Page 30 of His Innocent Omega
Honestly, I could probably learn a thing or two from those two ladies.
“They are very formidable.” Nodding, I risked gently pulling the bottle from between Julianna’s pursed lips. Gently placing her on my shoulder, I patted her back.
“Good word to describe them.”
Julianna tossed her head, fussing at me.
“You need to pat her back harder to get the burp out,” Grayson instructed me softly.
Blowing a breath out through my nose, I shot him an annoyed look. “I don’t want to hurt her.”
“Babies are stronger than they look.” Reaching over, he took her from me and I let him. He patted her back firmly, and within three pats, a healthy burp erupted from her. Along with a frothy milk trail on the fabric of his shoulder. He didn’t seem upset byit, just leaned forward, took the burp cloth from my shoulder and swiped at it, then cleaned her mouth.
“Here,” sulking, I handed him the bottle, “you seem to be better at this than I am.”
“I’m not better, Wyatt,” he told me gently, adjusting Julianna in the cradle of his arms, and giving her the bottle back to finish eating. “I’ve just had a lot of practice the last couple of years. It’s like all my friends are single-handedly trying to start a population boom in Sweet Alps. Every time I turn around there’s another pup.”
Blinking, the prickly heat burning my eyes–Goddess, I wassooooover crying–I whispered, “She hates me. My own baby hates me. All she does is scream every time I touch her.”
Dramatic much?My giraffe huffed, and I chose to ignore them. I felt like I had a right to be a bit dramatic today.
Grayson’s dark eyes held a soft look that I had a hard time deciphering. “She doesn’t hate you Wyatt, she loves you. You kept her safe for months. She turns her head every time she hears your voice. But…”
“What?” Waving a hand at him in a come-on motion, I urged him to continue. “What were you going to say?”
“It’s just an observation from my friends, that’s all.”
“The ones having all the babies?” Goddess, even I was annoyed with my pissy, surly tone.
He pursed his lips, but he was smiling slightly. Not quite enough to see those dimples I had only gotten to briefly see once, but it was still a smile. “Yeah, them. It’s just if you’re tense and upset, she’s going to be tense and upset. Babies can feel your emotions and they take their cues from you.”
“So, I should relax?”
He shrugged, “Pretty much. Stop trying to be perfect at this,Wyatt. Parenting is not perfect. Trust me. Just do the best you can, but you’re going to need to learn to pivot. She isn’t a textbook. She has her own emotions, her own personality. She might not act, or even react, like you expect her to. And that’s okay. Just love her. Keep her safe. Protect her. Like you already have been. Like you know how to do. That’s all she needs from you.”
Blinking the wetness from my eyes, I nibbled on my bottom lip with my teeth, and took a shuddering breath in. “Stop it! Stop saying all the right things, dammit! I’m trying to stay mad at you.”
Grayson chuckled lowly, then ducked his head to look at the baby. “Sorry.”
He so isn’t, my giraffe huffed, and I crossed my arms over my chest, forgetting about my sore nipples.
“Ouch,” I hissed. “Everything hurts. It’s making me out of sorts. I’m sorry for snapping at you when you’re just trying to help.”
“When did you have pain medication last?” he demanded, sounding like he might go chase down a nurse on my behalf.
“Three hours, fifty-seven minutes, and forty-seven seconds ago.” I mumbled without thinking about it. When he just stared at me wide-eyed, I huffed, “What? There’s a clock over there.” So my brain was functioning somewhat normally again. I had calculated the time with no thought. Because pregnancy brain had messed with my real brain something fierce.
It meant Nikki was bound to be popping in with her overly annoying perky self any minute. Thank goodness, because I could really use some pain meds right about now. And some decent food.
“Can I eat?” With my eyes, I gestured to the white bag he had sat on the side table. I had kind of forgotten about the food for aminute, but I was ravenous. Hunger was probably partly causing my surly attitude. Along with a multitude of other things.
“Go for it. There’s a salad, a couple of cheeseburgers, a grilled chicken sandwich, fries and onion rings.” He brought the bag over and placed it on the rolling bed tray, pulling it across my lap. I was a lot envious of the way he did it, while still managing to feed the baby without interruption.
“How much food do you think I can eat at one time?” I dug the green salad out first and opened it with a sigh of happiness. “Spinach. Yum.”
Instead of lettuce, the base was spinach, which I knew was high in iron. The rest of the toppings were basic; cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots. My giraffe didn’t eat meat and loved leafy vegetables. This would make them happy. I dug in with a pleased sound of contentment.
“I thought I would eat with you.” His lips pressed together in that same little pleased smile of his, “I’ll eat whatever you don’t want.”
