"Fetch, Cooper," I shouted, throwing the tennis ball in a high arc over the grass in the park. Spring was coming, the snow had started to melt, and the weather was perfect to provide my furry friend with some exercise. He appreciated it too, barking and chasing after the ball like a dog on a mission. I had to laugh a little, watching him. He'd grown a lot over the past few weeks, but his personality had remained that of an excited puppy.

Seeing as he'd stopped actually peeing on everything like an excited puppy, I was cool with that. Cooper kept me company so I didn't get too lonely, even though I hadn't heard too much from my best friend in a while. I wondered what he was up to, but I figured he was just busy with work and preparing for the many changes the baby would make in his life. Part of me wanted to check in on him every day, but I knew that was my alpha instincts going crazy because of the baby, so I tried to back off.

I really didn't expect to run into him at the park.

Or that he wouldn't be alone.

He came down the gravely path, holding hands with some other alpha. Wait. I recognized that alpha. It was Aaron fucking Keller. I knew the two of them worked together at the school, but I'd never thought Robin would go out with the bastard who used to shove him into the lockers in middle school. Did he have no sense of self-respect?

As if sensing the thought I was directing at him, Robin looked up and our gazes met. His eyes went wide, his mouth forming a small O before his features smoothed over. Then he waved at me and the dog. "Oh hey, Ben! Cooper! I didn't know you two would be here too!"

Obviously.

"Cooper and I come here all the time," I said lamely, stepping up to Robin and his... date, while still keeping an eye on the dog who was now starting to tear the tennis ball apart. I didn't stop him. Looking at Robin and Aaron's linked hands, I kind of wanted to tear a tennis ball apart too.

"I didn't realize." Robin scratched the back of his neck. "Anyway, you remember Aaron?"

I forced a smile on my face. "Of course I do." What I really wanted so say was, 'What are you doing?" But I kept those words inside. I'd learned by now that Robin didn't care whether or not I approved of his boyfriends. As well he shouldn't. He was free to choose his own partner and make his own dumb decisions. But damn if it wasn't painful to watch sometimes.

Today, it seemed to hurt even more than usual, anger at Aaron burning in my chest. I knew it was just some stupid alpha thing, though, and I wasn't going to let it get the better of me.

"Aaron's changed a lot since we were children," Robin said, apparently feeling the need to explain himself, even though I hadn't asked. "We've been seeing each other for a little while now."

As Robin spoke, I glanced at the smug bastard next to him. Did he know? About the baby?

"I haven't changed that much," Aaron said, waving his hand. "But I suppose we all change a little as we grow up."

I gave him a tight smile, unable to imagine that he was a much different person now than he had been when we were children.

I couldn't ask him, not now while the bastard was around. Robin didn't seem to know what more to say either. Instead he approached my puppy to pet him. Of course. Robin adored that dog just as much as I did, and the puppy felt the same way about Robin, happily wagging his tail as Robin stroked his fur. Something tugged at my heart as I watched the two of them together. They made a happy picture, even in this tense situation. I only wished it could be real. That we could be a family. The dog, Robin and I.

And the baby?

I bit my teeth together.

"I think Aaron and I should get going," Robin said eventually.

"Yes," his douchebag of a boyfriend agreed. "It was good seeing you again." He offered me his hand. Reluctantly, I shook it. I was always courteous to Robin's dates, even when I hated him. It was what my duty as a friend.

"Likewise," I made myself say. Once the two of them continued their walk, I turned back to my puppy. "Where's the ball?" I asked him.

Cooper gave a short bark, recognizing the word ball. He ran back over the grass to the spot where he'd destroyed the tennis ball and pointed it out to me as if proud of his work. I sighed. "You weren't supposed to do that," I told him, even as I was still wishing for my own tennis ball to destroy. "Now I'll have to buy you a new one."

Cooper simply barked again.

"Yeah, I know you didn't mean to be bad. I ignored you. Sorry." I bent down to pet him. I could never be mad at Cooper. At least not for long. How could I, when he looked at me with his adorable big brown puppy eyes?

