“Pleasedon’t tell me he tried to buy the ice cream shop for her.”
It wasn’t that we couldn’t afford it—but Avery sometimes made rash decisions that led to alotof financial paperwork for me.
“I guess we’ll find out if we get the bill,” Logan said with a laugh. “Anyway, I’m going out tonight. I tracked down some rare parts for my bike, and I really want to get my hands on them.”
“I thought you weren’t feeling well today? Shouldn’t you be resting?”
“More fatigued than normal, but I’m feeling better at the moment, and I don’t trust anyone else when it comes to my bike.”
“Okay, fair. Good luck,” I called after his retreating form.
I didn’t even have time to move the boxes before a certain blonde-haired omega popped her head around the door.
“What do you want, Parker? Logan said you wanted to talk to me, but honestly, I don’t think you deserve a conversation right now.”
Her scent wafted into my room, filling it with sweet peony. It scratched a primal itch and made my head all kinds of fuzzy and fucked. I wanted it to coat every surface in my room.
Why was logic so difficult to retain when I was dealing with Clover?
“Hi,” I said lamely. “I’m sorry, I just?—”
“What’s all this?” Clover nodded at the dozens of packages. When I didn’t respond right away, she raised a questioning eyebrow. “Cat got your tongue?”
“I got some toys for the baby!” I said brightly.
She blinked at me. “Oh, right, I forgot to tell you guys.”
“Tell us what?”
“The baby isn’t mine. He’s my bestie’s, so I’m the cool auntie, not his mom.”
Fuck. Now I looked stupid. “That seems like something you should have made clear.”
“I never told anyone he was mine. You guys apparently assumed, and no one asked. Why would I say something? And if I had known you all thought that,whenwould I have? I wasn’t going to bring it up while we were doing the horizontal tango or when you were yelling at me.”
I grumbled as I grappled with that being a fair statement. I could salvage this. “Well, regardless, the child is important to you, so the gifts are still for him.”
Clover looked at the brightly colored boxes. “Parker, I hate to break it to you, but I’m pretty sure that jungle gym is for a toddler. The sapling is only a few months old…”
“Sapling?” I stared at her. What the fuck did a young tree have to do with baby toys? Why hadn’t I checked the age of the child? I had been so excited thinking I had a good idea that I had barreled ahead and bought everything without even thinking.
“That’s what I call him. His actual name is Forest, but that’s too big a name for him, so he’s my little sapling while he’s small. He won’t be able to use that for at least another year, I don’t think. I have to ask, though. Why are you buying Forest gifts?”
“I…” Words failed me for a moment. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior, and this is the best way I know how. I was reactive, and you didn’t deserve my response. I figured if you love him, then I can’t go wrong with spoiling him. I don’t know you well enough to get something you’d love, but I couldn’t donothing. I got you some ruby chocolate as well, so you’re not completely neglected.”
“Parker, that’s really fucking cute. I’m sure Forest will love the gifts, and he can grow into the stuff he can’t use yet.” Clover’s eyes scanned the room, landing on the pink chocolate box. “You mentioned chocolate?”
I passed her the shiny box wrapped in pink chrome and she opened it. For a moment, she stared at the contents, like her brain was trying to compute what she was seeing.
Every second she looked felt like a lifetime.
When she started maniacally laughing, I thought I was truly fucked.
“Is this edible glitter?” she asked with a wheeze, tears gathering in the corner of her eyes.
“...It felt appropriate.” I shrugged awkwardly.
When I saw the edible glitter at the chocolate shop, I couldn’t resist. It was only right I gave her back a little of what she’d given me.
