“Have you felt the baby kick yet?”
Of all the things I ever thought Danny might ask me, that was last on the list. “Not yet. Sometimes I feel something that’s almost like movement, but it’s hard to tell. Nothing as definite as kicking yet.”
Danny’s mouth drew to the side. “Oh.” He glanced over his shoulder to make sure we were alone. I heard Boston snoring from his bedroom down the hall. “Can I... Would it be okay if I felt it?” He stared at my belly as if gearing up for climbing a mountain.
“Are you serious?”
“Never mind. Forget I asked.”
The fog of distance settled over Danny again, and I was desperate to get the nice guy back. “No, no. You just surprised me, is all. That’s fine. No one ever asks. They just up and put their hands all over my stomach. It’s unnerving. Thanks for asking. Makes me almost feel like a person again.” I pointed to my silk-covered belly, trying to smile through my confusion. “Go nuts.”
Danny was hesitant, not sure where he was supposed to touch me. He had several false starts before his hand landed on my stomach just above my belly button. His eyes grew round with fascination. “Wicked! It’s so hard. I thought it would be soft for some reason. Is it off the wall to think a whole person’s growing inside you?”
“Totally freaky.” I smiled at Danny, floored at how tender and precious he was being. I rarely saw him care about anything other than Mariang, and even that was laced with an edge of “don’t you dare look at me while I’m being nice.” I moved his hand to where I was pretty sure the head was. “Feel that little lump? I think that might be the head.”
“Are you serious?” He felt around carefully, transfixed. “I’ve been reading up on the whole baby thing, and some books are saying the baby can hear people’s voices even this early on. Do you think my niece can hear me right this very second?”
“You’ve honestly never been sweeter than you are right now. You’re reading up on babies to get to know your niece? That’s Uncle of the Year stuff right there. Ollie’s going to have some steep competition.” We shared a smile before Danny went back to staring at my belly as he felt along the equator. “I think she can hear you, yeah.”
Danny’s smile fell. “I don’t want her to be frightened of me. I’m not all that great with kids. Or people.”
Understatement, pal.
His eyebrows drew together. “The little ones take one look at me and run straight for Mariang. She’s got a way about her.”
“I’m not well practiced with kids, either. And if you don’t want her to be afraid of you, be like this more often. Be sweet. Kids like sweet, I hear.”
With his free hand, he rubbed the back of his neck – a thing he did when he was anxious. “Would it be okay if I read to her or something sometime? I mean, I don’t know if I believe the books, but I don’t want her to be born and have no idea who I am when I try to hold her.”
“You really need to tell Mariang you’re asking me this. It’s super adorable, Danny. She’ll fall head over heels in love with you all over again if you tell her you want to read to your niece. Of course you can. That’d be great. She’s probably sick of hearing my voice anyways. Mason talks to her all the time before we go to sleep.”
“He does? Then I’m falling behind. Yeah, I need to start doing that straightaway. What’s he reading her? I don’t want to read the same thing, and have her hate me because I’m boring her.”
I bit back a smile at his cuteness because he was totally serious. “Mason’s been running through the lineage of his father’s kingdom, teaching her how to set traps and how to track the undead to bury them. Pretty boring as far as bedtime stories go. She’ll probably be happy to get a break and hear a story from you.”
“Okay. Thanks. Do you have a name yet? I should probably start calling her something other than ‘baby’.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to tell you. You’ll say it’s stupid, and I really like it.”
Danny’s eyebrows danced mischievously, erasing his monster of Frankenstein features and making him look... handsome? It was hard to tell. “I’ll tell you my secret if you tell me yours. I promise not to say it’s stupid, even if it is.”
I sighed, waiting for the magic of our precious moment devoid of conflict to fade. “Fine. September Serendipity Reese.”
Danny let the name roll around for a few seconds as he tempered his response. “That’s brilliant. Really. I like the September bit for sure.” Danny let out a light chuckle that quickly died on his lips. “Reese? I was hoping she’d be Vandershot.”
