Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Obi-Wan was pleased at how things were going so far.
He and Zita had talked nonstop on the way to Anchor Point, which was a good sign.
He’d been on some dates where he’d had to do all the talking, or where the woman he was with wouldn’t shut up, blabbering on and on and trying too hard to give a good impression of herself.
Zita was down-to-earth and relaxed. She was interesting, and funny, and obviously had a good head on her shoulders. He already knew she was a hard worker, which he appreciated and admired. And he couldn’t deny that he was physically attracted to the woman.
He knew her hair would be beautiful if she ever let it out of its normal tight bun—and it was. The green shirt she wore complemented the auburn shade, and all he wanted to do was bury his hand in all that hair to see if it was as soft as it looked.
Thankfully, he was able to restrain himself, because that would be weird and probably send her running in the other direction.
They were clicking on a level he didn’t experience often when dating.
When she’d taken what he’d said about the adrenaline rush he got from flying in extreme situations and compared it to her own experiences, his respect for her grew.
No, the two situations couldn’t really be compared, but just as she probably couldn’t imagine what he experienced during his job, he couldn’t fathom the things she must see on a regular basis.
He hoped she got along with his friends.
It would be extremely difficult to date anyone who didn’t mesh with the people he spent the majority of his time with, both in and out of work.
He couldn’t imagine why she wouldn’t click with them though.
Everything he knew about her told him tonight would go just fine. He hoped.
Anchor Point was fairly crowded for this early in the evening, but looking around, Obi-Wan saw his teammates had taken over one corner of the bar. They’d pushed two tables together so they’d all fit, something they hadn’t had to worry about before Laryn and Mandy joined their crew.
“Hey!”
“Glad you could make it.”
“Hi, Zita! Cool name.”
The greetings came fast and furious, and Obi-Wan quickly made introductions. Since he’d already told Zita about his friends, she didn’t seem confused or overwhelmed, which was a relief.
“Hi!” she said with an open and friendly smile. “It’s good to meet you all.”
There were two seats open next to Casper and Laryn, and Obi-Wan quickly saw that whatever was bothering their team leader and his girlfriend apparently still wasn’t resolved.
They both looked stressed, although they were holding hands, so he hoped that meant whatever was going on, it wasn’t an imminent break-up.
He hated to think of them not being together…
especially after it took years for Casper to get his head out of his butt and realize what was right in front of him.
There were two pitchers of beer on the table, and the women both had glasses of what looked like iced tea in front of them.
“Beer?” Chaos asked both him and Zita, with a raised brow.
“Definitely,” Obi-Wan told him. It was early, so he knew he could have a glass and still be okay to drive Zita home in a couple of hours.
“Zita?”
“Um…I’m not much of a beer drinker. I can go to the bar and order something,” she said, sounding uncomfortable for the first time.
“Just tell me what you want, and I’ll go get it.”
“Oh, I can do it.”
“Of course you can,” he said with a small smile. “But I’d be happy to do it for you. Unless you aren’t ready to be alone with these weirdos.” Obi-Wan smiled, letting her know he was kidding.
“Oh, no, it’s not that. I’m more than happy to sit on my butt and let you wait on me. I just don’t want to be one of those women. You know, who assumes the guy should do everything while she sits on her fancy throne and lords over him.”
Everyone around the tables laughed.
“It’s good for him to be lorded over,” Buck said.
“Please, sit on your butt,” Casper added. “Boy’s gotten soft hanging out on that fancy movie set every morning.”
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. “Whatever.” Then he looked back at Zita. “What can I get you?”
“Is that tea-tea, or loaded tea?” she asked Laryn and Mandy.
“Just regular tea,” Laryn told her.
Zita’s brow furrowed slightly for a moment before she smoothed out her expression. “Tea’s fine for me too,” she told Obi-Wan.
He leaned toward her, holding her gaze as he said, “If you want something with alcohol, get it. Just because the others aren’t drinking doesn’t mean you have to abstain.”
“Yeah, I’m fully planning on getting a lemon drop next, but the kids at school were extra energetic today, and I didn’t drink nearly as much water as I usually do, so I thought it was in my best interest to have some tea before any alcohol to make sure I don’t get dehydrated.”
“Oh, that’s smart. Too many people dismiss how a lack of water in their system can really play havoc on their body,” Zita said with a nod.
“Always good to have a paramedic around,” Edge said with a grin.
