“See. Scary!” He declared, pointing a finger at me.
“Oops.”
“That oops did not sound sincere!”
I couldn’t help but snicker at the indignant look on his face. He was just so damned adorable, inside and out. The way he’d made friends today and drawn everyone together to play was truly a gift. Did he know how rare it was to be a magnet like that, drawing everyone in?
Bet I wasn’t the first stray he’d brought home either.
And I’d wager every cent I ever earned that none of them left his side after he rescued them. At least that meant he was used to being stuck with the critters he dragged home, because I was already hooked and it had just been a few days.
Holy shit.
I sat on my bed to ponder that while he got his shower, thrown by the revelation and how deeply I’d already come to feel for him.
That wasn’t me.
It always took time for me to warm up to new people in my life, since there had been so many and they never stayed long. Butwith him, I just didn’t want that distance. I didn’t want to waste time with a feeling-out period. I didn’t want to wake up every morning expecting him to be gone. I wanted…
To laugh and be silly with him every day for the rest of my life, have dessert for breakfast whenever we wanted to, and binge train movies until we couldn’t stand the thought of them anymore.
Which would probably be never.
I was there with a spare towel to help dry his hair when he stepped out of the bathroom, cooler clothes laid out on the bed for him to slip into once he was dry. I’d figured shorts and a T-shirt, which was easy enough since those were the bulk of what he’d packed outside of onesies. Fortunately, the shower had perked him up, so no nap was warranted. He started skipping the moment we stepped out of the car and didn't stop until he and his new friend nearly collided at the pizza party.
“Talk about timing,” the other Daddy said and waved a package in the air. “I brought spare wet wipes in case you need them.”
“Thanks,” I replied, and whipped out the small pack I’d taken to carrying in my back pocket as we watched the pair do an adorable dance on their way into the car. “I might have to take you up on it if this doesn’t cover it.”
“Guess we’re as prepared as we can get,” he said as we stepped through the doorway after them.
I hoped so, I really did, because Payden had already captured my heart, which meant that there was no way in hell I was going to fail him.
I hated failing the people I cared about, let alone someone I was starting to love.
Chapter Eleven
Payden
Do I ask Stone to come home with me or was it assumed?
Payden, you know where assuming leads,Mom’s voice popped into my head.
Yup, and I’m not in the mood to make an A-S-S out of either of us.
“I want you to live with me and be my forever Daddy.” There, I said it. Probably while he was chewing food wasn’t the best timing since he began choking.
“Is everything okay, sir?” The waiter asked Stone. “Do you need assistance? Hold up one finger if you’re okay and two for the Heimlich.”
Stone’s single finger went up so fast I laughed.
“Good, let me refill your water to help wash it down.” The waiter quickly refilled our drinks and as soon as he was out of earshot Stone spoke.
“Yeah, probably could’ve handled that one better, little unicorn, but I can’t deny thinking the same thing. Guess sometimes I need to take a page out of my boy’s book.”
“Your boy? Does that mean yes?” Please let it be, please let it be. “And my boyfriend?”
“Yes and yes, but your Daddy has to figure out his job situation. I refuse to live off anyone else.” That I got. As soon as I’d saved up a few paychecks, the urge to take care of myself, financially, hit me hard. “I have a few ideas but have to see what’s available in my new town.”