I swallowed hard, making sure to keep my voice even. “But Von’s not my husband. He’s not in the baby’s life. My last name’s Reese, and September will be my daughter only, not his.”
Danny nodded, sullen. “I guess that makes sense.”
“That doesn’t make you any less an uncle, though.” I watched him nod, grateful he wasn’t taking story time off the table. “Alright, I told you my secret. Your turn. Fess up. And I want something good, not like admitting you secretly like wearing women’s lacy underwear, or something else we already know. I want a really juicy secret.”
Danny’s smile revived his features as he looked down at me, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Mariang took a pregnancy test a few days ago. We agreed we wouldn’t say anything, but I can’t keep it in! It’s still early, but she’s pregnant.”
I covered my mouth to stifle a shriek. “Are you serious? That’s wonderful!” I hopped up on the balls of my feet, clapping my hands in excitement. I could imagine Mariang with a swollen belly, graceful as anything, an elegant knocked up ballerina. “Oh, she’ll be a great mama. You guys so deserve something good for a change! Why aren’t you telling anyone? Why’s it a secret?”
“She didn’t want to steal your thunder, what with the baby shower and all.”
My nose crinkled in distaste. “My thunder? Who the crap cares about that? She’s too thoughtful.” I pulled his wrist to drag him out into the hallway toward her room. “Let’s go tell her it’s fine. Oh, I can’t wait to see the look on Ezra’s face!”
Danny planted his feet steadfast on my carpet. “She’s napping. The baby makes her quite sleepy.” He grinned. “I’m already a husband, and now I’m going to be a dad.”
I discarded my caution and threw my arms around Danny, reaching up on my toes to peck his cheek. “Congratulations! That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. September’s going to have a cousin! And so close in age. Oh, I’m so happy!” I kissed his face all over, making him laugh.
“See? I knew you’d be cool. You don’t care about the thunder part of life. Mariang’s always wanted a sister, so she treads lightly around you, afraid she’ll do something wrong and you’ll hate her forever.”
“That’s silly. Come get me when she wakes up, so I can do a real freak-out. I’ve got to go downstairs now, though. Finn’s waiting.”
Danny frowned. “You let Finn in the door? I thought you were holding out for Von.”
I returned his sour expression. “I’m not holding out for any guy. Von split, and I stopped dreamwalking with him a while ago, so either he fell out of love with me, or I did. Either way, it’s over. He’s not coming back, and that’s that. And things would be too complicated with Finn, but we’re friends, so we’re just hanging out in the living room for a while. You’re welcome to join us.”
“Pass. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. It won’t be long before you cave. It’s the wrong move, but whatever.”
I pulled back from him, affronted. “Butt out of it. I’m allowed to sit in a house full of people with a guy. I’m allowed to have friends who aren’t my family or the people who get paid to guard me.”
“I’m just saying.”
Bev’s tried and true excuse for her endless insults smacked me afresh when it birthed out of Danny’s mouth. “Quit ‘just saying’.”
“What about Mason? After the baby’s not so much a baby anymore, he’d make a great father.”
; My mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? Mason and I are good the way we are. Quit trying to marry me off.”
“October, you can’t do this alone.”
I stepped backward, looking up at him with unquenchable anger. “Am I alone? Is that what you’re telling me? Ollie, Ezra, Mariang, Mason, Lynna and Boston don’t count? I need a husband, or I’m alone? Screw you! That’s the meanest thing you could’ve said to me. I’m barely holding it together most days. Don’t come in and crap all over it because my life doesn’t shine as golden as yours.”
Danny crossed his arms over his chest. “Ollie’s going to go off and have a family of his own one day. Ezra, Mariang and I will be around, of course, but we’re going to have our own baby to worry about. Sooner or later Mason’s going to meet someone. Sure, he’ll still work for you, but one day he’ll have his own family. And Boston? Really? You’re counting on Bos to be a solid role model for your kid? He couldn’t even make it through the baby shower sober.”
