I snickered. “Yeah, well…I feel the same way.”
“Your mom won’t let you off that easy, buddy.” Troy shot a mischievous glance my way. “But if you need a date…bring your new lumberjack.”
“He’snotmy lumberjack.”
“Whatever you say, Dex. Whatever you say.”
I flipped him off, then gathered our empty bottles while Troy cackled like a loon.
I wondered if Troy realized he wasn’t totally off base. ’Cause in a twist, I one thousand percent had a crush on the lumberjack.
CHAPTER 12
VIGGO
Freya called later in the day to give me a health update. She was still feeling queasy; some days were better than others. Her good news was that she had a date set for her ten-week appointment.
“This is when we’ll get to hear the heartbeat. It’s Friday. Look at your schedule, and let me know if that works. I can change the day or time, but I wanted to get on the doctor’s calendar,” she said.
I adjusted my earbuds and stared out my kitchen window. “Frey…I shouldn’t go with you.”
“Why not? I don’t think Dex would mind. It’s not unusual for friends or family to support a surrogate at doctor appointments. He told me at the beginning that wouldn’t be a problem for him. And you’re my best friend and family, so…I want you there.”
“Freya…”
“Just say yes. Please.”
I’d skipped a couple of days’ worth of fritters after Dexter started hiding in the kitchen at seven a.m. I could take a hint. In fact, I hoped a small break would put an end to the trace of infatuation I felt for him. It was embarrassing, but the truth was…it was impossible not to like the man.
Dexter was friendly, upbeat, and good-natured. He was a genuinely nice person who cared about his adopted community, and it was easy to tell that he took impending parenthood seriously. He’d gone out of his way to ensure that Freya was comfortable and that she had whatever she needed. If she requested my presence at her next doctor appointment, I knew he’d be okay with it.
But I wasn’t sure I was ready to confront the realities of Freya’s pregnancy and the memories it stirred. It was heavy. Not the type of baggage anyone wanted to unpack with a handsome man they wanted to tear apart and put back together again.
However, I knew I’d go. No question.
The line was relatively short at Dexter’s Donuts the following morning. I nodded at Janey and gave her a thumbs-up when she pointed at the coffee machine.
“Hiya, hot stuff. I haven’t seen you in a couple of days.” Janey set the to-go cup on the counter. “Feel like trying the special of the day? It’s a sour cream donut.”
“No, thanks.”
“Oh, c’mon, Big V. You’ll love it.”
I furrowed my brow. “Are you serving it on a baked potato with butter and chives too?”
Janey wrinkled her nose. “Uh…no.”
“Good. I’ll stick with the fritter, please.”
“Coming right up!”
I tapped my card and stepped aside to wait for the fritter.
Dexter delivered it a moment later. “Hey, look who’s here.”
I wasn’t prepared for him. Visions of Dexter in my bed and sucking my cock rendered me speechless.
I cleared my throat and licked my lips. “Good morning, Dexter.”
