“Did you want to see the baby?” I ask.
For a moment, he looks disgusted, but then it’s wiped from his face. Dr. Carter nudges him with his elbow. Reluctantly, Snapper says, “Yes, actually. I would.” It feels like it was really hard for him to say, though.
I grin and gesture for him to follow me.
“Your… boyfriend invited me over for dinner.”
“He did?” I say. “He didn’t mention it to me.”
“Likely my fault. I keep telling him I’m busy.”
I stop and look up at him. “If you don’t want to come over for dinner, you can tell him that.” He just stares at me. “Or… you do want to come but don’t want him to know that?”
He rolls his eyes, taking a sip of the beer in his hand. “I’ve just been busy,” he says quickly.
“Okay… well, you’re welcome over whenever you want. Both of you, of course.”
We walk the rest of the way to Grizz and Dorothea.
“Maybe… maybe this week,” Snapper says softly, looking down at Dorothea.
I’ve never seen someone look at a baby the way he looks at her. It’s not the first time he’s seen her, so it’s not that I’m used to the look, but I’m also not surprised.
It’s not disgust, but more like curiosity mixed with affection and a dash of fear
“Hey, Snapper,” Grizz says quickly, then goes back to his conversation with a man I remember they said was the Prez. He smiles at me, but they seem deep in conversation about something. Grizz is mindlessly bouncing Dorothea, who is sleeping soundly.
“She’s perfect,” Snapper says quietly. So quietly I’m not sure I was meant to hear it.
“Do you want to hold her?”
“God no,” he says, stepping back. “Sorry.” He gives me a sympathetic look. “I’m not there yet. But maybe one day…”
I huff a laugh. “Okay. Sure. Uh, is it okay if I talk to Dr. Carter about something?”
“Don’t call him that,” Snapper says. “He prefers Lucian.”
Snapper gestures for me to go over, so I walk to him. He’s speaking with Tommy, Kelsey at his side, their arms hooked together.
“You doing okay?” Kelsey whispers.
“Yes, I’m good. You?”
She nods fondly, looking around. “Yeah, this is… exciting.”
When there’s a lull in the conversation, Lucian says, “Did Snapper leave you alone?”
“No, I came to talk to you, actually.”
“I’ll catch you later,” Tommy says, and he and Kelsey walk toward the back table that is covered in bottles of alcohol.
I’ve never had a drink in my life, and I shouldn’t while I’m breastfeeding, but I’ll admit I’m curious.
“Is everything okay?” Lucian asks, keeping his voice low. He hooks his arm in mine and pulls me a little ways away. WhenI look up, I see Grizz watching us. I give him a smile, and he returns it, bringing his attention back to their Prez. Snapper is still standing there too, staring at the baby. I swear he wants to hold her but won’t.
“Everything is okay, but I do have a question.”
“Anything.”
