“They can’t stay here,” Raph murmured, slipping his fingers down Wyatt’s back, to the damp warmth of his ass.
Wyatt shivered. “It would be very inconvenient.”
“All options considered, the best thing would be to tell him and Mom half our plans. I’ll tell them I’m moving in with you. We won’t mention the loan, so they won’t feel obliged to help. We’ll explore other options. I have some old friends around town.”
“You sound every bit like the experienced manager, Raph,” Wyatt murmured, burying his face in Raph’s neck.
“Really?”
“What would you do if a diner threw a fit and said there’s a fly in the food?”
“I’d get them a replacement.”
Wyatt hummed. “What if there’s a conflict between two of the staff? Say, Mina tells you Sam insulted her.”
“Probably listen to both their stories. Then I’d make a decision based on their past behavior.”
“What if you found Sam stealing the food from the kitchen stock?”
Raph frowned. Where the hell was this coming from? “I’d ask him what he’s doing. But probably give him the stuff you’d toss, anyway. Why are you asking me all this?”
Wyatt chuckled against him, the vibrations of his body seeping through Raph’s chest. “You’re hired as my assistant manager. You’ll start when I go on paternity leave.”
“You sneaky little—”
Wyatt kissed him on the lips, his eyes gleaming. “I know it doesn’t solve the debt, Raph. But I want you to know that you have a place at the drive-in. Once we get this whole mess cleared up.”
Raph’s chest squeezed. Wyatt looked so excited then, that Raph almost hadn’t the heart to pop his bubble. “Didn’t think I’d be sitting through an interview in bed. I haven’t even given you my resume.”
With a smile, Wyatt ground down on his hips, his balls dragging over Raph’s cock. “You’ve given me plenty of your resume, Mr. Fleming.”
Raph snorted. “Pervert.”
“The one and only.”
“Were you always this horny?”
“I’m pretty sure it’s the pregnancy hormones.” Wyatt wriggled on his lap, raising his arms in the air. “Like what you see?”
“Yeah.” Raph admired his body for a long moment, then caught Wyatt, leaning him down to kiss his lips. They were patching things up, little by little. They were making plans for their lives, solid plans that Raph would stick to. “But back to the serious stuff—I’ll need to find a job around here. Can’t rely on the drive-in’s income for the loan.”
“I know. We’ll figure out something else in the meantime.” Wyatt snuggled into him. “Hazel gets off from school in about two hours. If you’re still staying in Meadowfall, we could go pick her up, and then talk to Dad. I think it’s quieter for him in the afternoons.”
“Sounds good,” Raph said, nuzzling the bonding scar on Wyatt’s neck. For better or for worse, they were doing everything together now.
He couldn’t be happier about it.
Hazel frowned when she saw Raph in the car.
Raph reached across the backseat, pushing the door open for her. The schoolyard chatter rushed into the car, and Raph leaned back, waiting to see if Hazel would climb in.
“Sit with Raph, hon,” Wyatt said, smiling from the driver’s seat.
“I don’t want to.” Hazel pouted. “I’m not happy with him.”
Raph winced. This, he didn’t know how to fix. He’d discussed his options with Wyatt, but the fact remained that he was the one at fault. He’d disappointed his omega, and by association, Wyatt’s daughter.
“Tell me what I can do, princess,” he said. “I swear I’ll make it up to you and your dad.”
She pulled open the front passenger door, ignoring the door Raph had opened for her. “No.”
“Uncle Raph means well,” Wyatt said. “Won’t you give him a chance?”
Hazel turned, glaring. “He made you cry, Dad. Uncle Sam says anyone who makes you cry is bad.”
Well, she wasn’t wrong. Raph closed the back door, trying to meet her eyes. “You’re right. I’ve screwed up things with your dad. I’m trying to patch them up. Your dad’s giving me a chance to prove myself. Will you let me prove myself to you, too?”
Hazel huffed. “No.”
So much for Hazel letting him be her dad.
Raph sighed, breathing out his disappointment. This was fine. He’d try harder, and maybe things would turn out for the best.
He met Wyatt’s eyes in the rearview mirror; Wyatt grimaced. The awesome part about Hazel? She was opinionated. The not-so-awesome part? Also that she was opinionated.
Someday, the baby would grow up, and throw the same tantrums Hazel did. This was what being a dad felt like, wasn’t it? Letting his children sit out their tantrums. Teaching them to forgive, and be kind to others.
After being with Wyatt for the past few months, and seeing the way Wyatt taught Hazel, Raph thought he might be ready to be a dad. He was learning from Wyatt, and Hazel was turning out great.
Raph just had to be patient, and love them all.
They pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street. “Raph and I are going to visit Grandpa at the station,” Wyatt said. “There’ll be a lot of adult conversations, so I’ll be leaving you at the drive-in with Uncle Sam. Is that okay?”
“Fine.”
Raph spent the rest of the ride in silence, while Wyatt teased a conversation out of his daughter. From the backseat, he listened as they chatted about gross canteen food, strict teachers, and annoying classmates.
“Mrs. Mulberry is the worst,” Hazel said. “She looks ancient! I bet she’s been there ever since the school started.”
“Looks aren’t everything, hon,” Wyatt said, his eyes sparkling. “But I vaguely remember being taught by her.”
“She teaches science like it’s the dinosaur ages!” Hazel scrunched up her face. “She says stuff like ‘For sustenance, plants synthesize food to produce carbohydrates.’ It’s so boring!”
“But you remembered it, didn’t you?” Wyatt grinned. “Why do plants need food?”
“So they can live. And be food’s food.”
“Food’s food?” Raph asked.
Hazel folded her arms, looking away.
“She means the cows,” Wyatt’s eyes gleamed. “You need to eat your veggies too, hon.”
“I
