Page 54 of The Lonely Hearts Guide

Alexander nodded. “Very much. She said you were always kind and courteous, but you never opened up. She tried to get to know you, but you were incredibly shy, apparently.”

“Jared didn’t like me talking to other people. He said my place was at his side, and he was the only friend I needed.” Elliot closed his eyes. “He was not a good friend. If I’d had another friend, I think it may have made everything a bit more bearable.”

Alexander kissed Elliot tenderly on the lips. “And now there’s a whole village of people who want to be your friend. Life has a way of turning itself around sometimes.”

“Not life. You. You turned my world around.”

“In a good way, I hope.”

“In the best way.” He placed his hand on his belly, and Alexander couldn’t help himself. He placed his hand right beside Elliot’s. Their eyes locked, and a faint blush spread across Elliot’s face. Then his eyes bulged, and he took a step back, looking panicked. “What in the world?”

Alexander didn’t know what had gotten into Elliot. He was fine only seconds before. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”

Elliot winced, and he placed two hands on his tummy, his eyes wet with worried tears. “I think something’s wrong with the baby. My tummy feels funny and—” his words ended with a whine, and he slammed his eyes shut.

Alexander rushed forward, pressing his hand against Elliot’s stomach. “Are you hurt? Is it contractions?” It was too soon for Elliot to give birth, Alexander assumed. He wasn’t sure how early hybrid automatons could be born and still be healthy, and the only person who knew was lying at the bottom of the ocean.

“Alexander,” Elliot whined, panicked. “We need to do something. I don’t—I don’t want to lose her.” He seemed surprised by the statement. “We’re supposed to be a family.”

Alexander opened his mouth to reassure him, but before he could get a word out, something pressed against the hand he had resting on Elliot’s belly.

“It feels like there are little bubbles popping inside me. Could it be her heart? Has it given out? What if she’s—” Elliot let out another ungodly cry, and he pulled his bottom lip between his teeth, clamping down.

“Baby, are you in pain? Can you look at me?”

Elliot shook his head rapidly. “Not pain. Pressure. Like she’s trying to get out.”

“Can I lift your shirt and look?”

He whimpered, still unwilling to open his eyes. “Everyone will see my stomach.”

Alexander turned Elliot so his back was to the approaching island. Once his belly was out of their line of sight, Alexander lifted the shirt and watched as the imprint of a foot pushed against Elliot’s skin. It was a strange sight to see, because Alexander had been around expecting mothers before, and he’d seen them kick. Never once had he seen the actual imprint of foot, toes and all. Perhaps it was different because Elliot was an automaton. Alexander wasn’t fully versed in the ins and outs of automaton anatomy, so how was he to know? Whatever the reason, just the sight made his heart race faster.

She was kicking.

Their baby was awake, and she was shoving her foot against her father’s tummy like she was trying to get comfortable. It was the first time it really clicked for Alexander. He was already on board with raising their child as his, but it still felt like he was living somebody else’s happy ending. With her lying dormant inside Elliot, it still felt unreal, but with her first kicks, it was as if she was kicking away any shred of plausible deniability. There was a real live baby under his skin, and in three months—provided Alexander could sort out Elliot’s delivery—she would be out of the comfort of her father’s belly and thrust into the world, looking to them for protection.

Good, Alexander thought, because that was all he’d ever wanted. Love. Someone to care for, and someone who cared for him in return. There would be no further ill-fated hookups with men who wouldn’t remember his name. No coming home to an empty house and watching Hallmark movies to live a vicarious love life. He was going to have a family. It was a realization that left him dizzied, smiling as widely as his smile would stretch, and feeling awestruck. Alexander chuckled, because he felt like he was floating on air.

Tears fell from Elliot’s eyes. “Why are you laughing? She could be dying. Her life could be in danger.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Alexander soothed, pressing their foreheads together. “She’s not in danger. She’s just kicking.” He found Elliot’s hand and guided it to the place Alexander had just felt her kick. Sure enough, within seconds, Elliot’s eyes lit up and his mouth fell open.

“She can move? Inside me?” Elliot gaped at him, looking flabbergasted. He stared down at his belly, watching as her foot poked out again. Somehow, Elliot’s jaw fell even lower. “Is she trying to claw her way out?” Panicked, Elliot quickly rubbed his stomach. “Little one, I must insist you cease your attempted escape.” He placed both hands on his belly, rubbing it gently. “You’ll split my skin in half.” Alexander snorted, and Elliot looked up at him with narrowed eyes. “Now is not the time for laughter, Alexander, no matter how delightful you look while doing so.”

“I promise, everything is fine. She’s not trying to kick her way out of you. She’s just stretching her little arms and legs. It’s completely natural; in fact, it’s in your guidebook.”

Elliot cocked his head to the side? “You’ve read Mother’s Manual?” Alexander blushed because he read the first five chapters as Elliot napped the other day. It was fascinating information, but it held a misogynistic tone Alexander didn’t care for in the slightest.

“A few chapters,” he admitted. “I was curious. I hope you don’t mind.”

Elliot was still staring down at his belly, watching the foot roll beneath his skin. “I don’t mind.”

The boat slowly came to a stop, and the moment they docked, a pair of high heels clicked heavily behind them. Alexander looked over his shoulder to see his mother heading toward them with a warm smile and open arms. When she reached them, she wrapped the pair up in a relentless hug. Elliot made a choking sound, and when Alexander looked down at him, his entire body was tense. He knew Elliot wasn’t used to hugs, but he also didn’t want to tell his mother to let go, because then he would have to explain Elliot’s unfamiliarity with affection. She knew some of what Elliot had suffered from her phone calls with Alexander, but he didn’t want Elliot to have to rehash the details of his prolonged isolation.

“I’m so happy to see you again, Elliot,” she said, kissing his forehead. As she released the hold she had on him, she pressed her hand on Elliot’s stomach and beamed. “It suits you. You look more at peace than you ever have.” She pinched his cheek. “You’re positively glowing.”

Elliot shook his head. “My skin doesn’t glow, Ms. Twylah. I’m not a Lite-Brite. There isn’t much peace to be found here at the moment, either. I believe we’re in the middle of a medical emergency. The baby is trying to claw her way out of me as we speak.” He guided her hand to his belly. “See?”

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