“Is it okay with you if I have a drink?” Zita asked Laryn. “I know sometimes people feel awkward when they aren’t drinking and others are.”
She looked surprised. “It’s none of my business if you drink,” Laryn told her.
“Why aren’t you partaking?” Pyro asked their mechanic. “You always have a beer or two with us.”
To Obi-Wan’s surprise, Laryn’s cheeks heated. She bit her bottom lip and wouldn’t meet the eyes of anyone around the table.
“Laryn? Are you okay?” Buck asked, leaning forward with a look of concern on his face.
“She’s fine,” Casper answered for her. “We weren’t going to say anything, but…you guys are our family. We just found out this week—Laryn’s pregnant.”
Silence greeted the announcement for a split second—then everyone spoke at once.
“Holy shit, pregnant?”
“Congrats!”
“That’s awesome…isn’t it?”
“Wow! I take it this is a surprise?”
When everyone quieted down, Laryn said, “We were going to wait to mention it. We wanted to have some time to sit with the news, just us for a while.”
“This is why you’ve been so stressed out,” Mandy said softly. “You admitted that much to me the other day when I called, but you didn’t say why.”
“Yeah.”
“We’re happy. Ecstatic. It’s just been a little overwhelming. The change in our plans and all,” Casper explained.
“I can imagine,” Mandy said. She reached across the small table and took Laryn’s hand in hers. “But you’re okay? Healthy?”
Laryn gave her a small smile. “Yeah. I’m good. Thanks. And for the record, even though he or she wasn’t planned, we couldn’t be happier.”
“Coulda fooled me,” Edge mumbled under his breath.
“Happy, but stressed about everything it’s gonna mean,” Casper clarified.
“I don’t want to not be deployed with you guys,” Laryn explained.
“When the colonel finds out I’m pregnant, he’s probably going to take me off the rotation, and I can’t stand the thought of Tate, or any of you guys, going anywhere without me there to troubleshoot.
That sounds conceited as hell, but I know your choppers like the back of my hand, and there’s no one who’ll work harder than me to make sure they’re battle ready.
“And then there’s what will happen after the baby’s born.
Will I be allowed to be deployed with you at all?
Do we even want both of us to be deployed at the same time?
If we are, what will we do with the baby?
It’s not as if we can stick them in a kennel like we would a dog.
I love my job, and I don’t want to have to quit. ”
“I keep telling her that we’ll figure it out,” Casper said, rubbing Laryn’s back lovingly. “We’ve got some time to make plans before the baby arrives.”
“I’m more than willing to help out,” Mandy said. “Aunt Mandy will spoil your kid rotten while you’re gone, and when you get a little heathen back, you’ll wonder where the calm, rational child you left behind has gone.”
Everyone chuckled.
“Thanks, Mandy. I told her that my dad will be thrilled to come up and babysit while we’re gone, as well. He’s gonna dote on his first grandchild. And if Nate’s not busy, he’ll be willing to help out too.”
“Your brother is a SEAL,” Laryn said in exasperation. “He’s got just as hectic a schedule as you do. He’s not going to be able to drop everything to babysit.”
It sounded as if they’d had this conversation before. At least now Obi-Wan knew why they’d both been stressed out recently. Having a kid was a huge deal. It would mean a drastic change in their routine. And Laryn was right, their jobs would be a challenge to work around when it came to childcare.
“I might know someone who could help out,” Zita blurted.
All eyes turned to stare at her.
“I mean, I know we literally just met and all, but there are always actors and actresses on the sets I work on who have kids. And yes, while they have the luxury of bringing them to the sets sometimes, and traveling with them, they can’t be by their sides all day.
There are women I’ve met who’re professional nannies for babies and kids on set.
I’ve talked to them a little, and often they stay in the hotels, near the parents, so they’re always available. ”
“We wouldn’t be able to afford a full-time nanny,” Laryn said.
“They aren’t as expensive as you think, since room and board are considered part of their salary.
I know it might be weird to leave someone in your house, with your child, but if you got to know the person from day one, and trusted them, it could be a solution.
Think of it like a rent-a-granny or something. ”
Everyone chuckled at that.
“That could possibly work. And I could go over every day to check on things,” Mandy added. “Maybe take night duty or something.”
“I couldn’t ask that of you,” Laryn said, with tears in her eyes.
“Whatever. Any time I get with your baby will be a blessing, and I’d be the lucky one.”