You sure you’re okay, man?” Tank set down the fresh tray of glassware, looking me over carefully. “You’re looking a little green around the gills there.”

“I’m fine, it’s just the smells in here getting to me again. I don’t know how I ever missed them before, but now they’re all I can smell. Sweaty bodies, stale alcohol, greasy food, and cheap cologne. The combination creates quite the bouquet.”

“Aye, ’tis a shame ta see ya workin’ still. I imagine it’s fer the best though, yeah? What with ya bein’ alone in the world and all.”

I looked over at where Seamus was perched on his favorite bar stool, nursing a glass of OJ. “I’m not alone, trust me. As long as I have Braden, I’m golden. In fact, it’s always been him and me against the world. That’s not going to change now just because of the baby.”

“Then why in the hell are you working?” Tank asked. “Irish here has a point. It’s a damn shame to see you working night after night when you’ve had such a bad case of god-awful morning sickness these past couple months.”

“I appreciate your concern, really I do. But I couldn’t afford to quit even if I wanted to—the baby and I need the health insurance.”

Seamus lifted his glass with a wink. “Aye. But if yer alpha had him a real job, he’d have the insurance handled. Sorry, I hate ta always be the one talking down on yer friend.”

Tank finished emptying the glassware and tucked the empty tray under his arm as he turned to go. “Listen, I’m not trying to give you shit either. I just worry about you. It sucks to see you so miserable day after day. But if you’re happy—then I’m happy.”

“Forgive me if I’ve offended ya, lad.” Seamus said after Tank walked away. “I just want to see you and the babe happy, healthy, and safe. This job was good fer a single guy, but I’m not sure how well it’s gonna work out fer ya as a single dad.”

“I don’t really think of myself as becoming a single dad. I mean, Braden and I haven’t really talked about the specifics too much… but that’s on me. I’ve been avoiding him ever since I heard I was pregnant. Well, not him so much as the whole situation. I’ve been doing my best impression of an ostrich and burying my head in the metaphorical sand.”

“That makes sense, lad. But I would caution ya ta start talkin’ ta yer friend. Ya never know, he might just be makin’ enough money to support all three o’ ya.”

I snorted out a laugh. “Braden might make rent money playing video games, I hardly doubt he makes enough money to support a family. I haven’t asked because it’s not really my business if we’re not in a real relationship.”

Seamus raised a single brow. “Aye. Well, if it was me? I’d mebbe start havin’ these conversations now while I was three months gone, not when there’s a wee babe to care for, aye? Think about it, lad. If yer friendship is as good as ya keep tellin’ me it is, surely you can talk to him about these things.”

I smiled half heartedly as I took Seamus’ empty glass and wiped down the counter around him. “I’ll see about doing that, Seamus. It’s not bad advice.”

* * *

I opened the door the apartment slowly, hoping to get past Braden and slip back to my room. It had become a nasty pattern of mine the past couple months, but it wasn’t one I was ready to break after work on a Thursday. Maybe on my day off, time would tell. But that didn’t need to happen tonight. I closed the door and flipped the lock before turning to go to my room.

“Perfect, you’re home right on time. This time I promise the food won’t make you hurl.”

Braden’s voice came from off to my right, startling me into dropping my keys. I bent to pick them up as I spoke.

“Dude! You scare the shit out of me. Now, what’s this about food? I’m always in it for the food, you know that.”

With a broad grin, Braden extended an arm toward the dining room table. “Step right through here, good sir. Dinner is waiting on the table.”

I followed as he led me to the table, surprised to see it nicely set with my votive burning and two full bowls of chicken noodle soup.

“Braden, I can’t believe you did all this for me. This has got to be the sweetest gesture anyone has ever done for me.”

I blinked back the unwelcome tears that sprang to my eyes, and took my seat at the table. The savory herbs and fresh vegetables vied for attention with the roasted chicken in the soup. Damn. Pregnancy had really given me the nose of a friggin bloodhound.

“If a bowl of chicken noodle soup is all it takes to put that look on your face, I’ll go buy some stock in Campbell’s.” Braden smiled happily as he set a cup of tea down beside my bowl before taking his own seat at the table.

“It’s not the soup, and I think you know it. It’s… well… everything. And don’t think it’s not touching that you would do something so sweet after I’ve been evasive and pretty much a complete asshole ever since I found that I was pregnant.”

“Right? Isn’t it the alpha who’s supposed to be the jerk when a surprise pregnancy is announced?” Braden’s wink let me know he was teasing. “No, it’s fine. I get it—really, I do. But, I can’t take anymore of the weirdness that’s been brewing between us. That’s why I decided to make a stand and ask for a change in our relationship.”

I blinked at him rapidly while my brain tried to process what the hell he was talking about. “Relationship change? Is this where you tell me to get the fuck out because I’ve been such a jerk?”

Braden rolled his eyes. “As if you could get rid of me that easily. No, I’ve always hesitated taking our friendship to the next level because I didn’t want things to get weird between us, right? Well, since things can’t get any worse than the way they currently are, why don’t we just take the big leap and try being together for real? Not because you’re having my baby, but because I think it’s the only way we can salvage our friendship.”

“So you think it will save our friendship if we start a relationship, do I have that about right?” I smirked. “I’m pretty sure you have that backwards to most people’s relationships. You do know that, right?”

Braden shrugged. “Since when are you and I ever like most people? I figure if it’s backwards for most people, that ought to make it perfect for us. Like I said, it’s not like things can possibly get worse if we change our relationship status.”

I shook my head. “Romantic, much? But sure, I get what you’re saying… And you’re right. Let’s give it a shot. For the sake of the alien peanut if nothing else, right?”

Braden stood and walked over to me. He stared down at me for half a second before bending and gently brushing his lips against mine.

It me a few beats for my lips to react kiss him back–I was completely stunned to finally be kissing my best friend. But then his tongue swept into my mouth, and I melted. Our heads tilted as we deepened the kiss, and somehow my hand wound up in his hair.

When our kiss broke, Braden gently touched his forehead to mine. “Hmm. That wasn’t nearly as weird as I thought it would be. You?”

“I’ve never had someone say they expected my kiss to be weird before. But aside from that? I’d say that kiss was downright brotastic and bromazing.”

Braden winked. “That’s because we bromosexual alphas know how to kiss. Among other things—which I’d also be more than happy to demonstrate.”

“Dude. We really need to work on your lines if we’re going to be together. That material is totally weak. I’m literally embarrassed for you.”

“Don’t be, bromega of mine. If we’re gonna be together, I won’t need lines. I’ll have you.”

After I heard that, there was only one thing to do. I cupped his face in my palms and went in for another kiss. I was used to Braden working my body. I’d had no idea he’d be able to do the same with my heart.