“Exactly.”
“Okay, let me take him to the back and get those blood tests and such.” Jeremy winked. “We do that so you don’t have to see.”
Devon had to bite back a protest. “Okay. Sure. Cool.”
“It’s better this way. You know that.”
Devon nodded. Jeremy always took the cats back, and everyone came back whole and safe.
But this little guy had to be so scared. Unlike the cats, he had no idea what was going on…
“It’s okay, babe. He’ll be fine. It’s good practice for the baby getting shots.”
Devon put his hands over his belly like he wasdefending his little boy. “Don’t talk about that! What’s wrong with you? Why would you talk about that?”
Laird’s eyes went wide. “So I’m assuming I’m the one taking him in for the shots?”
He couldn’t believe this. His sweet son wasn’t even born, and Laird was talking about poking him with a needle? He understood it was necessary and important, but just the thought of someone causing his unborn baby pain was enough to make him want to vomit. “Don’t talk about it! Oh my God, he’s not even here! What is wrong with you?”
Laird looked a little constipated, and then he grinned. “Nothing. Nothing. I must have temporarily lost my mind. That’s all.”
“Right. Christ. He’s not even here yet.” He began to cry, the emotions pouring out of him.
“Hey. Hey, it’s okay.” Laird grabbed him and held on. “I’m sorry. Don’t cry.”
“I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t just be—Hormones.” He was going to blame everything on hormones for the next month, two months, possibly the next rest of his life.
He was going to blame it all on hormones.
“I never just cry.”
Laird shook his head and kept holding on. “Shh! It’s okay. I’m sorry I upset you. I swear it was just me talking out of my ass. I ordered a bunch of stuff for the puppy…”
He frowned a little bit. “Are you trying to distract me?”
“God, yes.” Laird nodded! “I absolutely, one hundred percent am trying to distract you. Is it working?”
“Not yet, but there’s definitely a possibility it will.” He chuckled through his tears. “God, I feel like an idiot, Laird.”
“I’m sure it’s just instinct, right? This deep, deep, internal thing. Like I can’t imagine being in a positionwhere you are the sole protector of this tiny life. It’s all you. You’re creating and growing?—”
He shook his head. “Well, no, I’m growing.Wecreated, and you better be doing your part of the protecting.”
He waggled his finger and Laird nodded. “I’m on it.”
“Good. I get what you mean, though. He is inside me for a while yet.”
“Exactly. We’ll focus on keeping him healthy, and on potty training this little guy we have coming home today.” Laird waggled his eyebrows. “And picking up the things I ordered.”
“Did you get cute things?” He did love his fun pet supplies.
“You’re going to be so tickled. I got matching bowls for the cats too.” Laird winked at him and whispered. “And there’s a collar with his name on it. Because you know he’s the fourth musketeer.”
“Oh, he so is.” Devon just loved Laird so much for thinking ahead and doing stuff for him that Laird would never do just for himself. It gave him the warm fuzzies. “I love you. I’m sorry for freaking out.”
Laird hugged him tight. “Babe, I would be surprised if every so often you didn’t. I’m glad you trust me enough to share it with me.”
“I trust you enough to share everything.” He lifted his face for a kiss. “Is it awful to hope that he doesn’t have a family who’s looking for him?”
