Page 106 of As The Shifter World Turns

“I was talking to the guys about that.” He helped me get the buggy onto the sidewalk.

“I’m handling it,” I told him. Wow I sure got snappy and defensive fast. “I mean thanks.”

I started to push the buggy and he fell in step beside me. “I didn’t mean to bark at you. I’m sorry.”

He didn’t say anything for a while, just walked in silence until we reached the corner. “It’s a huge adjustment becoming parents and then you have a tiny human you’re afraid to take your eyes off of even for a second, you’re running low on sleep and you have your mate to worry about too,” Neil said. “It’s a lot.”

“You sound like you’ve been there.” I snapped my jaw shut. He wasn’t overly forthcoming about his past and I didn’t want to push. “I might get a cookie too.” There. That would take the foot out of my mouth.

“Naw. Just know some dads.”

The deli was on the left and we crossed the street. Elune still didn’t know we were out of the house.

“I’m getting a cookie too and chips,” he announced as we went in. “Ohh, never mind. They have Jojos today.”

The heating lamp had a tray of the yummy potato goodness I loved. I was so getting one as well.

I ordered my sandwich and Jojo, not bothering with the cookie, and Neil grabbed his, adding on the potato and cookie.

“Eat here or at the park?” I was letting him decide. There was comfort being within four walls but also the park meant we could be away from people.

“Park. Except the Jojo. I’m eating mine along the way.”

We managed to find a picnic table away from everyone at the park. It was an odd time of day where the older kids were just about to get out of school and the younger ones were probably having their naps. Basically it was the perfect time to be in the quiet outdoors. As quiet as the city got anyway.

“I’m going to attempt a miracle.” I unbuckled the carrier and eased Elune out, setting her in the stroller, immediately rocking it as soon as she was secure inside.

“The fresh air will help,” Neil noted and he was right. She stayed asleep.

“Let’s eat fast.” I sat down and the buggy was still rocking. It was then that I noticed Neil’s foot on it.

Patch heard the word eat and was all in.

“I like movement when I sleep. I used to have a hammock. It was the best,” Neil told me.

I opened my sandwich and they’d put enough bologna on it for ten people. It was fabulous. And plentiful enough I could share with Patch. Who was I kidding? If it had one piece of bologna. I’d have shared with the furball. It was impossible to say no to our dog.

“I like Martin,” Neil said just as I stuffed my face. “And he likes me. And all that stuff I said about having babies before… it was what Martin said the day we watched Elune while you guys met with Dr. Grey.”

Archer had vowed never to leave our daughter again after that one time. He swore it was why his blood pressure had been high. Dr. Grey assured him it was normal BP for a wolf who’d given birth, and not to fret. Archer still fretted.

“Martin’s so good with babies and kids. He’s a great dad.”

“Why does that sound like a problem?” Neil wasn’t meeting my eyes, which while not completely unusual for him, still gave me a vibe that he was hiding something.

“Because of what I do.”

Poor Neil. His job might not be conventional, but he worked hard for his money and it was legal. There was absolutely nothing wrong with what he did.

“You mean work and get paid? Because last I knew that was a good thing.”

He picked up his sandwich and gave it another bite. “Maybe,” he mumbled around a mouth full of food. “And Martin’s so good with your sweet baby and… I’m just overthinking things. Can we talk about soccer instead?”

“Absolutely. I know very little about it so chat away.”

And he did as we finished our food. Elune, not one to be left out, woke up for hers too. We stayed until my phone started to buzz. Just as I feared, Archer wasn’t able to sleep with her out of the apartment.

“We need to go back,” I apologized.

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