“I’m not dating him,” I insisted. I wasn’t sure what the hell we were doing anymore, but this situation was exactly why we couldn’t work as a couple. A line had been drawn in the sand long before we met, and the two of us were on opposite sides.
“Could’ve fooled me.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of casual sex?”
“Ew,” he scrunched his nose.
“Oh, grow up,” I said, sitting down next to him. “The point is that I know the two of us can’t work together. So, we fuck with no emotional attachment.”
Jason seemed to relax. “Doesheknow that? Because he seemed a little…protective.”
“Yes, he knows. Don’t worry about it.”
My tone made it clear that the topic was closed for discussion. Jason put his hands up defensively. “Okay, fine.”
“What are you doing here, anyway?” I asked.
Jason’s entire demeanor changed. A wide smile stretched across his face, and he sat up straighter, with a spark in his eyes.
“I came to share the good news. Lexie’s pregnant.”
I let out a happy squeal and threw my arms around his neck. “Oh my god. That’s amazing.”
“Can you believe it? I’m going to be a dad.”
At those words, I felt a sliver of dread. Even though I had just been proclaiming loyalty to Las Balas, I didn’t want Jason to continue with his pursuit of membership now that he had a child on the way. History had a way of repeating itself, and I didn’t want Jason to choose Las Balas over his family the way that our dad did. But I couldn’t tell him that. I knew him, and he’d just assure me that I was overreacting. So, I just kept smiling and hugged him tighter.
* * *
“I’m going to be an Auntie,”I told Piper happily as soon as she walked into the tattoo shop the next day.
“What?” she blinked, startled. Okay, maybe I went a little supersonic.
“Jason’s having a baby. Lexie’s pregnant.”
“Wow. That’s awesome,” Piper said as she walked into her workstation and set down the big tote bag that she liked to use as a purse.
“Right? She’s only eight weeks along, so there’s still a ton of time, but he’s already talking about teaching his son to ride a bike.”
“Let me guess, you don’t mean a bicycle?”
“Nope,” I shook my head. “Motorcycle all the way.”
Piper snickered. “He’s so crazy.”
“What if it’s a girl?” Blade asked from his work station. I gave him a withering look for butting in but decided to answer. I was in too good of a mood to be mean to Blade right now.
“I’ll teach her that girls can ride too, of course.”
“Will he be happy if it’s a girl, though?” Piper asked.
“I’m sure he will. He pictures a little boy because he thinks a boy will be easier to relate to, but if it’s a girl that looks just like Lexie? Come on, she’ll have him wrapped around her little finger.”
Piper sighed with a dreamy look on her face.
“I can’t wait to have kids,” she said wistfully.
“Why don’t you do it now?” Blade asked. “What are you waiting for?”
