Page 72 of Biker Orc Baby Daddy

---

"Doesn't have to be."

I snort. "Spoken like someone who enjoys numbers."

"I do enjoy numbers." He adjusts his glasses. "They make sense. Follow rules. Unlike people."

"People are more interesting."

"People are unpredictable."

"That's what makes them interesting."

He considers this. "Fair point."

Orry wakes up. Fusses. I move to get him but Gunther's already there. Scooping him up. Bouncing gently.

"Hey, buddy. Good nap?"

Orry yawns. Rubs his face against Gunther's shoulder.

My chest tightens.He fits there. Like he's supposed to.

Gunther looks at me. "Bottle?"

"Yeah. I'll grab it."

I prep the bottle. Warm it. Test it. Hand it over. Gunther settles into the desk chair. Feeds Orry. Natural. Easy. I watch. Tell myself it's just supervision. Not. Anything else.

"You're good at this," I say quietly.

He glances up. Surprised. "You think so?"

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."

"I'm just. Trying. I don't know what I'm doing half the time."

"None of us do." I sit on the edge of the desk. "But you show up. You try. That's. More than a lot of people."

His expression softens. "I want to be here."

"I know."

We hold eye contact. The air charges with a good kind of heaviness.

I look away first. Clear my throat. "I should. Get back to work."

"Right. Yeah."

But neither of us moves.

Five-thirty.I flip the sign to closed. Lock the door. Exhale. Gunther's packing up. Orry's on a blanket. Playing with measuring spoons.

"Long day," Gunther says.

"Every day's long." I start tidying the counter. "But it's mine. That helps."

"I get that."

"Do you?" My eyes shift to him. "You work for Colum. That's different."

---