It was amazing how many subscribers I’d picked up over the past few months since I’d started cross promoting my YouTube channel and the streaming. It had skyrocketed my earnings.

Now when I checked my bank account, I always had a smile on my face rather than a hesitant grimace. The only downside was that in the two months since I’d officially been Greg’s boyfriend, he still hadn’t grasped how much money I made through gaming.

I shook my head and closed my laptop, setting it aside as I rose and stretched. Aside from increasing my revenue, I’d also been making it a priority to leave the house at least once a day. And checking the mail didn’t count—no, I needed to actually shower, dress and put on shoes for it to matter.

After tidying up the coffee table from the mess I’d made while streaming my Rogue raid this morning, I grabbed my keys and left the apartment. That was another thing I was doing now—making sure Greg didn’t come home to a messy home. At five months pregnant, the last thing my bromega needed was unnecessary mess.

I walked into Slow Grind and got in line behind the one customer ordering. This is why I came here at this time of day… There were enough people to socialize with if I wanted, but the place wasn’t overly crowded.

But something about the guy’s voice in front of me was bugging me. It was like I knew him from somewhere and couldn’t quite place it. It wasn’t until the cashier said Thanks, Luke that it clicked where I knew him from.

No! It couldn’t be! Could it? Was I seriously standing behind the Omega Manny? I willed myself to chill, and waited until he turned. My dropped jaw must’ve given me away because the guy laughed and held out a hand.

“I take it you’ve seen some of the videos on my YouTube channel? I’m Luke, and trust me when I tell you that I’m just a normal dude who got lucky with a great job and a popular show to share some of my tricks of the trade with people.”

Reaching out to shake his hand, I found my voice. “Hi, Braden. I’m Lu—fuck! Reverse that,” I laughed and slapped a palm to my face. “Can we start that over?”

Luke’s eyes were twinkling merrily as he nodded his head. “Seriously. This is too weird. Aren’t you Alphabear? I watched your stream for the new Rogue Warz expansion. That final boss battle was fucking epic. Hey, tell you what! Let me buy you a coffee so I can pick your brain on which character is best to face Yvonne. You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve choked on that lame level.”

“I’m sorry, my brain is still trying to process the fact that Manny Luke just said the word fucking. I mean, are manny’s even allowed to know that word?” I joked.

I gave the cashier my order and passed her my card, then turned back to Luke. “I’m just messing with you, dude. I’d be happy to give you some tips—if you wouldn’t mind sharing a few with me? Quid pro quo, as it were.”

We stepped over to the end of the counter where the barista was making our drinks. Luke got his first, then waited for me to get mine.

“So, Alphabear,” he smirked. “How does one of the top gamer bros become a Manny fan? I’m still trying to work my brain around that.”

I nodded my thanks to the barista and took my coffee. We wandered over to a small table in a quiet corner of the café to finish our chat.

“Honestly? If you’d told me five months ago that I would even know your name, let alone be watching your videos, I’d have laughed my ass off. But then my boyfriend got pregnant, and now my real life character is leveling up, I guess you could say.”

“Oh, congratulations. If you’re looking for parenting videos, I’m assuming it was unplanned?” He smiled sympathetically because surprise babies aren’t uncommon, I suppose.

“Unplanned is an understatement. We thought my bro was infertile. Doctors had sworn that up and down. He’d accepted the fact that he would never have children, and I was pretty chill with not having to wear rubbers. Then, I dunno... shit happened. Or, a miracle... if you’d prefer.”

Luke laughed. “I’m pretty sure your boyfriend would prefer we go with a miracle happening.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure you’re right on that one.” I agreed.

“Howya, lad. Fancy meetin’ ya here today.”

I looked up to see Shamie standing there with large cookie in one hand and an apple juice in the other. “Aye, no games today? Are we playin’ at bein’ grown-ups and having a bit of craic instead?”

“Hey, there, Shamie.” I flashed him a welcoming smile and held a hand out toward Luke. “This is my new friend Luke, he posts these amazing videos online about how to take care of babies. And since I’m gonna be a dad soon myself, I’ve been watching every one of them. So, you’ve basically caught me over here fangirling it up like a teenager.”

Luke chuckled and shook Shamie’s hand. “Don’t listen to him, he’s a much bigger YouTube star than I am. The last time I was on, I noticed Alphabear is up to nearly two million subscribers. Those aren’t numbers to be ashamed of, right?”

I shrugged modestly. “I know I can handle my business and do what I need to do to make that dough-re-mi come rolling in. I’m more concerned right now with being a good parent when the baby arrives.”

