Not His Omega To Love by GS Holmes

9Cody

“Can we talk?”

Reggie popping up out of nowhere at my locker while I was talking to Piper almost gave me a heart attack. I swiveled my head, checking around him for his posse, but he was alone. He had his fingers hooked into the straps of his bag, and he shifted his feet, his eyes downcast.

My stomach dropped. He knew. Oh god, he knew. Did that mean his father had figured it out? Mr. Finch hadn’t believed me that night. I’d thought that since a few days passed without any word about it, he’d believed me that the home pregnancy test kit was for a friend. So stupid. Maybe Reggie would have believed that, but not his father.

“Don’t you have a ball to throw, Reggie?” Piper situated herself almost immediately between Reggie and me.

Reggie scowled at her. “I wasn’t talking to you.” He glanced over her shoulder at me. “It’s urgent. Please.”

“Uh, maybe later. The bell’s about to ring.” I grabbed Piper’s hand and tugged her through the throng of students.

“Cody!”

I didn’t look back. My stomach flipped, and I grimaced. Please not now. The morning sickness was getting worse. I would have been glad had it been confined to mornings, but it happened all the darn time I was around food. Or the funky smell of unwashed bodies and socks worn for way too long by my fellow students. Gag.

“I need to go to the bathroom.” I rushed to the closest bathroom and straight for the toilet to spill my guts. I was already so over this part of the pregnancy.

When I walked out, I ran into Piper waiting for me.

“Didn’t you go to class? You’re going to get a late detention.”

“I wasn’t going to leave your ass. What the hell was that all about, dude?”

I shook my head, chewing hard on the mint gum. I’d swapped out my usual citrusy gums for these as they worked better to calm my stomach. “Something I ate this morning.”

She frowned at me. “You’re lying to me.”

“I’m not.”

“You were complaining when we picked you up that you didn’t eat breakfast, so which is it?”

Damn. Busted. I was never good with lies. Just being at home with my parents kept me in knots all the time. If I knew for certain, everyone would be chill about me having a baby, I would already have shouted it out loud and be done with it. I was convinced half of the throwing up happened because of the anxiety. I was walking on eggshells, trying not to do anything weird to draw attention to the fact that a baby was growing inside me.

“Can we talk about it later? Now’s hardly the time. We need to get to class.”

“Does this have to do with why Reggie wants to speak with you?”

I didn’t answer her, which was an answer in itself. Thankfully, she left it at that, and we separated for our first period. The teacher was late, and I slipped inside and found an empty chair. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I checked the message.

Reggie: It’s urgent that we talk. Meet me at lunch?

I didn’t meet him. I skipped lunch altogether and headed for the library instead. The top floor was empty, and I walked to the couch in the far left, then opened the window above my head to get some fresh air into the stale room. I curled my legs beneath me and unlocked my phone. Oh great. More messages.

Reggie: Please, Cody. It’s important.

Piper:Where are you? I saved you a place in the cafeteria.

I grimaced. Cafeteria food wasn’t what I needed right now. Just the thought of all that grease made me queasy. I swiped away their messages and picked up the book I’d borrowed from the neighborhood library— no way was I going to borrow something from the school library— about pregnancy and what to expect of what was coming.

The one I’d devoured yesterday dealt with the different options for an unplanned pregnancy. The two main ones the authors had focused on were adoption and abortion. After reading the book, I was convinced I didn’t want either. Having a baby wasn’t so bad. It was a part of my dream after all, next to an alpha who loved me, a career, and a place for us to make our home. Maybe this wasn’t going to happen in the order I’d envisioned it, but it was still a part of the plan.

I skipped to the next page in the book, ignoring my phone whenever it vibrated. This was something that affected my future. I had to figure it all out on my own.

“There you are.”

Reggie dropped down on the couch beside me. I scrambled to sit up, but he grabbed my leg before I could go.

“Don’t leave. I just want to talk.”

“I won’t go anywhere. Please release my leg.”

