Claim My Baby (Crescent Cove 2)

I pushed the first number on my phone’s speed dial as I walked down the hall.

Seth answered on the fourth ring, sounding harried. Alexander was crying in the background and Laurie was screaming or singing or God only knows what. “If you have a work emergency, sod off. I have my own problems, so handle it.”

“Hello to you too. When have I ever called you for a work emergency? Also, sod off? Are you doing a Madonna now with the faux English accent?”

“There’s this stupid show we binge-watched this week and the guy has an English acc—you know what, never mind,” he said as I laughed. “What’s up?”

“I need your help. Yours and Ally’s probably, if she’s around.” I jogged down the front steps and walked up the street to where my car was parked at the curb. It was snowing again, with a foot or more predicted by nightfall. That might put a wrench in whatever we came up with.

Unless I could find a way to work the weather into my plans.

Sage loved snow. It had been snowing the night she’d told me she was pregnant.

The night my world had tilted in the best way possible.

“Nope, that’s why I took the half day from work. Sage had the day off and they were going shopping. Ally needed a break.”

“No kidding. It sounds like a zoo there.”

Soon, that would be my reality. A part of me was anxious. The rest of me was oddly anticipatory.

Proof positive I was either in love or possibly an undiagnosed flu victim.

“They had a birthday in Laurie’s class and there were gluten-free cupcakes. She’s bouncing off the walls and getting Alexander going while she’s at it.” Laurie let out a wail and Seth exhaled. “Hang on, honey. I’ll be right there. Dude, save me,” he said urgently into the phone.

“Your wish is my command. I’m on my way over.”

“Yeah, and? I said save me, not come stand around and brood.”

“I do not brood.”

“Tell that to your face. It’s pretty much all you do lately. You need to do something about Sage.”

“You’re right.” I slipped into my car and signaled into traffic. “That’s what I was on my way over to ask for your help with.”

“Did you just say I’m right? And that you intended to ask for help? Who is this and what have you done with my brother?”

I turned off NPR because it was hard enough to hear Seth with the melee in the background. “I’m man enough to admit you’re the greater voice of experience in this realm.”

“Because I’m familiar with unplanned pregnancy? That’s what the old Oliver would say.”

“Yeah, well, the old Oliver was an asshole. No, because you know how to convince a woman you love her.”

It became unnaturally quiet in Seth’s house for a moment. He must’ve stepped into another room and closed the door. Either that or he’d gagged both his children.

“So, it’s true. You really do love her.”

“Yes, it’s true. I told you before that I did.”

“You’d also drank more in two hours than you had in your entire life up until that point, so excuse me for entertaining some doubt.”

I flipped on my signal to make the turn to head to Seth’s. “I love her. I love the kid. I want to have a life with them. A family.” I gripped the wheel until my fingers tingled. “What you have, you lucky bastard.”

“Good. I’m glad. Sage deserves that. What have you done so far?”

“Given her origami.”

“Hmm, unorthodox, I’ll give you that.”