3. Lucy

"Hi, Lucy. How are things going?" her mother asked.

"Okay, I guess. The hardest part is just figuring out the world and my place in it. All the plans I made were turned upside down."

"I know. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. The people in the human world are pretty nice," Lucy said. "I have only met a couple of them, but they are great."

"You'll meet new people and find some friends. People seem to gravitate toward you," Sophia said.

Lucy tried to hold back, but the question exploded out of her mouth. "What are Leo and Ashley doing?"

Sophia was quiet for a second. "Ashley is pregnant. She probably was on your mating ceremony date."

The news slammed into Lucy's gut like a ton of bricks.

"I'm so sorry, honey."

"It's okay. I'll be alright," she said. "I hope they're happy. Fate will take me down the path I'm supposed to be on."

"That's a good attitude, but know that I'm here for you."

"Thanks, Mom. I love you. Give everyone my love."

She ended the call and stared out the window. I have a chance to start my life over and do anything I want to. I can be anything I want to. I'll start with working on my book.

Grabbing her computer, Lucy tried to focus on her book. However, she couldn't even remember her plot, even though she had the outline right in front of her.

Lucy thought about Jade's suggestion. On one hand, it would be a good job to have where she could concentrate on getting her book written and her publishing business off the ground. On the other hand, it was a baby. It would grow inside of her and be a part of her. Then, she would hand it off to its parents and never see it again, knowing that it was out there in the world.

She thought about getting a job at the convenience store. Then, she remembered that one of her friends had worked at a convenience store for about a year. The friend had horror stories about what people did in public bathrooms. Lucy knew the first time she walked into a bathroom and saw poop, or worse, smeared all over the walls, she would throw up.

"I can do this," she told herself.

The next morning, she called the clinic and they told her to come in right away. When she explained that she would have to get an Uber, the doctor sent someone to pick her up.

The clinic was nice and airy. Lucy didn't know why, but she expected it to be some hole in the wall with grimy chairs and an obese doctor with a long beard chewing on a cigar.

Dr. Ratcliff was very charming. His wife, Jessica, was the nurse. She was very sweet and put Lucy at ease immediately.

"You're going to be poked and prodded. We want to make sure you're healthy," Jessica said.

"Fun," Lucy muttered.

After the tests revealed that she was physically healthy, she sat down for the interview.

"Why do you want to be a surrogate?" the doctor asked.

Lucy hesitated before she answered. "I know the right answer is that I want to make a difference for other people and help them have a baby when they can't on their own. The truth is that I thought this would be a good chance to earn money while I get my life back together."

She explained the disastrous mating ceremony and that she had come to the human world to concentrate on getting her publishing company going.

"You seem to be a very loving and caring person," Jessica said. "Are you sure that you're going to be able to give up the child after carrying it for six months?"

"I'm sure," Lucy said softly, pretty sure that she was lying to herself.

She would be able to give up the baby, but she also knew it would hurt.

"Do you want to only carry bear shifters?"

Lucy was startled by the question. She thought about it for a second and said, "I don't guess it really matters."

They talked for another hour and then Jessica hugged her. "You're doing something great, for yourself and for a family."

"I'll call you when you're chosen," the doctor said.

The car took Lucy back to her hotel room. She sat on the bed and stared out the same window she had been looking out of for the last couple of days.

Do I sit around and wait or do I still need to look for a job?

Lucy thought about searching for an online job. She had worked as a ghostwriter before. There were also a lot of advertisements for people who helped train AI programs.

Sales are out, though,she thought as she perused the long list of available remote jobs.

She was so focused on her search that she jumped when her phone buzzed. Lucy stared at it for a second, startled.

Laughing at herself, she grabbed it. "Hello."

"This is Jessica, from the clinic. We have someone who would like to meet you."

"Already? It's only been a couple of hours."

"He came in right after you left," Jessica said. "When are you available?"

"Anytime," Lucy said. "Just let me know so I can call an Uber."

"We'll send someone. I'll call you right back."

Lucy was shocked that they had already found someone who wanted to use her. She pictured a nice young couple who wanted children but couldn't have them for some reason. She was completely shocked when she walked into the meeting room and saw the sexiest man she had ever laid eyes on relaxing on the couch.

He was six-foot-three and was incredibly well-built. Lucy could see his muscles defined through his shirt. He had dark brown hair and emerald green eyes.

"Lucy, this is Micah. Micah, Lucy," Jessica said. "I'll leave you two alone so you can get to know each other."

"It's a pleasure," he said, holding out his hand.

His voice had a deep timbre that made her insides quake. Men like this only existed in the movies. Leo couldn't hold a candle to this guy.

"Tell me about yourself," he said.

Lucy told him that she wanted to be a writer and publish her own novels and told him that she really liked psychological and crime thrillers. She made no mention of Leo.

"I came to the human world for an adventure and to work on my dream," she said.

It was not a lie.

She asked him why he wanted to use a surrogate to have a child. "I don't mean to be brash, but you are a very sexy man. I'm sure that there are about a million women out there who would love to have your child."

