Page 18 of Bound to the EMT

Joy.

Shaking my head, I run my hand down my face. Seems as if I have some affairs to put in order before tomorrow. Thankfully, since it’s government mandated, I should have no problem getting off work for my wedding and a brief honeymoon. Of course, I’ll need to get my apartment ready for a wife.

Fuck. Of all the times to have this happen, it had to be when I’m least prepared for it. But then, I’m sure the sadistic government does that on purpose. If there was more time, there’d be a bigger chance of people finding a way out of it. The only consolation is my new bride is having to do the same thing. In this way, I’m not alone.

The rest of my shift goes by pretty mildly. Not enough to take my mind off of what’s happening tomorrow, but not so slowly that I have time to truly overthink. As I trudge up the walkway to my apartment, I can’t help the groan that rips from my lips.

Cars line the driveway, and based on the make and model, I know it’s my family. I should be happy and grateful they want to be in my life, but part of me really wants to just be left alone so I can deal with this myself. Knowing them, they’ll take my home apart and turn it into something I really don’t want.

Casting my gaze up into the night sky, I steel myself for the barrage I know is to come. The instant I step inside, they all descend on me en masse, their shouts of excitement hurting my ears. For them, I shove my discomfort aside and allow them to embrace me.

“Who do you think it can be?” my mother questions, flitting her fingers over my uniform to smooth out the wrinkles. “Perhaps it’s someone we know?”

“Oh, God, I hope not,” I groan, setting my stuff down. “Can you imagine? I’ll have to gut the place and make it all nice and shit.”

“Branson,” my father chides, a ghost of a smile twitching at his lips. “Don’t curse in front of your mother or sister. It isn’t polite.”

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I shove past them and into the kitchen where they all follow behind like little lemmings. I ignore them as I dig around for one of my protein drinks. As I turn, they all look at me, their eyes wide with expectation.

“Can’t a man enjoy his dinner?”

My mother screws up her face into a distasteful frown, as if I’m making her drink the stuff instead of me. “That’s your dinner? What about some real food?” She turns to dad. “Richard, shouldn’t we have some food brought over? He can’t serve sludge to his new wife.”

“Now, now, Julianna,” he murmurs, bringing her hand against his chest. “I’m sure we’ve raised Branson better than that.” He looks over her head and levels a stern, fatherly glare in my direction. “Didn’t we?”

“I’m not feeding my new wife a protein shake. That is, unless she wants one. Satisfied?”

“Hardly!” Mom cries out, storming over to the fridge. “You have nothing in here. What are you going to feed her? Where are you going to house her? This place is far too small. A bachelor pad!”

Setting my drink down, I run a weary hand over my face. “Until tomorrow, I am, in fact, a bachelor.”

“Yes, but you don’t have to live like one.”

“Julianna, leave the boy alone. It’s his life. We’ve agreed to not interfere.”

“Yes, but if he’s starving-”

A bark of laughter rips from my throat as I double over. “Do I look like I’m starving? I’m fine.”

“But your wife-”

“Will be fine. Let me find out who it is first before I make too drastic a change. Who knows, maybe she likes small spaces.”

“Oh, Richard,” she pleads as she turns in my father’s arms. “I can’t stand the idea of some poor omega not having somewhere nice to live.”

“She won’t, Mom,” I grind out. “We can make the decision together. I have to get married first.”

“That’s all well and good,” my sister pipes up, stepping out from behind my brothers. “But you are going to clean first. Right?”

I cross my arms and stare her down. “What exactly is that supposed to mean? My apartment isn’t filthy.”

“It isn’t clean either,” she counters. “You have laundry in the hamper, scum in the shower, and your toilet is a bit worse for wear.”

“Are you volunteering to be my maid?”

“Ick no,” she snaps out, shuddering at the very thought.

“Didn’t think so. Now, if you’re all done smothering me with love, well wishes, and criticism, I apparently have a lot to do before tomorrow.”