"C'mon, let's go home." I put his leash back on and led him out of the park. I still had other things to do today. For one, I had to call Robin this evening. Find out exactly how serious he was about Aaron.

* * *

Once I was done eating a quick dinner that night, I dialed Robin's number. He picked up after only two rings, as if he'd been expecting my call.

"Hey," he said in that soft tone of voice that immediately soothed me even when I didn't know that I'd been angry.

"Hey," I responded. "You want to tell me a little more about your new boyfriend?"

"Not particularly." Robin's tone turned almost teasing. "But I will, anyway."

"Are you alone right now?"

"Yeah, I am. Aaron has tests to grade. I should be doing the same thing, actually."

"We don't have to talk for long. I'm just worried," I said, playing with a piece of paper I picked up from my kitchen table. Some old bill.

"You're always worried."

"Can you blame me? I'm usually right. Besides, lately..."

"Lately what?"

I folded the paper in half. "I don't know. It's like my alpha instincts have gone out of whack ever since you told me that you were pregnant. I'm not really in control of it." I wasn't sure why I was telling him this, but I felt like I had to. Seeing Robin with Aaron today ate at me. I’d never liked seeing Robin with his boyfriends, but it was never quite this bad. Ever since I'd come home from the park, it was all I could think about. Aaron and Robin, Aaron and Robin, Aaron and Robin.

It was awful. Their names were on repeat in my head and my gut clenched harder with every loop. I could hardly even force my dinner down. The puppy was concerned too, lying at my feet and looking up at me with his big eyes.

"I'm sorry about that," Robin said. "I don't really know what to tell you, though. I'm not going to stop dating because your alpha hormones are acting crazy."

"I know. I don't expect you to. I only... I guess I want to know that everything's fine. I remember the way Aaron used to act when we were in school."

"He's not like that anymore. People change, you know."

I grimaced. People change, you know, is exactly how my omega dad explained how he'd married my alpha dad. He never realized that he didn't have to stick with them no matter what. Had Aaron really changed in the opposite direction of my dad? Part of me found that hard to believe. Once a bully, always a bully. "He's treating you well?"

"Yeah, he's been fantastic. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I wasn't sure how you'd react and I've got a lot going on right now. I wasn't even sure I'd keep dating him, honestly."

"You don't have to apologize. You're not obligated to give me hourly updates on your life." Even if I felt myself wanting those, sometimes. "I'm just glad that he's good to you."

"Yet you sound like you're just waiting to punch him the minute that changes."

I shrugged, though I knew Robin couldn't see it. "Can't help it. Have you told him about the baby?" And that it's from me?

"Not yet." On the other end of the line, Robin sighed. "I'll have to soon. I'm already showing a little when I don't have clothes on."

"You are?" I bit my lower lip, suddenly wanting to see Robin's tiny baby bump. I could only imagine how cute it was.

"Yeah, I am." He laughed. "Don't sound so excited. It's a pain."

"You wanted a baby," I reminded him.

"I know. I still do. Too late to change my mind, anyway."

I went back to folding the paper in my hands. "You're not regretting your decision, are you?"

"No. It's not like that. I think everyone who has their first baby feels at least a little bit anxious."

"You might be right about that." I licked my lips. "You got any more doctor's appointments coming up?"

"I do actually." Robin paused. "But you don't have to come with me again. I'll tell Aaron before then, and hopefully, he'll be able to drive me."

I suppressed a sigh. I couldn't say why, but I kind of wanted to drive Robin myself. I wanted to go to all the appointments with him, even if it was illogical, considering we weren't a couple and he wanted to raise the child by himself. "Just let me know if you need any help."

"All right. I appreciate it. Really. Thank you for everything, Ben"

"You're welcome."

"We should hang out again soon."

"Sure," I said, but on the inside, I couldn't help but wonder what Aaron would think about our hanging out together once he knew who'd fathered Robin's unborn child. Hanging up the phone, I slouched in my chair, staring at the piece of paper in my hand. Unwittingly, I'd folded another crane.

I threw it in the trash.