“I need to switch with you,” Rylee croaked. “I can’t take fish and eggs. The baby really doesn’t like it.”
It was the first time she had said something like that, and even though she was full of nausea, it warmed her heart. As she sat down and broke off a small piece of pastry to nibble on, the conversation kicked off into far more fun places.
“I’m gonna be the cool aunt,” Maeve announced. “I’ll be taking the little one out on play dates and buying her clothes.”
“What if it’s him?” Cassie said. “I’ll be taking him out to play basketball and to the arcade.”
“Don’t even try it,” Sydney laughed. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl. I’m clearly the coolest. I don’t even need an example to prove it.”
They all laughed, and when Sydney reached out to grab Rylee’s hand and squeeze it, Rylee leaned into her, accepting her friend's comfort gratefully.
“So, when do we shop?” Cassie asked, excited. “We’re going to need baby clothes, and a crib, and toys, and…”
“Whoa, whoa,” Maeve said, waving her hands. “You’re getting ahead of yourself, there. We need maternity clothes, comfortable shoes, a pregnancy pillow, heat packs, foot rubs…”
“Wait!” Sydney cried, giggling. “You forgot chocolate. Tons of it. By the bucketful!”
“Do you want me to get fat?” Rylee laughed. “I’m trying to do the right thing and stay healthy.”
“My dear girl,” Sydney said, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Some women are cursed with very uncomfortable pregnancies, and they can barely eat or sleep. If you’re having a hungry, sleepy pregnancy, it is your duty to enjoy every single minute of it. It is the only acceptable time to get unapologetically fat and take as many naps as you want.”
“That sounds pretty good,” Rylee admitted.
“Damn straight!” Cassie said, waving her fork. “For the honor of every woman who had an uncomfortable pregnancy, you must eat and sleep nonstop, should luck come to you.”
“Oh, I can’t wait to hold him. Or her,” Maeve said, actually tearing up a little. “You’re so beautiful, Rylee. You’re going to have a gorgeous baby.”
Rylee felt teary herself, but this time, it was all joy. She was getting excited about the pregnancy now, and if she focused on the good things, maybe she could forget about Gage.
FIFTEEN
GAGE
Aweek had passed, and the wound was just as fresh today as it had been the day she locked the door behind him.
Gage had been trying to get drunk every single moment since then. After he left Rylee’s apartment, he’d gone straight to the nearest bar and slammed all the whiskey he could buy, finding that it gave a few moments of warmth but no relief.
After that, he started hunting down the strongest shifter moonshine he could find. Looking for alcohol that might actually numb his incredibly strong body. After a full week of drinking, he still hadn’t managed more than a light buzz.
He sat at the bar, glowering at the mirror behind it. He could see himself in it. A tall, disheveled man in shaggy clothes. The scowl on his face made him look like he could murder an innocent if it were turned in the right direction. The bar wasn’t swinging yet, and Talon was giving him a look that suggested he didn’t want him here when it was.
He stared down into the small glass of dull, black moonshine. It looked thick like coffee that was too strong and sweet. He took another sip of it, letting it burn his throat and hoping that this time, it might put some space between him and the horrible thoughts in his head.
The day after the fight, he’d tried to call Rylee. He wanted to tell her that even if she decided to go ahead and raise the child without him, he’d be there to offer financial support. He had to make some contribution to the situation.
Gage didn’t want to be a father. That was the one thing he was truly certain of. At the same time, he took care of his responsibilities. He would help her in any way possible, even if it was just child support.
He knew he was a shitty person. It wasn’t as if he needed to prove that again, like he had when he’d lost control that horrible night a week ago. Still, he accepted it, and the one thing he could be proud of was that he handled his business.
In spite of her hurtful “sperm donor” comment, Gage very much felt that this was his business, and he was going to handle it whether she liked it or not. He would find a way to support her even if she refused his money.
The message he’d left on her phone had been brief, only telling her that he intended to help and wanted to talk to her about it. He was not surprised when she didn’t return his call. Seeing as how it had gone straight to voicemail, he was probably blocked, anyway.
He looked from his glass to the mirror again and winced. He liked the view less and less every time he looked up. He swallowed the last of the liquid in his glass, watching the thick silt shift along the bottom. He had no idea what was in this stuff, but he was pretty sure it was rendered with molasses.
“Did someone in your clan make this?” he muttered, gesturing vaguely to Talon. His friend gave him a sharp glance, reminding him that Gage was currently a big, dark cloud hovering over his bright, cheerful bar and effectively killing everyone’s buzz.
Talon hurried over, wiping a glass clean with a white cloth.