Page 17 of Thinking It Over

I exhaled. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Urgh….”

“You all right?”

“Jesus Christ. Just stood on a Lego.”

I laughed as he continued to grumble.

“Laugh it up, boy. Your time of stepping on Legos will come.”

My eyes widened in surprise. It had been a long time since I’d talked or even thought about kids. “You think so?” I asked, not quite sure why my stomach flipped and my heart rate spiked. I’d always imagined having kids, ideally adopting once I’d fallen for the man I would spend the rest of my life with, but I wasn’t getting any younger.

His voice softened. “Austin, you can do anything you set your mind to. Be anyone you choose to be. If that includes wanting to be a dad, you’ll make it happen when the time is right.”

Emotion clogged my throat, taking me unaware. As I swallowed hard, I winced and huffed out a breath. “Yeah, thanks, Dad. Love you. I had better go, and I’ll let you know when I’ve spoken to Frankie.”

“Thanks. Love you too.”

I ended the call and flopped back on the couch.

Kids?

I shook my head, unable to dislodge the thought of Jasper running around with a toddler in my mind.

Oh, boy. I needed a beer.

SEVEN

JASPER

The yawn escaped unbidden,causing Ian to laugh at me on the other end of the line. “Seriously, it’s okay if you need to get yourself to bed. I know you’re exhausted, and it’s not my riveting conversation putting you to sleep.”

I snorted a laugh. “Well, you have been going on about the hottie doc for a while. But since you’re living out myGrey’s Anatomyfantasy,I’ll let you keep at it.”

“Right. Tell that to the vomit I had to scrub off my shoe this afternoon, or to the number of catheter bags I’ve had to change today.” This time Ian yawned over the line. “Shit, you’re contagious.”

“But adorable.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself.” He paused. “Are you sure I can’t convince you to head my way thisweekend? I have Saturday night off, and it’s not the same hitting the club without you.”

Guilt had me wincing. It really had been a while since I’d visited him. And while he sounded his usual chipper self, I knew work was stressing him out and his living arrangement with his roommate was tricky, making him worryingly not okay.

I exhaled noisily.

“Yes,” he said in triumph. “I knew I could sweet talk you.”

“I’m rolling my eyes at you, you know.”

He laughed. “Yeah, I know. But you love me.”

With a grin on my face, I said, “I suppose. I deserve an award or a medal or something for putting up with you.”

“Maybe a certificate. We haven’t been friends that long. Maybe we’ll build up to the good stuff,” he said, amusement lifting his words, making me relax that it sounded genuine.

“I’ll make it this weekend. I’ll leave midmorning, give me a chance to get on top of some work.” I’d also have to make sure I was human the next day, so I could leave fairly early to avoid racing to get my planning done for next week.

“Ah… the joys of responsibility and following your passion. How’s that all working out for you? ’Cause, you know, this grownup job stuff is overrated.”

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