“Get out! You’re such a jerk, coming in all nice and pulling this crap when my guard’s down. This is the best I can do, Danny. I can’t make Von want to be with me.”
Danny rolled his eyes, reaching for the door. “Whatever. You’re getting hysterical. I’m leaving.”
“You’re not leaving; I’m kicking you out!” I was shaking with rage, so I knew I needed to calm down. As soon as the door shut, I changed out of my dress and donned a form-fitting black stretchy shirt and some comfortable dark purple capri yoga pants. I didn’t bother with socks as I scooped up my books and padded down the stairs, putting as much space between myself and the smackjack known as Danny.
Eleven.
The Return of Ricardo and Lissima
I slammed the books on the coffee table in the living room and stomped to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water. I was furious with Danny and even angrier at myself that I got tricked into thinking he could be a decent human being. I took my water to the living room and flipped open the first book, thumbing to one of the pages that had tripped me up.
When Finn came into the room, he frowned at my tight shoulders and scowling expression. “What’d I miss?”
“Nothing. Just Danny being his normal charming self. I’m so pissed right now; I can barely think straight!”
Finn sat down next to me on the white leather couch, leaning back and stretching his arm out to rest behind me. “Anything I should beat on him for while I’m here?”
“No. He’s permanently in jackweed mode. Nothing a beating can fix, unfortunately. Though keying his car might take him down a notch.” I slammed the book back on the glass coffee table and huffed. “I was looking forward to you helping me with some of the more confusing words, and now I’m all worked up.”
Finn took the book and flipped it open. “Which part’s got you stumped?”
I opened up my notebook I’d been translating the novels in and thumbed through to one of the dog-eared pages. “This one on page eighty-nine. It’s spelled like karagatan, but I don’t know what that means. Did I get that wrong?”
Finn smiled lazily at me, clearly pleased I was taking such a shine to his language. It was the puzzle aspect of it I craved, my OCD at its most glorious in situations like this. “It means a briny ocean. You got the pronunciation right; it’s just not a word you have here. We’ve got something like fifty words that all mean ocean.”
I scribbled in the text the translation and moved onto the next. Finn was patient as we worked through several notebooks of questions I had, taking detours when we got caught up in talking about the twists of the plot. “You really think Amafura’s good?” Finn asked, surprised that we had a very different take on his favorite character in the series.
“I think she’s redeemable, which is very different than being good. But you already know how it ends, so don’t spoil it.”
Finn chuckled, his arm having drawn me into his nook half an hour ago. He played with the tendrils at the base of my neck, giving me the shivers every now and then that I tried to suppress.
The sun started drooping, and despite only being twenty-three years old, I yawned, though it was hardly past eight o’clock. “How long do I have you for?”
“As long as you like.”
I shot him a simpering look. “I mean how long until you have to go back home?”
“I have to be home before your sun comes up. The prison’s starting to fill up, now that Mathias is in charge. He’s cracking down where Banak turned a blind eye. I thought Mathias would be useless on the throne, just someone to pass the time, but he’s not so bad. I’ve got to make sure there are enough guards for the east wing of the prison.”
“You should go back, then. If they need you, I should say goodnight.”
Finn turned sideways on the couch and moved his leg to snake behind me, patting the space between his open legs. “I told you, I’ve got till sunup. Let me read to you. Show me the page you’re on in the last book I gave you.”
I debated internally, but eventually handed him the book, judging reading together as something that wasn’t too risqué. “That would be great. I’m not a fast reader in your language, so I think some of the magic’s getting lost while I puzzle it all out. I plan on rereading the whole series once I’ve got it all translated. See what I missed while I was in work mode.”
“Come here. Get comfortable.” He patted the empty space between his legs on the couch once more, inviting me in – always inviting.