“Do you know what you’re having?” Luke asked.

I shook my head. “Greg wanted to be surprised, so we are waiting until the birth. Which actually surprised me, since he’s usually a planner. But I guess there’s a first time for everything, right? All I know is I’ve got another four long months until I find out. Although, to be honest, I don’t really care. I only want a healthy baby… I don’t care what the outer packaging looks like.”

“Tell you what, if your boyfriend doesn’t mind you having another guy over, I’d be happy to come by and give you some tips. And maybe you could help me pass this level I’m stuck on. I keep getting Mikael killed at the cabin blast, and I can’t level up until I get him to safety.”

“I don’t know whether to laugh or shake my damned head at this conversation. Gaming and babies… so random! But yeah, I’ll run it by Greg... although, I’m sure he won’t care. He knows I’m not like that. Or, you could come by sometime when he’s there? After he’s met you it wouldn’t be so weird. Probably? I don’t even know, actually. I’m kind of new at this whole being a boyfriend thing.”

Shamie pulled up a chair and joined our conversation. “Can I ask why ya think yer not qualified ta be a da? Is there somethin’ wrong with ya that yer not able ta take care of a baby? Help me understand, lad.”

I wasn’t sure whether he meant to be offensive or not, but his blunt way of talking sometimes rubbed me the wrong way and I found myself answering defensively.

“It’s not that I don’t think I’m qualified. I mean, my own dad was kind of crap, you know? I just don’t want to be like him. But I think I have the answer to that all figured out. In any given situation, I figure I can ask myself what my father would’ve done—and then do the opposite.”

Luke laughed but Shamie regarded me solemnly. “Aye, but does yer boyfriend think yer up to the job? Does he think you’ll be a good da? Or, do ya think maybe he’s afraid you’ll not be able to provide, bein’ as yer income revolves around playing kids games. No offense, laddie. Just tellin’ it like I see it.”

I froze for a moment, as my brain raced over what he’d said. What if Greg didn’t think I could be a good dad? Shit. Maybe that’s why it took him so long to talk things out after he discovered he was pregnant.

What if it was because he was afraid he’d be parenting two kids–the one he’d birthed, and the one he’d befriended. I shook my head in frustration.

“You know what, Shamie? That was a fucked up question, but you do have a point. I think my next step is to show Greg that I’m ready to be a father. And that I’m more than able to support my family financially too. In fact, I think I’ll start by getting the nursery set up. That should be a nice surprise for Greg. Unless he wants to help put it together. Shit... I should probably sound him out on that before I start looking at paint swatches.”

Luke smiled gently at me, carefully avoiding looking at Shamie. “Is there something I can do to help you? Name it, and I’m there. I don’t know why, but I think we’re meant to be friends. I’m looking forward to meeting your Greg, too. In fact, have you ever been to Second Chances over on Second Street? It’s thrift and consignment store, my boss Cecil owns. He gets a lot of gently used baby furniture. If you want, I can go over there with you and we can take a look around? I can probably get you a pretty good deal since I know the owner.”

“As much as I appreciate that, Luke, I’m gonna say no. But only because I can afford to put together a designer nursery if I wanted, so I’ll leave that option for someone who needs the discount. Not because I’m an asshole who wouldn’t shop consignment, don’t get me wrong. But, anyway... would you still want to help me shop? I honestly don’t have the first clue about what I should buy and we haven’t even started shopping yet.”

Luke finished his coffee and crumpled the cup, throwing it into a nearby trash can with a neatly sweeping arc before he turned back to me.

“Sure thing... what are you doing now? I’ve got the rest of the afternoon free, and there’s no time like the present. Especially if any of the furniture you want is on backorder.”

I turned to give my apologies to Shamie before we rushed off, but he had left. It was weird how he did that. But in the split-second I’d looked away to watch Luke’s cup flying to the trash, Shamie had vanished. I looked around the room, but he was nowhere to be seen. Hmm… Bathroom, maybe?

I shrugged it off. The little dude would show up again sooner or later, and he was the last person to find me rude for leaving abruptly after he’d done the same to me. I turned back to my new manny buddy with a relieved smile.

“Sure, man. Let’s go hit the mall and check out some baby boutiques. Wow, that’s a sentence I never would’ve thought to hear leave my lips.”

Luke and I were both chuckling as we rose to leave. I bent to grab my empty cup to throw away, when something shiny caught my eye.

There was another one of those gold coins on the seat of Shamie’s empty chair. I picked it up and looked at it curiously, then tucked it away in my pocket. I have to remember to give it to the little guy the next time I saw him.