"I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't."
"Okay, let me go wash my hands."
"And while he's doing that, let's get you changed."
He set Connor down on the changing table and was about to change him when the look on the baby's face told him he needed a few extra minutes. And from the smell of it, it was going to be a bad one. “You’re such a stinky little butt.” He smiled and tickled the child’s cheek, who didn’t notice because he was more focused on other things.
Connor had turned four months, so he and Creed had started adding small amounts of baby food to his diet. At his last doctor’s appointment, his pediatrician was impressed with how much he'd grown and said he had a healthy weight for a baby his age.It made Winter and Creed proud that they were doing a great job with Connor so far. Once he was sure Connor was done, he went on to change him as he tried not to gag from the smell. He loved Connor and loved watching him grow, but the stinky diapers he could have done without.
"Okay, I'm back," Jarrod said excitedly, then screwed up his face. “Tell me you’ve already changed him?”
“Yes, he’s all clean,” Winter said with a chuckle. "Here you go," he said handing Connor gently over to Jarrod. He watched his friend talk to Connor, who was staring at him. "You look good with a baby in your arms. Maybe it's time you settle down with someone."
"It's not so easy when you're a beta living in a world where alphas and omegas are the mated pairs. Plus, male betas can't get pregnant."
"You could adopt, hire a surrogate, or try to find your one true theta mate.”
"Maybe, but I don’t think I’d find my mate this late in the game. The one I loved I...well, I’ll just say we weren't meant to be."
Winter's heart broke for his friend. He had been so busy he had no idea Jarrod had fallen in love with someone. "Well whoever they are, they lost out on a good guy." Winter smiled as he walked over and took Connor from him. Jarrod was staring at him with a faraway expression on his face.
Yup, that guy's an idiot for not seeing what a good guy Jarrod is.
Winter and Jarrod had one night together and that was because, at the time, they were both in need of affection and comfort. There was nothing else between them.
"I think your mate’s home," Jarrod said, getting his attention.
"Come on, Connor, let's go greet uncle Creed." They started walking down the hall.
"Is that what you're going to let him call you?"
"What?" Winter asked and stopped walking.
"Are you guys going to let him call you uncle?"
"Yeah, what's wrong with that? We're not his parents."
"Yes, and no." Winter went to speak, but Jarrod stopped him. "It's not wrong if he sees you guys as his parents. And I'm sure Richard and Caroline won't mind. It's not like you guys will not tell him about them being his parents. Right now, you two are the only thing he sees as his parents. Stop discounting that because you think you're erasing his real ones."
Jarrod continued down the hall and down the stairs, leaving Winter thinking about what he’d said.He looked down at Connor and wondered if Jarrod was right; should he see himself as Connor’s dad and not his uncle? He had never foreseen Caroline not being around to take care of her child. He loved Connor, knowing that he would do just about anything for the child left in his care.
Would it be wrong if he called me dad?
“Hey, are you okay?”
Winter looked up when he heard Creed’s voice. “You’re home.”
“Yeah, I just got in, but you didn’t answer my question. Are you all right?”
Other than being nauseatingly nervous about meeting your ex-lover, I’m fine.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I was just thinking of something. Did you get done with what you needed to do?”
“Ah, yeah. I went to see a realtor about putting Richard’s house up for sale.”
“Are you sure you want to sell it?”
“I’m sure. We’re not going to live there, and I can’t let it just sit there. So, the best thing to do is sell it and add the funds to Connor’s trust fund.”