Again, I hesitated, but finally gave in, curling up in the space he offered. Finn’s body was warm, hard and welcoming. Despite knowing I couldn’t let myself be with him for real, I missed being near him. My heart ached for the closeness we could only share for this brief time when he read to me. Our days spent lounging in his house, reading and debating were precious to me. As I scooted closer and leaned my side into his chest, we both exhaled with relief at indulging in our connection. Our closeness hadn’t disappeared through the distance that the world and I tried to put between us. Finn’s voice was soothing as he read to September and me, encircling us with his arms as he held the book out so I could follow along if I wanted.
Mason came home, raising an eyebrow at our intimate cuddle, but saying nothing. “You can join us,” I offered, hoping that by adding a third person to the mix, the growing heat between Finn and me would start to cool. Mason came down twenty minutes later as a wolf, holding a blanket in his teeth as he jumped up on the couch and curled up on my feet to warm them. He dropped the cream colored, fuzzy, soft blanket atop me, which Finn thanked him for as he spread it out over us. Mason nodded, giving me a steady pull while he vacillated between listening to the story and sleeping. Finn continued on as if nothing was different, clarifying whenever Mason gave a confused tilt to his head accompanied by a light bark.
There was something about Mason’s acceptance of Finn that gave me pause and peace all at the same time.
Ezra eventually joined us, lighting a fire in the hearth and sitting in the recliner as he listened to Finn. I could tell my dad was half-chaperoning and half-enjoying the evening with us. The firelight danced off his skin and made his worry wrinkles fade away into the nothingness of a much younger man. He gave me a tired smile as his eyelids started to droop after about twenty minutes. Ezra deserved a little respite; he’d been through enough with trying to keep his daughter alive, his kingdom safe, and Ollie and me afloat. If there was one person I wished a good night’s sleep for, it was Ezra.
Finn read to us all, my forehead resting to the side of his neck contentedly so I could feel his soft gills. His body wrapped around mine as he held the book with one hand and lightly stroked my belly with the other.
My breathing evened out, and despite my misgivings of how this would end badly for both of us, I let myself feel safe in Finn’s arms, in his life, and in his heart, that seemed to have a steady beat for September and me.
Twelve.
Rubbing Mason’s Belly
For the next three nights, that was h
ow the evening wound to a close. Finn came to visit and read to me after dinner, with Mason or Ezra or Danny and Mariang joining us. I almost always fell asleep in Finn’s arms, but on the third night, I managed to stay awake until ten. “I think we should call it a night,” I suggested, motioning to my sister who was lightly snoring in Danny’s arms. “Mariang’s out.”
When Danny roused Mariang to disappear up the steps, it left just the two of us, with no chaperone. I nervously fiddled with one of the ruffles on the V-neck collar of my stretchy blue short-sleeved shirt.
“How are you feeling?” Finn asked quietly. “Is the baby, you know, keeping you up at night?”
“Nah, the baby’s good.”
“Are your feet sore? I heard Mason asking you about that earlier.”
“Yeah, but that’s normal. I’m alright. Just the usual aches and pains they warn you about in those books Danny keeps quoting at me.”
Finn moved away from me toward the other end of the couch, his hands open like he was trying to catch a football. “Give me your foot.”
I looked around to make sure we were alone. “No, Finn. You know we can’t do that.”
“But your feet are sore. I’m supposed to be your friend, right? A friend would offer to help if you’re uncomfortable.”
Finn was tempting, as he always was. “That’s where this always gets out of hand. I’m off the market, remember?”
“What if I promised to behave?”
“You don’t have the authority to make that promise. I should turn in.” I didn’t mean to be so harsh, but we’d been striking a sweet note in our friendship. He was getting along with my new family, which was something he needed more of in his life. I wanted Finn to have a family who cared if he was a good man or not. He was still in the beginning phases of his conscience, and needed a guidepost to teach him all the functions a respectable moral compass should have. “I’m sorry. I’m being crabby. That’s nice of you to offer to rub my feet. I just think we’ll get carried away, is all. I have to be more careful with you.”
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