He let go of me, and I hauled myself up into a sitting position. He plucked the book from my lap, and I closed my eyes. I’d never planned to tell him. What am I going to do? I couldn’t lie if he asked me.

He tapped on the cover of the book, and when he swiveled his head in my direction, his face was pale and his lips tight. “So, it’s true?” His voice was low. “You’re pregnant?”

My heart thumped hard inside my chest. “W-who said that?”

“Dad. He saw the pregnancy kit and put two and two together. Was it positive?”

I nodded, my stomach flipping. “Yeah, yeah, it is.”

“Fuck.” He slumped against the back of the couch, his shoulders tense. “Fuck, how did this happen?”

“The first time we had sex.”

“So, you’re over two months along, then?”

“Yeah, but this doesn’t have to be your problem.”

“I wish.”

I winced, snatching the book out of his lap. “Well, it’s not. Pretty sure I’m the one carrying the baby. You don’t have to get involved if you don’t want to.”

“What do you mean? You’re actually keeping it?”

He sounded horrified, eyes wide open like he was confronting the antagonist of a horror movie.

“I think so.”

“You’re going to ruin our lives if you keep that baby.”

“I’m not ruining your anything. Like I said, if you don’t want to be a part of this baby’s life, then you don’t have to be.”

He shook his head, rising to his feet and pacing before the couch. “You don’t understand. That’s not an option.”

“What do you mean?”

“My dad will never go for that, Cody.” He dropped down on his knees in front of the couch. “If you have this baby, he’s going to want me to do the right thing.”

“What’s the right thing?”

“To stay here and help you raise the baby.” Tears filled his eyes, something I’d never imagined would happen. “Look, I’m sorry, okay? I know I’m a shitty person. I shouldn’t have touched you when I realized you wanted more, but this is my dream. I want to get out there and play professional football. How can I do that and worry about having a kid?”

He made me feel bad for him —almost— but his life wasn’t the one that would need adjusting. I was completely changing my plans to have this baby.

“Then go play football. I promise I won’t ask you for anything at all, but I-I think I’ve made my decision to keep it.”

He rocked back to sit on his ass, running fingers through his dark hair. “I’m going to be a dad.”

“Reggie, I just said—”

“But you’re not listening. Cody, you met my father. No way he’s not getting involved if I have a kid. He’ll want to do the right thing.”

“Then I’ll talk to him and tell him I have everything under control.”

He stared at me. “You’re talking crazy. Look at you, Cody. You need an alpha to protect you. To have a kid…”

“Well, you never did that, so I still say I’m better off on my own. Now please go. I need to get back to my reading.”

He stayed put, chewing on his bottom lip. Reggie had always come across as confident. Maybe that was what had attracted me to him at first. Nothing about him was confident right now, though. I only saw a scared boy who didn’t want to be a dad.

“What did your parents say when you told them? I don’t suppose they were thrilled at the idea, but at least they’re supporting your decision to keep the baby.”

“They don’t know yet,” I whispered.

“What? You didn’t tell them?”

“No, I’m still trying to process everything.”

“Then how can you decide that you’re going to have the baby? Shouldn’t you talk this through with them first? What if they’re not okay with it?”

“Truth is, I don’t care who’s okay with it or not. It’s happening. I’m going to have this baby, and if no one wants to support me, that’s fine. I’ll love him or her enough for both of us.”

He rose to his feet and brushed off the seat of his pants. “I’m sorry I got you this way. It’s my fault.”

“Nope, we both did it. Please go. I need to spend some time on my own.” Especially after he’d reminded me that I still hadn’t told my parents anything about the baby yet.

Piper was mad at me for ignoring her for lunch period, but she and Izzy still dropped me home after school. She made it clear, though, that she was still not talking to me. I leaned over into the car and kissed her cheek.

“I’m sorry. I’ll tell you soon, I promise.”

“Tell me now.”

Izzy pinched her arm. “Stop being nosy, babe. Let’s go.”

