Page 27 of His Omega Bear
I pushed away from the sink and helped him put everything away. I was stunned at the sheer amount of groceries he had bought. Rhys filled the kitchen with rows of neatly arranged items - there were packets of cereal in the pantry, loaves of bread stacked on the countertop, and cuts of meat nestled in the freezer. But it wasn’t just the food that overwhelmed me; it was the thoughtfulness behind it all, the way Rhys had taken the time to consider not just what we need now, but what we may need in the days to come. As we worked side by side, our arms occasionally brushing against each other, I couldn't shake the feeling of warmth that bloomed in my chest. It was more than just gratitude for his kindness; it was a deep sense of connection that seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.
As we finished organizing the last of the groceries, a comfortable silence settled between us. Rhys turned to me, his gaze soft yet intense, as if searching for something.
“I need to pay you for this,” I finally said, breaking the quiet that surrounded us. “This… wow… it really means a lot.”
He shook his head. “No. This was me taking care of you. I didn’t do it for you to repay me. I did it because I wanted to.”
I’d thought I would be alone here. I hadn’t expected him. “Then you need to be here to help me eat all this.”
A gentle smile tugged at the corners of Rhys’ lips, his expression warm and genuine. “I can do that. I want to be here for you, Jaxson. For both you and Emilia,” he confessed, his voice a whisper.
His words resonated deep within me, touching parts of my heart that I had locked away since losing Lee and Jay. I could feel the weight of his sincerity, the depth of his emotions that mirrored my own desires for everything I’d lost, but also something I didn’t even know I’d been searching for.
A stable and loving home… a family of my own.
In that moment, I realized that Rhys wasn't just offering groceries; he was offering support, care, and a future filled with all of those things. And more.
“I—” before I could even figure out what I planned to say, Emilia’s shriek had both of us looking towards the swing.
Rhys and I exchanged a quick glance before heading towards her.
“Are you hungry with all this talk of food, girlfriend?” Rhys suggested softly, his hand moving to brush a gentle finger against Emilia's cheek. His tenderness towards her touched something deep within me, stirring emotions I didn’t even know I had. “How about I get you a bottle ready?”
I put my hand on his shoulder. “I’ll get the bottle, you take care of her.”.
Rhys beamed at me and nodded. As I prepared the bottle with a more practiced ease, he picked her up out of the swing and settled Emilia onto his lap. I handed him the bottle, our fingers touching again.
The sparks between us were blazed into my skin. And when he looked at me as he held her carefully in his arms, an unsettled part of me thought I might have found the missing piece of me.
Once she was fed, Rhys handed her to me so he could start on dinner. I stood in the kitchen, my girl in my arms, her pulling at the back of my hair, as I watched him move around my kitchen. I watched him wordlessly with a sense of wonder and gratitude, overwhelmed by the unexpected turn my life had taken.
“I feel like she’s more relaxed because you’re here,” I confessed. “It’s never been this easy.”
Rhys moved closer, his gaze soft as he looked at the two of us with an expression that held a mix of tenderness and longing. “She's relaxed, because you’re relaxed, Jaxson.”
He ran his hand over her head, causing her to turn toward him. He leaned forward and her hand found his hair.
“She’s got quite a grip,” he laughed, working to free himself from her grasp.
“Soccer is in her future,” I added. “She’s going to be so damn fast on her feet.”
“I would agree,” he replied softly, glancing down at Emilia's serene face. Rhys's words reminded me of what I had known all along - my niece was a precious gift, a beacon of light in the darkness that had shrouded my life. Even when things were difficult, I would never stop being grateful she was here.
As our eyes met in the light of the kitchen, I saw a reflection of my own longing mirrored in Rhys's gaze. There was a silent understanding between us, a shared desire for something more.
“I believed you promised me dinner,” I said, my voice sounding huskier even to my ears.
“That I did. Want to help?”
“Always,” I whispered, my words heavy with meaning.
I put Emilia back in her swing and gave her the pacifier. I knew she’d be out before long.
The atmosphere was comfortable, yet tinged with an unspoken tension lingering from the events of the previous night and the pull that was between us. As we chopped vegetables, conversation flowed between us. Rhys took a deep breath before speaking up, his voice tinged with sincerity.
“Jaxson, I need to apologize for last night. I… I maybe panicked a little,” he sighed, “I don’t want—” he shook his head, “I was worried things were moving too fast between us.”
I paused, glancing over at him, noting the furrow in his brow and the hint of concern in his eyes. “Rhys, we're both adults,” I replied gently, hoping to reassure him. “We have no check sheet or timetable to adhere to. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to take things at whatever pace feels right for us.However long it takes for us to get there is irrelevant. I’m not going anywhere.”