“Isn’t this place kind of high-end?”
“It is.” He unclicked my seat belt. “Wait here. I’ll help you out.”
He got out of the car and walked around to help me out of my spot. It was sweet and, sadly, very necessary. We held hands as we walked inside.
The nursery was already set up. It was woodland-themed, not for any reason other than when we looked at pictures for my display, the little woodland cakes always made me smile. So, why not? The room was pretty much good to go. Bookshelves, books, a changing table, a crib, a rocking chair—all of it. We weren’t here for that.
And goodness knew the baby had enough toys, clothes, and diapers to get him through. Word on the internet spread, and a few customers came in with random gifts. A few became many, and I had to post on my social media how our baby was spoiled by all the wonderful presents and kindly ask them to donate to a local parent shelter instead.
At first, it was weird that people bought us anything, like they knew too much about us. Now, I saw it for what it was. People wanted to give happiness back to someone who made them smile. If yummy cookies and cake didn’t make you smile, nothing would.
“I’m back!” My mate waved to the clerk. “I got a call about my order yesterday.”
The saleswoman behind the counter left and came back a minute later with a bag. “Here you go. Enjoy.”
“Do I get to look at it now?” I reached for it and he snatched it back.
“Nope. You need to wait till we’re in the car.”
Had my belly not been its own area code, I would have run to the car. Now that the surprise was within hand’s reach, I needed to know what it was. But waddle I did and, when we got there, Dante helped me in and then held on to the bag as he went around to his side.
“Jerk.”
“I heard that.”
“I meant for you to.” I stuck out my tongue.
He handed me the bag, and I grabbed it like a defiant little child. I reached inside and pulled out a stuffie—but not just any stuffie. A bearcat.
“I didn’t know they made these.” He was gorgeous.
“They don’t. The store works with somebody who custom-makes stuffies.”
“I love it.”
“I figure our little one’s gonna grow up with all sorts of storybooks that have dragons. They have rain boots with dragons, lunch boxes with dragons. Dragons are everywhere. But I don’t want them to ever think that their bearcat side is any less awesome.”
“If you keep talking like this, I’m gonna cry.” That was a lie. I already was.
“Then how about instead of talking, I take you out to lunch?”
“Lunch? Isn’t it a little early for lunch?” I looked at the clock. It was much later than I realized.
“Are you telling me you’re not hungry?”
“No, I’m definitely not not telling you that.”
He took me to Animals, and it was the first time we’d been there since we met. The vibe was so different in the daytime. The lights were brighter, the music quieter, and because it wasn’t an event, the tables and chairs were set up very differently. But Goldie was still there, making us fancy little drinks with 100percent juice because, she said, even pregnant people needed to feel special.
And then Karma came out with two plates of food. For me, she had the steak sandwich I’d been craving, and for my mate, a chicken pasta.
“I thought you two could use these,” she said, setting them in front of us.
Neither of us had ordered, and I’d never eaten anything but my sliders that night here, but somehow she knew this was the food I craved. And the way my mate started digging in right away, the same was true for him.
“It’s a little calmer here since the last time you two were here.”
“You mean there’s no alpha making a scene?” Dante teased.
