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His chest is warm and feels like home. I could spend forever right here with him and never get tired of it. He reaches out and grabs the pacifier I spit out earlier, then brings it to my mouth. When I start suckling, he lets go and picks up one of the picture books he left on my nightstand.
“Ready for story time?”
“Yes,” I mumble around the nipple.
He kisses the top of my head and opens the book with one hand while he wraps his free arm around me.
We only get a few pages in before my eyes start feeling heavy. I’ve never felt so comfortable or calm in my entire life. This is exactly where I’m meant to be. And that’s when my decision to move home is made. I belong here. With him. As his Little girl. Where I can stay close to my mom. I hope he doesn’t get tired of how much time I spend taking care of her.
16
DANE
When my alarm goes off, she doesn’t budge. She’s sprawled over me with her pacifier still lodged in her mouth and the small bear I gave her tucked in the crook of her arm. My chest aches at the thought of prying her off me and sliding out of bed. I can picture us sleeping like this every night for the rest of my life. When I’ve dated other women, that thought would cause me to break out in a cold sweat, but with Summer, I can’t imagine it any other way.
Slowly, I peel her off me and smile as she makes small whimpering noises. She sleeps through the entire thing, and when I lean over and press a kiss to her forehead, she lets out a deep sigh. Then she rolls over onto her tummy and wiggles deeper under the covers. She’s freaking adorable.
It's still dark out as I cross our driveways and go into my house. It’s early, and I should go back to sleep, but instead, I sit on the couch with a cup of coffee and my laptop and start researching.
By the time I need to get ready for work, I’m loaded up with information and optimistic. I hope my baby girl won’t mind me stepping in. The only thing I want to do is help her and take away the extra stress she’s dealing with. I also want what’s best for her mom. We might not be official, but in my mind, Summer is mine, and that’s forever. She won’t have to deal with any of this alone.
Austin is already at the shop when I get there. Based on how much he’s cursing and banging shit around, I guess he’s in no mood to talk. I give him a brief greeting, to which I get a grunt in return. Part of me wants to ask, but talking about our feelings isn’t our favorite thing to do. Especially this early in the morning.
Before I get started for the day, I send my sister a text.
Dane: How’s my favorite baby sister?
Greer: I’m your only sister. What do you want?
Dane: Such attitude. I don’t want anything. Just texting to check on you. Can you meet me for lunch today?
Greer: Are you going to go all overly-protective-brother-mode on me?
Dane: Probably. Meet me at the diner at noon.
Greer: You know the polite thing to do would be to ask.
Dane: I did ask. You gave me a sassy answer. So now I’m telling. See you then.
Greer: You’re annoying. See you then.
Greer is waiting for me outside the diner when I arrive. She might be annoyed with me, but she breaks out into a wide smile and lets me wrap her up in a hug.
“It’s been too long.”
She looks up at me and rolls her eyes. “We saw each other two days ago.”
“Why are you always such a sassy brat? I know it’s only been two days. I meant it’s been too long since we had lunch together.”
Her response is to stick her tongue out at me. Maybe I need to talk to Austin about giving her some discipline. He might deny he has feelings for her, but I’m not blind. We’ve been friends since grade school. I know when he likes a girl. And they’ve known each other for so long, I’m kind of surprised they aren’t a couple.
Once we’re seated, the server greets us and takes our order. The menu has been the same all our lives, so we don’t have to look at it to know what we want. I always get a bacon cheeseburger, and Greer always gets chicken strips with extra ranch on the side. I swear, I think she eats more ranch than chicken.
“So, how’s it going with Summer? She hasn’t had time to talk the past few days. When I ask her what’s going on, she tells me she’ll explain everything on our next girls’ day.”
I smile at the mention of my girl. “Then I guess you’ll have to wait until you guys hang out next.”
Greer huffs and shakes her head. “And you think I’m sassy.”
