Page 26 of How to Rescue Your Surprise Baby

The drive was quiet, filled only with the sound of tires on asphalt, the engine’s purr, and Estie’s babbling. No one turned on the radio. Telos didn’t particularly care, though. Any sound Estie made was a miracle all on its own.

“Have you begun learning to talk?” Telos murmured at her. “I’m your Papa. Say ‘Papa’.”

She stuck her tongue out and pushed her fingers into his nostrils. Telos recoiled; she giggled infectiously.

“Damn,” he said. “You could take over the world just by being cute.”

For a moment, he worried about letting Mav see this side of him. Then again, who could resist a baby? Especially when Telos had his own, and Mav didn’t?

From the corner of his eye, he watched as Mav drove, looking thoughtful.

“Are you jealous?” Telos blurted.

Mav’s jaw twitched. “About what?”

“I have a baby.” Telos grinned.

“So?”

“So I get to hold her and hear her laugh. And you don’t.”

Telos remembered Mav’s crib, the way Mav wanted that crib back.

Maybe Mav did want a baby, only he’d somehow never gotten one. Hell, maybe hewasjealous.

In a rush of charitable feelings, Telos said, “I suppose you could hold her if you want. I’d have to use the bathroom atsomepoint.”

Mav narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t give Telos a response. “We’ll see.”

Telos shrugged. “Your loss. She’s an angel.”

They drove into town after a drive full of giggling. Then Estie began to make uncomfortable sounds, and Telos panicked.

“Did you poop? Did you pee? Or are you hungry? Crap, I don’t have any food for you.”

A quick check of her diapers revealed that she was probably hungry. She began nuzzling at his chest, looking for milk.

“Ah, crap.” Telos chewed his lip. If he shifted so his chest had mammary glands, would they produce so she could feed?

He focused and tried to change his pecs. They tingled a little, but otherwise looked the same.

“Here, try it,” Telos said, letting Estie latch onto him. “I don’t know if I’ve got anything. Probably not.”

Mav glanced over, then did a double take. “Really?”

“Well,youtell me what other options we have,” Telos retorted. “I don’t suppose you brought formula.”

“No. I wasn’t expecting you to leave with her.”

“Yeah? What do you suggest I do, then? Leave her there?” Telos bared his teeth.

“Did you find Pinks’ friends?”

“Yeah.”

“They would’ve fed her and kept her safe.”

Telos breathed out deeply. “Yeah. But she’smybaby. You wouldn’t have left her there either, if she were yours.”

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