Page 23 of A Baby for the Firefighter

“Yeah, I know from watching you there's also having babies and getting into fights over who has to take the trash out.” I grinned at my brother.

He gave me a playful glare. “Oh, you.”

I stuck my tongue out at him.

“Yeah,” he said. “You're going to be just fine.”

I hoped that he was right about that, but what if he wasn’t?

10

Dean

“Dude, what was that last night?” my cousin grilled me as I walked into the kitchen the morning after our double date. I couldn't really blame him. I'd totally stood him up after getting that call from Griff. I'd excused myself from the table and... never gone back.

Not exactly stellar behavior.

“I'm sorry,” I said. “Griff called and I... lost my head.”

Shane shook his head, but gave me a small smile. “You're so effing hopeless, man,” Shane said, watching his choice of words as he poured a bowl of cereal for Conner.

“I guess I need to call and apologize to Edward.”

“Yeah, you should. He was really bummed that you left. But at least that stopped Leonard from trying to come home with me.”

“You didn't want him to?”

“With the kids here? Are you kidding?”

“What about us?” Conner asked.

“Nothing, buddy, eat your cereal.” Shane placed the bowl in front of his son, and then went on to feed his daughter—who seemed more interested in playing with her food rather than eating it. She threw a fruit loop at me and giggled gleefully when she hit.

“Ow!” I said, just to amuse her. Then I turned to Shane. “Do you think you're going to see him again?”

“Who are you seeing?” Conner asked.

“I'm not seeing anyone,” Shane said, still trying to get some food into Mary's mouth rather than on the floor. “You don't have to worry. I'm not... ready to date again.”

That seemed to satisfy the boy. I wondered whether he was worried someone could try to replace Ron. As if such a thing was possible.

“Dean might be seeing someone, though,” Shane said, throwing me under the bus.

Conner turned to me. “Are you seeing that man who was at the lake with us?”

The little one was perceptive, I had to give him that. “I might be,” I said. “I don't know yet.” But it was certainly looking good, and so I grinned.

“At some point you're gonna have to tell me what happened last night,” Shane said.

“Not much happened, really. But I think we made a step in the right direction. He was totally jealous of my date.”

“Was he?” Shane laughed. “Told you this date was going to be good for you.”

“I guess you were right. Just not in ways I expected.”

He shrugged. “Still counts.”

“Fine.” I couldn't really be mad. Not while things were going so well. I only hoped that Griff wasn't feeling differently about last night now that he was sober. I had to talk to him soon.