Page 20 of The Omega's Fake Mate

“I wish you'd reconsider.” His face looked pained, though. He really wasn't a fan of this idea. Oh well, he'd come around in the end when I saved my brother from his asshole of a husband.

“I know, but I can't. Sorry.” I turned back toward the house when I was stopped by Mary, her face flushed from skipping rope.

“Do you want to have tea with me and Mrs. Panda?”

Kade stepped up to us, an evil glint in his eyes. “I'm sure he wouldloveto have tea with you and Mrs. Panda. You're such good company.”

I shot my friend a look to let him know I was on to him. Obviously, he wanted to delay me going back to the bookstore, but that wasn't going to work. “Of course I'll have tea with you,” I said to Mary. “But can we make it afternoon tea? I've got some really important business to take care of first.”

Mary tilted her head at me, forehead creasing. “Can I come?”

“Yeah, Nick,” Kade said, clearly amused. “Can she come?”

I glared at Kade. “Don't you have a baby to take care of?”

“I'm sure Shane's on top of it.”

Must be nice to have a partner who's got your back,I caught myself thinking before I turned back to the little girl in front of me who still waited for a reply. “I'm afraid you can't come, but if you're good, I'll bring you back something nice.”

“Something nice?” Mary's eyes went as wide as china plates.

“Yeah.” I ruffled her ginger hair. “Something really nice.” No idea what that was yet, but I was going to figure something out.

“Yay!”

That was that taken care of. Across Mary's head, I shot a victorious grin at Kade.

My friend wasn't ready to give up yet, though. As soon as we entered the house again, he called for Conner. The boy came out of the living room with a book in his hand and a curious look on his face. “Something the matter?” he asked.

“Nick's going to the bookstore.”

Oh, that was just not fair. I could hardly tell Conner that he couldn't come along without a good reason.

“Are you really?” Conner looked at me.

“It's okay if you don't want to come. I mean, you just went yesterday.” He couldn't possibly want to go again already, could he?

“Are you kidding? I could go thereevery day,” the boy said emphatically.

I tried hard to keep my expression neutral. How could I explain my fake relationship plan to Zander while Conner was listening in? “Isn't there anything you'd rather do?” I asked. “I mean, I have a car and free time, I could drop you off wherever.”

“He'seleven,” Kade cut in. “You're not going to drop him offwherever.”

And this was exactly why I was never going to become a parent. “Oh, c'mon, he's a smart kid. He'll be fine.”

“It's all right,” Conner piped up. “Actually, I already have plans anyway.”

“You do?” Kade asked, mystified.

“Itoldyou. Jake's dad is taking us to the zoo.” Conner glanced at me. “But if you could drop me off at Jake's house, that'd be cool.”

“You can walk to Jake's,” Kade said. “It's fifteen minutes up the street.”

Conner shrugged. “He says he has a car and wants to drive me. Why should I say no? I'm gonna go get my stuff.” And with that, he went up the stairs. I really didn't mind taking him to his friend's place. Miles better than taking him to the store with me.

“Looks like you got out of that one,” Kade said.

“It'd be cool if you could stop trying to throw my cousin's children in my way.”