Page 136 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Not yet,” Ryder mumbled under his breath.

“Daire, about the rent?—“

But he cut me off. “Don’t worry about it. Once, itwould have been a problem, but now with the income from our company, plus the advertising money I’m getting on the gardening videos, it’s fine.”

He was a good friend. The best. And he charged me so little for my room, that whether I was paying rent or not, it probably made little difference.

“I’ve got plenty of time before we head to the university, so Neil and I can help you pack,” Archer told me.

“Nope,” Ryder got between me and Archer. “I’m not letting Ivor do anything except rest today. I’ll help you and Neil once I get him upstairs.”

“Ryder,” I protested. “It’s not as though we’ve moving furniture. It’s clothes and books and that’s about it.”

He gave me a look. One that said, “Let me do this for you.”

“Okay. If anyone wants me, I’ll be on the couch eating corn chips, chocolates and watching daytime TV,” I announced.

“Wait, I’ll need to run to the store.” Ryder raked his fingers through his hair. “I have corn chips but no chocolates.”

Gods how I loved this man and it broke my heart not to be with him, not to be mated. “I was kidding. I don’t need any chocolate.” I outstretched my hand and withdrew it. Before finding out I was pregnant, I was learning how to be around Ryder without us being a couple. Hard as it was and with more steps back than forward.

But with a baby on the way and us sharing an apartment, I didn’t know how to negotiate our relationship. There was no rule book and it'd take time to work out us being together and yet not.

I didn’t watch any TV but got on the sofa and napped and when I woke up, there was a yummy aroma coming from the kitchen. Neil and Archer must have left.

“Enjoy your nap?”

“Yeah. I don’t normally sleep during the day. Weird.”

He handed me a plate. “Grilled chicken wrap.”

“Smells delicious.” I took a bite and moaned. “So good. But why aren’t you at the office?”

“The new guy’s looking after things.” He glanced toward the window. “The one I hired after…” His voice trailed away.

I took another bite of my wrap to avoid having to say anything.

“Can we talk?” he asked as he sipped a soda.

I hated that expression. It usually preceded a breakup but we’d been there and done that, and we were more together than we’d been since the day Kellan announced he was pregnant.

“Mmmm.” I concentrated on my food, avoiding his gaze.

“I understand we’re doing this for the baby.”

“You need to date, Ryder,” I blurted out. “Someone not me.”

“What?” he shrieked and then he slapped a hand over his mouth. “Shit, the baby, sorry.”

“The baby’s fine.” I put a protective hand on my flat bellyand the memory of Kellan doing the same thing had me realize he and I shared more than just being Ryder’s partner. For the first and probably the only time, I felt a little sorry for him. He didn’t have a supportive ex-partner to help him through the pregnancy though Seb was doing his best to fill that role.

“Where did that come from?” Ryder asked. “I thought we were getting along great.”

“We are.”

He rubbed my feet and I gave him a look. That was something mates did. Not co-parents. “I don’t want to date anyone. I love you.”

“It’ll be hard at first and I know this is your place, but please don’t bring anyone here.” I paused and held in the tears that threatened to spill. “I couldn’t deal with that.”

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