I blew Izzy a kiss of gratitude and, clutching the straps of my bags, made my way inside the house. Mom was already home. Her car peeked out from the half-opened garage. I tiptoed to my room without alerting her to my presence. I was so not in the mood for her talking about school and being valedictorian and asking when I would revisit the school of my choice for a tour held every year for freshmen.

In my bedroom, I breathed a sigh of relief and dropped back onto my bed, then winced. Was I still allowed to flop like that, or would it hurt the baby? I placed a hand on my flat stomach and rubbed. Was that a slight difference I was already feeling? Two months pregnant would bring minor changes, according to the book I was reading.

A loud knock sounded on the door. Before I could say ”enter,” Mom opened the door and walked in. Dad was right behind her.

Wait a minute. I hadn’t seen his car in the garage.

“Mom, Dad, is something wrong?” I sat up in the bed, looking from one to the other. Did they know? No way they could. I’d been super careful.

“Can you tell us why your mother found this in your drawer?”

Dad brandished a small Ziploc bag with the positive pregnancy test stick. Gasping, I glanced from the swaying bag to Dad, then to Mom.

“You searched through my stuff?”

“We’re your parents,” Mom said. “We have the right to go through your things.”

“No, you don’t. I’m not a kid. What you did was invade my privacy.” And I should have known it wasn’t beyond her to do something like this. Stupid. Stupid. Why had I kept it? What was the prize for having a baby so young with a father who didn’t want anything to do with us? But I hadn’t been able to throw both sticks away, so I’d kept one.

“You live under our roof. We have every right to know what’s going on.”

“I’ve asked you what was wrong, but you wouldn’t open up.” Mom blinked as if she was trying to hold back tears. “You weren’t eating, and don’t think I can’t hear you throwing up in the bathroom despite having the shower on. I was worried, so of course, I looked. Of all the things, Cody, I never expected to find this.”

“Please tell us this isn’t yours,” Dad said. “This is so unlike you, son. You’re a good child. You’re a virgin.”

I tucked my knees up under my chin. “I’m sorry. I’m not. I didn’t think this would happen, but it did.”

“Does anyone know about it?”

I shook my head. “Just the father and his father.”

Mother nodded. “Good. They can pay for the expenses.”

“What? No. I’m not going to force them to take care of a baby. It’s my responsibility. I decided to keep it, so I’ll do whatever is necessary to take care of us.”

“Y-you’re keeping the baby?” Mom asked.

“Well, yes. It’s my first baby.”

“You think there will be more after this one ruins your life?” she demanded, her voice rising. “No decent alpha will want to marry you after you’ve spread your legs for all and sundry.”

My face burned, but I jutted out my chin. “I didn’t do anything with all and sundry. It was only one person. From my school. I don’t sleep around.”

“That’s exactly what people are going to think if you have this baby.” Dad frowned at me. “Have you thought of how your actions will tarnish our reputation?”

“Wait, what? I make one simple mistake, and you give up on me? I’ve done everything you’ve said all my life. Don’t I get to make a mistake?”

“No, not with this.” Mom shook her head. “Not with this, Cody. You’re ruining your life. Our lives. How can I face anyone at the club when the word gets out?”

“I’m sorry, Mom, but this is my life.”

“How can you be so selfish?” she snapped, then sobbed.

Dad reached for her and tucked her into his chest, leveling his steady gaze at me. “We taught you better than this. It’s bad enough that we have to make this little problem disappear before anyone else finds out about it. You’ll get it done tomorrow. The sooner, the better.”

A lump formed inside my throat. I should go along with it. My life would be easier for sure. I would be able to do things in the order I had planned. Go to college, meet someone, date, find a job, settle down and get married, buy a house, then have kids.

“Dad, I can’t.” I placed a hand on my belly. “I want this baby.”

“Then I’m sorry, but you can’t live here.”

A sinking feeling in my gut had me gasping for air. “What? Where am I supposed to go? This is my home.”

“And you have one as long as you’re not having an illegitimate child. It’s your choice. You either get rid of that baby or move out.”