Page 89 of Bad Pucking Roommate

“She’s only a few days old. I’ve got months before she knows what I’m saying.” Luca holds the door so I can hobble inside, and follow Tripp to the backyard where the conversation promptly stops the second we emerge from the house.

“Nobody freak out, she isn’t mine,” Tripp declares. “I’m just the messenger. Or courier.” He sets the baby carrier on the coffee table and collapses onto Noah’s lap.

“We’ve been through this. They don’t bite,” Noah assures him.

“Boysdon’t bite,” Tripp insists, gesturing to Niko and Xander’s three-year old son, Dominic, who’s currently playing with his action figures in the grass just off the patio. “Girls do. In fact, I’m pretty sure it was Constance Dolan in first grade who turned me gay when she bit me.”

“No one turned you gay.” Xander rolls his eyes at Tripp before leaning down to look at our daughter.

“I’m not complaining, just saying. Before that day I didn’t really have a preference, and after… I never looked at another girl the same. My dick magically only got hard for boys.Onlyboys.”

“Someone else explain to him how that isn’t a thing.” Xander sighs before turning to me and Luca. “May I?”

We nod, and he gently lifts our little girl from the carrier and tucks her in his arm as he sits next to Niko, who strokes the back of his finger over her soft cheek.

“What’s her name?” Niko asks.

“Molly Claire. After Justus’s grandparents, Molly and Clarence,” Luca says as he threads our fingers together.

“Why didn’t you tell us you were adopting?” Noah asks as he rubs his hand up and down Tripp’s back.

“We weren’t sure it would happen,” Luca tells everyone. “Then, a few days ago we got the call, and it’s been kind of a whirlwind ever since.”

“Your goddaughter must be excited.” Noah watches Niko and Xander fondly.

“She is.” Luca beams. “Her brother not so much. If it doesn’t have wheels or blades, he’s got zero interest.”

“Typical boy,” Niko remarks as Dominic finally takes notice of the baby in his dads’ arms.

“What’s that?” He drops his truck and goes to stand in front of them, rising on his tiptoes to get a peek.

“This is your cousin, Molly Claire.” Xander shifts so Dominic can get a better look, and I blink back tears. I didn’t have cousins, and while I always imagined our child would be considered Dominic’s cousin since he’s been calling us all uncle for years, the reality is overwhelming in the best possible way.

“Molly is a girl?” He scrunches his cute little nose.

“My thoughts exactly kid,” Tripp says.

Luca opens his mouth to object, but I beat him to it. “You do realize since neither Luca or I skateboard it falls to you to teach her how to do that. Think of how cool it will be when she’s ripping it up in the pool and she’ll be able to say Uncle Tripp taught her everything she knows.”

We’re all silent as we watch him consider this. Tripp’s never said it, but I suspect he’s more hurt by the way his mother treated him growing up than what his father did since it’s not uncommon for boys to butt heads with their dads, and moms are often the buffer. I think that’s why he’s so skittish right now, in a way he wasn’t when Dominic was introduced.

“I would be a great teacher.” He sounds less skeptical than he did before. “Do you think she’ll want me to dye my hair pink?”

“You’d look good with pink.” Luca seems to understand Tripp’s getting used to the idea and needs reassurance, and I give his hand a little ‘thank you’ squeeze.

Dominic, who’s still closely scrutinizing the baby, turns to Niko. “Can she play superheroes with me?”

“Not yet, kiddo.” He ruffles Dominic’s hair. “When she’s a little older.”

“Uncle Tripp, will you play superheroes?” he asks.

“I get to be Thor.” Tripp hops off Noah’s lap.

“You’re always Thor,” Dominic says.

“That’s because he’s looks like Uncle Noah, and I love Uncle Noah.” Tripp takes Dominic’s hand, and they wander off to the yard where they can run around.

“Better get your fix now.” Xander hands Molly to Noah.

---