He grinned and it nearly took Lucy's breath away.

"I'm sure I could find someone, but there isn't anyone I would want to go through that process with. I don't know any women I want to have a long-term relationship with, and having a child with any of the women I know would mean just that."

They talked for another hour, and Lucy really liked him. Her gut told her that he would be a great father. Then, he shocked her.

"I would prefer if we made the baby the old-fashioned way."

Lucy's heart skipped a beat and her breath caught in her throat. Her jaw dropped and her eyes opened wide.

"Pardon?" she managed to croak out.

"I know, it sounds crazy, but the idea of the baby coming from a turkey baster doesn't sound all that great to me. I think that it would be better if the baby was created the way that babies have been made since the dawn of time."

"You want me to… with you?" Lucy asked.

"That's generally how babies are made," he said, with a slight grin on his face.

"But I've never… And I don't know you," she said.

"You don't have to decide right this minute. How about if we get to know each other first?" he asked.

She swallowed hard and wrung her hands together. "Okay." Her voice almost squeaked.

"Are you busy tomorrow night?"

Lucy shook her head, almost too hard.

"Where are you staying?"

"Angel's Creek Hotel." She was proud of herself that the words came out almost normal sounding.

"I'll pick you up at six," he said.

She nodded.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you. I look forward to getting to know you more," Micah said.

"You, too."

"Do you need me to drive you back to the hotel?"

"No, the clinic will take me back," she said.

Lucy sat under a beautifully blooming tree in the courtyard of the hotel. She wished she knew of a place where she could safely shift and go for a run so she could sort through the million thoughts exploding in her head.

Normally, when she felt like this, she would talk to Ashley, who would help her sort through her issues and figure things out. However, Ashley was no longer an option.

Lucy giggled at the thought. How funny would it be if I stayed best friends with the person who stole my fiancé?

Sighing heavily, she walked around the courtyard feeling like a caged bear.

"I can't believe I'm actually thinking about giving my virginity away to a complete stranger. I wouldn't even sleep with Leo, and I was in love with him. Or at least, I thought that I was in love with him."

She took a couple of steps and tried to practice deep breathing exercises. "In through the nose to the count of four. Hold it to the count of four. Out through the mouth to the count of four. Hold it to the count of four."

After several of these, her heart finally returned to normal.

"What are the pros?" she asked herself. She ticked off the list on her fingers. "He's hot. He seems like a nice man and would likely be gentle. I could either work on my book or get another job while I'm pregnant. The baby would be well taken care of."

Taking a deep breath, she asked herself, "What are the cons?" The only one she could think of was that she would give her virginity to a stranger.

Lucy called her mom and gave her an update on her life.

"I don't think it's a good idea," Sophia said. "We can help you financially or you can come home."

"I'm not ready to come home. I want to try making my own way in life," Lucy said.

"I'm so afraid of you getting hurt. You will become attached to the baby. Not to mention the fact that your first time should be with someone you love."

"Love?" Lucy barked. "I don't see that happening anytime soon, if ever. I tried that once."

"I promise the right man is out there," Sophia said.

Lucy changed the subject and asked how her brothers and sister were and what was going on in her parents' lives. Sophia got the hint and didn't push either subject.

She went back and forth the next day. Finally, she decided that she would meet Micah and go with her gut.

Micah looked devastatingly hot when he picked her up. He was wearing a white, buttoned-down collarless shirt tucked into a pair of perfectly fitting jeans. A five o'clock shadow gave him a rakish look.

She was glad that she had taken time with her appearance. Lucy had felt a little foolish because it wasn't really a date. However, she pulled her hair back into a long braid and put on a little bit of makeup. She wore a white lacy blouse and jeans.

"You are beautiful," he said.

"Thank you," Lucy replied. A slight blush reddened her cheeks.

The steakhouse was busy but the waitress sat them in a booth that was in a little nook, giving them a little bit of privacy.

"Tell me about yourself," Micah asked. "What are you passionate about?"

"Words," she said. "Words are magical. They can take you anywhere and anytime. A great book can make you actually become the princess, dragon rider, or whoever you want to be. I love to write and create my own adventures and situations."

She told him about her current book and why she enjoyed psychological thrillers. "I love investigating how people think and why they do the things they do."

Micah said, "We are both creators. You create worlds and characters. When I find a home that needs some love, I picture its potential in my mind. Then, I make it happen."

He also told her about the different charities that he was involved in. It was clear to Lucy that he was passionate about making the world a better place. He was a truly good person.

The air became a little awkward when the topic shifted back to the baby.

"You know that I'm a bear shifter. If we uh… if we… you know, the baby could be a bear shifter."

"I know. I would love the baby whether it is a bear shifter or a wolf shifter," he said.

"Can I give you my decision tomorrow?" she asked.

"Of course," he told her.

Lucy stared up at the ceiling of the hotel room later that night. She had already made up her mind. She thought about calling him but decided it could wait until morning when he picked her up for breakfast.