Page 32 of Remember That Time

"Isn't that the hope of everyone involved in buying and selling real estate?"

"It is, but I've been lucky. I started out with a rundown dilapidated house that I bought for fifteen thousand dollars at auction and went from there. People thought I was crazy then, too. I was buying houses in neighborhoods no one was buying in."

"That's not a good way to make money, Janos." I didn't know a lot about the real estate business, but it seemed to me you needed to buy low and sell high.

Could I be wrong?

"I've had a few duds over the years, but for the most part the properties I've bought have either sold quickly or I held onto them until the market improved in those areas and then sold them for a huge profit. Now, I buy and sell property all over the world."

I shook my head. "Ask me about cell reproduction and I could talk your ear off. I know nothing about real estate."

"And I know nothing about cell reproduction, so we're even."

I tipped my glass to Janos. "Touché."

"The important question is, do you like what you do?"

"I do," I admitted. "I like knowing what I am doing is going to benefit someone someday. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but someday." I took another sip of my juice, my mind wandering just a bit. "I'm going to miss it."

"Miss what?"

"The research mostly. Solving the medical puzzle of how the human body ticks."

Janos frowned. "Why would you miss it? Are you being transferred or something?"

I paled as I suddenly realized what I had said. "Um, no, not exactly. I'm, um, I'm taking a year off at the end of this term."

I winced when Janos's frown deepened. I seriously hadn't wanted to go here, but maybe I should. Janos needed to be aware of the situation I was in so he could understand why I couldn't get into a relationship with him.

"I'm taking a year off to have a baby."

Janos's eyes widened. "A baby?"

"I'm pregnant."

Dead silence met my words. Janos stared at me for a moment before his eyes dropped to my stomach or at least to that general direction since we were sitting at the table and he couldn't see my stomach.

"You're an omega?"

I nodded.

"Is that why you don't want to date me?"

I nodded again. "My life is really chaotic right now. Dating would just add to that."

"Where's the father?"

I knew he was going to ask that.

"I honestly don't know."

Janos's eyes instantly narrowed. "He abandoned you?" I was a bit surprised at the anger I could hear in his voice. "Does he even know that you're pregnant?"

I winced and glanced away. "Not exactly."

I looked back when I felt Janos's hand settle over mine.

"You can tell me as much or as little as you want. I won't judge you and nothing you say will be repeated. You have my word on that."

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