Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 429 – Names

Cora

Matthew? Roger tries, passing the name down the line to the baby and I grip his hand, and we both wait…

But nothing.

“The baby doesn’t like the name Matthew,” I whisper, laughing a little. “Well, it was just a starter,” Roger murmurs, grinning at me again. “You try one.”

“All right,” I say, leaning my head back and taking a deep breath. And then I pass a name down, trying… Oliver.

“Oliver!?” Roger bursts out in disgust and I gasp, glaring at him.

“You are biasing our son!” I accuse, sitting up to smack him. “I said nothing when you said stupid Matthew!”

“Matty is a cute name “he protests, laughing and blocking my blow. “Oliver is the name of a sickly Victorian child who wants more gruel -”

I growl and lay back, taking a deep breath and gathering myself. “Well, let’s see what the baby thinks,” I murmur, sending Roger another glare. And then I try again, whispering Oliver? down the bond. But nothing comes back.

“Good baby,” Roger murmurs, kissing my stomach again and making me laugh. “Don’t let her call you that. It’s terrible.”

“Okay okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Let’s try one more.”

“I’ll pick it?” Roger asks.

“Sure,” I reply, relaxing. “But this time, pick one you really, really like. One that you’d actually want him to be called – your favorite.”

“Okay,” he murmurs.

And then Roger passes another name down the bond, and I smile, because…

Because I love it.

And we wait…

gasp at the same time

Happy!

laughing and sitting up as Roger snatches me to him, pulling

at me, thrilled. Laughing, elated, I take his face

think we just

almost until the sun came up, and then we gathered up all of our sandy clothes and the blanket and trooped back to the house, where we closed

afternoon to the owner of the bungalow tapping on the door, bringing us a basket of food so we could eat something,

had to, eventually, because Roger wouldn’t let me eat all my meals in bed, instead insisting that I come and sit with him on the couch for the elaborate dinner he made.

on whatever the landlord brought us every day in baskets and otherwise laying in bed talking, making each other laugh, sending messages to the baby when he was awake to see what he’d do. And honestly, the baby never did much, but

as we napped, and went swim and laid out in the sun. The entire time it was just…so natural, and so easy. Just Roger and

to get back – because as much as we like each other, we

again, yes?” Roger murmurs, pulling me close outside the little bungalow after we’ve packed

kiss me, let it sweep through me. “Maybe

really like this place. Maybe the owner will let us buy it,”

on my stomach. “But, considering that this little

his eyebrows raising. “And considering what the goddess said

a grin. “You’re thinking

bunch more,” he nods, eager. “And I’m going to enjoy the process very

say, laughing and rolling my eyes, shoving him away a little bit. ” You just

around my shoulder as we head for the car. ” Nah, I’m going to be a very involved dad. You’ll see. You’ll barely have to lift a

toes to kiss his cheek as he opens my car door for me. “Or, we can

asks, loading our tiny luggage into the trunk before crossing to the

as Roger climbs into his seat. “Ella, loaded up with four of her own kids and as many nieces and nephews as we can pass over to her

and grinning at me

stroking my belly fondly. “We’re lucky. We’ve got a good