston glanced at Rupert. “Should you be flying?”

“I don’t see why not.”

The alpha regarded him cautiously. “Are yousure? Have you gone for your ultrasound appointment yet?”

Rupert dashed the heel of his hand off his forehead. “I knew I’d forgotten something!”

He fished out his mobile while Winston huffed. “I’d like you to get that out of the way, to confirm everything is going well and you’re healthy.”

“Yes, of course,” Rupert murmured. “I’ll book it in now. Did you want to go?”

Winston made a funny noise. Rupert glanced at him. Winston rubbed the back of his neck. “I … am not sure I want to see inside you.”

Rupert considered that. “I think it would reassure you,” he said. “We’ll hear the baby’s heartbeat.”

“Mm,” Winston said. “All … all right then.”

“When works for you?”

“It doesn’t matter; I’ll take the time.”

,

Rupert was able to get an appointment for the next morning, which was surprising but good, because they were leaving for Johannesburg on Friday. Winston simply told the firm he was taking vacation. He apparently had never taken a day off prior to the previous summer, so he had a fair amount banked.

Morgan was at the hospital again that morning, so they didn’t get to consult with the doctor. They just saw the ultrasound tech, a bubbly brunet who seemed like they were just out of school. “Hi!” they chirped when they called him back. “How are you feeling?”

“All right, I suppose,” he said, and the tech’s eyes widened at his accent.

“Wow, are you British?! I’ve always wanted to visit London. Does everyone there talk like you?”

“I’m not British,” Rupert sniffed. “I’m South African.”

The tech blinked a bunch. “Huh?” they asked. “But you’re—”

“Don’t,” Rupert sighed, “say it.”

Winston chuckled. “There are white people in Africa too, Quinn.”

Rupert glanced at the tech’s name tag.

Quinn frowned, like they couldn’t quite figure that one. Or maybe it wasWinston’saccent breaking their brain.

Quinn didn’t stay quiet for long. “So,” they said, “how far along are you?”

“Fifteen weeks,” Rupert said, glancing at Winston.

“Wow!” Quinn cried. “I thought it would be longer—you’ve got a cute bump there!”