Page 45 of Vex

“Yep. He likes it.”

“Mac! Get the hell out of here and leave her alone,” Axel commands as he enters the room, baby sling still attached. He sets a full glass and a sleeve of crackers on the nightstand next to me.

“You get out!” Mac returns.

“Taja doesn’t need to deal with you right now. She’s sick,” Axel barks back.

“Cooking a kid?” Mac inquires with another head tilt.

“Not cooking a kid, you moron. It’s called a bun in the oven,” Axel retorts.

“Same thing,” Mac cackles.

“Stop saying I’m pregnant!” I shout. “I threw up out of stress. Why do you assume I’m pregnant?”

“Vex told me it’s a possibility. Forgotten condom and all that,” Axel states while cradling the sleeping infant in the sling.

“Vex told you?” I ask incredulously.

“I overhead him talking to Pooh.”

“Overheard?”

“Eavesdropping. It’s one of my many skills,” he answers with a grin.

“Oh my God! I don’t even know yet myself. You haven’t told anyone have you?”

“I’m an eavesdropper not a gossip,” he says in an offended tone.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to bark at you, Axel. Thank you for the pop and crackers. Who’s in the sling?”

“The cutest thing you will ever see. This is Alexia. We call her Alex and she’s my best creation. Bailey helped a little but little Alex is all me,” Axel says with pride as he dips down enough for me to see the baby.

She’s beautiful! Miniature sized fingers curled into tiny fists near her face and a cupid’s bow mouth. A light dusting of blond hair completes this sleeping angel. You can easily see Axel stamped all over her features. She’s going to be a stunning beauty.

I sit up, lean against the headboard and hold my hands out. Axel immediately takes a step back and raises an eyebrow at me.

“Can I hold her?” I ask.

“No! Sorry, but I just got her back from her mom and it’s daddy time,” Axel says.

“Oink! Oink! Oink!” Mac screams.

“I’m not being a pig! Bailey had to breastfeed and I just got her back!” Axel shouts back.

“I think Mac was announcing Gee’s arrival,” I tell Axel with a laugh as Gee stops next to him.

“Oh. Hey, Gee,” Axel says to the pig.

“Was not,” Mac adds as Axel turns a glare his direction.

“Whatever. Sip the pop, eat a few crackers. When you’re feeling better, come out to the main room, and we’ll talk about what’s going on. Yeah?” Axel tells me.

“Okay, I will. Thanks again. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

Walking into the main room, I see a lot of people I don’t know. I hesitate for a moment, looking around, when I hear my name called. Turning toward the voice, I see Freddy coming at me. He doesn’t stop until I’m engulfed in his arms, and I have to admit it feels nice. After the bear hug, he guides me to a table and we both sit. Duffy immediately starts pawing at my leg, so I bend down, pick him up and set him in my lap. He’s been a comfort for me whether he intended to be or not. I softly stroke him and he starts loudly purring.

“How you holding up?” Freddy asks.

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