Page 14 of A Baby for Christmas
"Yes," his douchebag of a boyfriend agreed. "It was good seeing you again." He offered me his hand. Reluctantly, I shook it. I was always courteous to Robin's dates, even when I hated him. It was what my duty as afriend.
"Likewise," I made myself say. Once the two of them continued their walk, I turned back to my puppy. "Where's the ball?" I askedhim.
Cooper gave a short bark, recognizing the wordball.He ran back over the grass to the spot where he'd destroyed the tennis ball and pointed it out to me as if proud of his work. I sighed. "You weren't supposed to do that," I told him, even as I was still wishing for my own tennis ball to destroy. "Now I'll have to buy you a newone."
Cooper simply barkedagain.
"Yeah, I know you didn't mean to be bad. I ignored you. Sorry." I bent down to pet him. I could never be mad at Cooper. At least not for long. How could I, when he looked at me with his adorable big brown puppyeyes?
"C'mon, let's go home." I put his leash back on and led him out of the park. I still had other things to do today. For one, I had to call Robin this evening. Find out exactly how serious he was aboutAaron.
* * *
Once I was done eatinga quick dinner that night, I dialed Robin's number. He picked up after only two rings, as if he'd been expecting mycall.
"Hey," he said in that soft tone of voice that immediately soothed me even when I didn't know that I'd beenangry.
"Hey," I responded. "You want to tell me a little more about your newboyfriend?"
"Not particularly." Robin's tone turned almost teasing. "But I will,anyway."
"Are you alone rightnow?"
"Yeah, I am. Aaron has tests to grade. I should be doing the same thing,actually."
"We don't have to talk for long. I'm just worried," I said, playing with a piece of paper I picked up from my kitchen table. Some oldbill.
"You're alwaysworried."
"Can you blame me? I'm usually right. Besides,lately..."
"Latelywhat?"
I folded the paper in half. "I don't know. It's like my alpha instincts have gone out of whack ever since you told me that you were pregnant. I'm not really in control of it." I wasn't sure why I was telling him this, but I felt like I had to. Seeing Robin with Aaron todayateat me. I’d never liked seeing Robin with his boyfriends, but it was never quite this bad. Ever since I'd come home from the park, it was all I could think about. Aaron and Robin, Aaron and Robin, Aaron andRobin.
It wasawful. Their names were on repeat in my head and my gut clenched harder with every loop. I could hardly even force my dinner down. The puppy was concerned too, lying at my feet and looking up at me with his bigeyes.
"I'm sorry about that," Robin said. "I don't really know what to tell you, though. I'm not going to stop dating because your alpha hormones are actingcrazy."
"I know. I don't expect you to. I only... I guess I want to know that everything's fine. I remember the way Aaron used to act when we were inschool."
"He's not like that anymore. People change, youknow."
I grimaced.People change, you know, is exactly how my omega dad explained how he'd married my alpha dad. He never realized that he didn't have to stick with them no matter what. Had Aaron really changed in the opposite direction of my dad? Part of me found that hard to believe. Once a bully, always a bully. "He's treating youwell?"
"Yeah, he's been fantastic. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I wasn't sure how you'd react and I've got a lot going on right now. I wasn't even sure I'd keep dating him,honestly."
"You don't have to apologize. You're not obligated to give me hourly updates on your life." Even if I felt myself wanting those, sometimes. "I'm just glad that he's good toyou."
"Yet you sound like you're just waiting to punch him the minute thatchanges."
I shrugged, though I knew Robin couldn't see it. "Can't help it. Have you told him about the baby?"And that it's fromme?
"Not yet." On the other end of the line, Robin sighed. "I'll have to soon. I'm already showing a little when I don't have clotheson."
"You are?" I bit my lower lip, suddenly wanting to see Robin's tiny baby bump. I could only imagine how cute itwas.
"Yeah, I am." He laughed. "Don't sound so excited. It's apain."
