Page 84 of Biker Orc Baby Daddy

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"That's. That's actually developmentally advanced."

"Of course you'd know that."

I shrug. "I read."

"You read everything."

"Not everything. Just. Pediatric development. And parenting techniques. And childhood nutrition. And?—"

"Okay, Rain Man. I get it."

I laugh. Orry looks up. Grins. Goes back to his blocks.

Cecie sits on the couch. Pats the cushion beside her. I sit. Careful to leave space between us.

"Today was scary," she says.

"Yeah."

"But you were. You were really good. Calm. Competent."

"I was panicking on the inside."

"Well, you hid it well."

"Years of practice."

She tilts her head. "At what?"

"Pretending I have everything under control."

"Ah. Same."

We sit in silence. Orry babbles to his blocks. The lamp casts soft light. It feels. Domestic. Comfortable.

This could be my life.The thought hits hard.This could be us.

Cecie's phone buzzes again. She glances at it. Tenses.

"Clinic," she says. "Again. They want to know when we're picking up the results."

"Do you want to go tomorrow?"

"I. Yeah. I think. Yeah."

That night,I go home. But I can't settle. I pace. Make tea. Don't drink it. Stare at my phone.

The results are waiting. On paper. In an envelope.99.9% probability.

But Cecie doesn't know that yet. And I haven't told her. Because part of me wanted.Needed.This day. This moment of being Orry's dad without proof.

What if the results say something different? What if there's an error? What if?—

I stop. Breathe.No. He's mine. I know he's mine.

But doubt creeps in. Persistent. Unwelcome.

I text Colum.Can't sleep.

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