Bear My Babies

“You just took me off guard. We wouldn’t start trying until the treatments had around a month to work and then we’d only really need one good time because I would be so fertile from the treatments.” It was hard to talk about having s*x with him in such a clinical way, but she had to try.

“That’s great. I like knowing a timeline for things to happen. It will allow me to be a lot more prepared.”

“Happy to help.” She smiled and was happy the food came so they could be distracted getting ready to eat, putting on condiments and arranging their plates.

The food was really delicious and she was happy to talk about lots of other things.

“Tell me about your family Melissa, brothers or sisters?”

“No, just me and Mom. Dad took off when I was three and she raised me by herself while trying to clean people’s houses. She worked her ass off so I could go to medical school. She’s all I have. How about you?”

“One older brother, the golden child. He can do no wrong. He’s got three little girls now that give him a fit. You’ll get to meet them all in about a week, my niece’s birthday party.”

“Oh, we’re doing family occasions together?”

“We are indeed. They are going to want to meet the mother of their new family member. Especially one coming from me instead of AJ. Don’t worry, they’ll love you.”

Melissa wasn’t so sure; she wasn’t their kind and the circumstances by which they were going to have the baby weren’t necessary something a parent would be thrilled about.

“They know about the arrangement?”

“They will. I’ll tell them before you have to meet them.”

“What do they think now?”

“That I’m seeing a human girl who wants to have my child.” He gave her a guilty look and dove into his pasta.

“Thomas, that’s terrible.”

“I’ll tell them, I will.” She couldn’t help but melt when he pouted like a scolded child, but she was still completely worried about meeting his parents now. A thought hit her.

“Are you scared of what they’re going to think?”

“What? No!” He was talking through a mouthful of food.

“Yes, you are, you liar. You’re worried they’re going to think we are messing with nature or something like that aren’t they?”

He shook his head fast, throwing pasta at her as some of it had hung out of his mouth. She didn’t hesitate in throwing a piece of bread at him immediately. It bounced off his head. He got a mischievous gleam in his eye as he picked up some asparagus.

“Thomas, I’m sorry. It was a reflex. You’ll get us kicked out.”

He launched the asparagus and it went down her dress. It was warm and gooey causing her to squirm uncomfortably. She started laughing and couldn’t stop as she tried to pull it out of her cleavage. They’d drawn attention to themselves now and she had to excuse herself to the bathroom. There were several disapproving looks as she made her way through the tables.

When she returned, he’d ordered dessert and a giant piece of chocolate cake with lots of decorations sat on the table.

“We can call a truce over dessert.” He smirked and handed her a fork.

“I can’t believe you threw asparagus into my dress in such a nice restaurant.”

“If you knew me a little better darling, you wouldn’t be a bit shocked.” He winked at her and took a giant bite of cake getting a lot of it on his face. He was becoming too adorable. She needed to be really careful.

Once they’d eaten enough cake to feel both gluttonous and not wasteful, they left. The car ride back was mostly silent. She could still feel some of the food inside her dress.

“I should make you pay the dry cleaning bill,” she joked, breaking the silence.

“Take your dress off and I’ll take care of it.” He wiggled his brows at her and she giggled but quickly turned away. There was no flirting allowed in a business arrangement. He noticed the change, but was nice enough not to comment.

He walked her to mother’s door and she stood beneath the porch light, not really sure if they should hug or shake hands. It was an awkward moment of silence.

“I had a great time, Melissa. You’re really a joy to be around.”

“I feel the same way, Thomas.”

She thought for a minute he was going to kiss her, but he took her hand and kissed it instead. Then he smiled and went back down to the car. She watched him go for a second, but wanted to get in quickly just in case Nathan was lurking about. He’d not come to her mothers in a long time, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t.

Her phone was off and she didn’t really want to turn it back on knowing he would have called a million times by then. She decided to deal with it in the morning and went to bed instead. She’d need to be up early anyway, and there were a lot of things to process after that dinner.

She was going to need to try a lot harder not to be attracted to Thomas or she was going to get hurt. They had established the rules, and the best thing for the kid they would be bringing into the world was to stick with them. She could do it, because she had to.