Training, Daddy (Inner Harbor 2)

“Of course!” Piper looks insulted and Milo shrugs.

“We have a separate room set up at the gym.” Jax informs Milo who has already walked away nonplused. Piper’s taken to motherhood surprisingly well. I’ve seen my friend topless breastfeeding more times than I thought possible. Although as a former personal trainer it’s not like her body ever had anything to hide. Unlike myself who has a scar my ex-husband used to remind me of daily after Maisy’s birth. Apparently, I couldn’t even give birth right according to him. I push the depressing thought back. I need to let the past go. I want to, and yet I can’t every time I turn around and I’m thrust into another social situation.

“I know, but I also know my lovely wife.” Milo leans down to kiss her forehead as well as baby Danika who looks up cooing adoringly at her father.

“I’m glad you’re well aware of her craziness, Milo.” I tip my wine glass back. He laughs kindly in a way that only husbands can do without getting kicked.

“Just wait until you have more, Diana.” Milo grins.

“Uh, no. I’m okay with Maisy. We’re a good team.” I can’t even remember the baby days with my daughter. I spent so many of them tired up in knots with worry over her health and wellbeing. The thought of another, well I just couldn’t fathom that. Not with my ex starting up his phone calls and Maisy finally getting her clearance for remission.

Piper points at me, “You know Milo is something of a gypsy predicting these things. You best be careful, Di.” Her husband flushes and I wonder if this is his foreign juju at work.

Babies?

Huh.

I couldn’t manage dating when I tried.

I’d need a guy for the baby making part and since my marriage ended there hasn’t been a contender to help out with the creation side of things. Heck, even my vibrator was so old it no longer had a valid warranty.

Personally, I was looking forward to peace or the most peace I could find right now, not a DNA donor for something I wasn’t sure I could handle anyway.

“Babies are fun momma, I want one.” The little voice I love so much it hurts pipes up from the living room playing with dolls.

“Yeah, Diana.” Jax smirks at me and I decide to get him good at our next training session. Holding Dmitri he looks like he’s training for parenthood lifting the baby like a barbell. Well, he’d have to find some other girl as a candidate because it was not going to be me. Training Jax to be a daddy wouldn’t be my job.

Six

Jax

“Why is there a brand new Audi Quattro in your parking spot?” Piper slaps my back forcing me to turn around from the weight bench.

“Huh?” I pretend to not hear her.

“You heard me Hulk. Why is there a soccer mom vehicle in your spot? Where is the Mach one?”

I huff and smile. “The mustang is in the garage and I wanted something a little more…” I don’t know what I wanted, but the one day Diana needed to pick up Maisy, I couldn’t because a car seat wouldn’t fit in my car.

“What the heck is going on between you and Diana?” It’s been weeks since we had dinner at her house and she’s brining this up now. Luckily the slap is more of a bee sting, annoying but harmless. I knew first hand her punches could pack a wallop.

“Nothing. You asked me to train her and I am.” I have no idea where this going but watching her pace back and forth puts a knot in my stomach. She’s plotting. Piper is always plotting.

“I saw you at dinner making eyes at her.” Piper pouts as if this hadn’t been in her plan the entire time.

“Weeks ago?” She attempted to scare me away and then lure me in. I couldn’t keep up with her. I’d blame her hormonal changes since the babies with her hot and cold behavior, but that was sexist and not true. Piper has always been funny about guys around Diana.

I roll my eyes.

She points at me, “Not those eyes. I saw the googly you want her type of eyes.”

“I was holding the baby most of the night.” I wipe down the bar and get ready to lift the weights again.

“Don’t bring my son into this.”

“Okay, I won’t and for the record, can we not bring your breasts into every conversation?” Dinner had been awkward enough and I happily gave up the shared office for her to breastfeed if it left me in peace. Now I gave it up so she could change the little poop makers.

“Pfft. You’re so uptight.”