The Polar Bear's Baby (Honeypot Babies Book 1) by Sophie Stern Page A

won’t listen to her.”
    “Of course. I’m going to come out tomorrow morning to help her move.”
    “I’ll be there with breakfast. What time are you arriving?”
    “Nine.”
    “I’ll be there at eight.”

Chapter 13
     
    Mia
     
     
    “I wasn’t expecting you today,” I say when Richard waltzes in at eight in the morning. I haven’t showered, I haven’t had coffee, and I certainly haven’t had anything to eat. Once my morning sickness started full-swing, I cut out extra food because I just throw it up, anyway. Breakfast was the first thing to go. I already miss it, but when I do eat breakfast, I eat it too fast. Then I spend the next half-hour puking.
    There’s no such thing as pacing yourself when you’re Mia.
    “Surprise,” he says coming inside. Richard holds up a bag of food and a drink. “I brought you a milkshake.”
    “I don’t think I can eat this morning,” I say hesitantly.
    “I didn’t bring you food. I brought you a milkshake.”
    “That’s…weird.”
    “I didn’t think you’d feel like eating this early,” he shrugs. “Besides, I think we should hang out for a little while. We’ve both been so busy lately that we haven’t really had time to spend together.”
    He comes further inside and starts making himself at home. If Richard notices the stacks of boxes or piles of trash bags sitting out, he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he sets the food on the table, along with the milkshake.
    “Can I get you something to drink?” I ask, trying to remember how to be a good hostess. It’s been awhile since I had anyone over.
    “Water would be great.”
    I hear him start to eat and I turn to the fridge and try to calm down. This is the perfect chance to tell him about the baby. It’s the perfect opportunity to let him know I’m moving to Honeypot and that I’m going to move in with his buddy.
    Only my heart is swelling with desperation and nervousness because I don’t want to let Richard down. He’s always been one of my best friends, one of my closest allies. For a long time, it felt like it was us against the world. No matter what happened in my life, I always knew I had Richard. I always knew I could count on him.
    What if that all changes?
    What if this makes everything different?
    What if I tell him the truth and the truth isn’t good enough?
    What if I tell Richard about Aidan and he gets upset?
    I grab a bottle of water from the top shelf and close the fridge door. I turn around. Richard is sitting at the table and he’s casually eating a breakfast sandwich. It’s time. If Richard gets upset, we’ll work through it. He’s my brother. He won’t walk out of my life over this. He won’t pressure me to make a different decision about the baby. He won’t be upset I’m choosing to have the child. He might disagree with me or he might completely agree. I don’t know. No matter what, though, he’ll tell me that it’s my choice. He’ll tell me this is my decision.
    “I’m pregnant,” I blurt out, and Richard doesn’t react dramatically. There isn’t a giant earthquake and the sky doesn’t fall. The world keeps turning. Nothing bad happens.
    “Congratulations, Mia,” Richard says. He takes another bite of his food and reaches for the water bottle. Somehow, I move toward him and hand over the drink. He has a little. “When are you due?”
    He didn’t freak out.
    He didn’t yell.
    He didn’t scream.
    He didn’t look like he was disappointed in me.
    “Um,” I haven’t actually gone to the doctor yet. I have an appointment next week in Honeypot. When Aidan and I talked, we agreed I should see a doctor who is familiar with shifters and shifter pregnancies. My normal OB/GYN is awesome, but she deals exclusively with human pregnancies. I want what’s best for my baby, even if it means getting a new doctor. “About seven months,” I manage to tell him.
    Now Richard smiles, stands up, and hugs me.
    “Congrats, sweetie,” he whispers. “I’m so happy for