Page 124 of No Omega Needed

"Baby burrito achieved," he says, laughing. "Arm out."

I crook my arm, and he places the doll in my arm.

"Babies feel safer when they're swaddled. They've spent so much time in a confined space that it helps them feel secure. We went over how at this age they're more sensitive to cold the other night."

Jude grins, and I bite my lip as he pats me on the back. He spends the rest of the afternoon showing me how to support the head and how to burp the baby while holding its chest and face in my hand. He even walks me through how the baby shouldalways be placed on their back to sleep until they're old enough to roll over on their own.

The way he lights up every time I master a new skill is a little ridiculous. I mean, I'm excited to be finally getting a handle on all the stuff I need to learn, but he's acting like every victory is his own.

There's a weird sense of pride in my chest. It also doesn't hurt that his positive energy is contagious. It's nice to please someone for a change instead of always disappointing everyone.

"Now, the last adventure for today is diapering," he says, laughing behind his fist.

I quirk an eyebrow. That doesn't exactly sound like my idea of fun.

My phone buzzes in my pocket again.

I ignore it. I'm not interested in dipping out to get high. Taking care of a kid blitzed? I don't want to be anything like my mother, and I was headed that way.

I'm not falling into the trap of giving Baby's father any extra ammunition to use against us.

No fucking way.

"I still can't believe you wasted perfectly good candy bars," I grumble. "I'm never going to be able to eat a Snickers again, so thanks for that."

I toss the baby wipes into the trash can.

Jude chuckles. "You did really well. I'm proud of you. Babies are gross, but I can assure you that melted candy bars have nothing on the odors they produce."

A shiver runs down my spine. "Why the fuck do people reproduce anyway?"

I'm pouting, but that was kinda disgusting. I can only imagine the real thing.

"Once you hold the baby," Jude says, nodding to Baby, "I assure you it'll all be worth it. You'll do anything necessary to make sure he or she is happy and healthy and, yeah,clean."

My eyes fall on Baby. She's stretched out on the couch with a bowl resting on her giant baby bump. It's easy enough to believe what he's saying is true.

It's hard, though. I never had a parent I could count on. I've been on my own for as long as I can remember.

But our kid won't have that life.

They're always going to know they're loved and wanted. I head for Baby and Riggs. He's sitting next to her on the middle cushion next to the chaise lounge. Riggs snatches up her spoon and grabs a bite of whatever is in the bowl.

Baby slaps his chest, and Riggs growls playfully. I yank my phone out of my pocket, tossing it at Riggs.

"Keep that for me for a while?" I ask, climbing onto the couch at Baby's side. The armrest digs into my bony ass, but I ignore it.

Riggs looks down at the phone and nods. He shoves it into his pocket. "Are you having cravings?"

I shake my head, blowing out a breath. "Not yet, but I know being on the road will be a million times worse. I've already said I'm not going out tonight. They'll figure it out eventually."

"I love you," Baby whispers. She hands Riggs the bowl and, much like a beached whale, wobbles several times before she actually rolls over to face me.

"I love you, too," I growl, pulling her face to mine. She tastes like chocolate ice cream. It still blows me away every time she says it. It has an entirely different meaning now, and I won't fuck it up.

"If you get cravings," Riggs says, catching my eyes over Baby's shoulder, "then you go to meetings. There's no shame init. My grandfather has been sober for forty–something years and he still goes."

I give him a nod of appreciation as a ragged purr starts in my chest. I pull Baby even closer and focus on the here and now.