“Daxton, do not get attached.” I raise my eyebrows to show that I mean business, but all he does is sigh.
“But she’s so cute.” He strokes Ruby’s cheek. “She looks just like you.”
“If you give him an inch, he’ll take a mile. He will put all the responsibility on me, and our parents will expect me to help.” I put help in air quotes. “Which means he’ll be allowed to do whatever he wants while they dump this baby on me. When he first got back, my parents suggested that I help watch her so he could find a job.” I scoff at that. “Only an idiot would hire him.”
“Well, they won’t dump her on you. You’re not alone. And I’m the idiot. I gave him a job. I did it as a favor to your father.” My eyes widen in total horror at the admission. My nostrils flare, and I stand abruptly and bring my plate to the kitchen. Finch follows, so I throw a piece of bacon to the floor.
Dax follows me, but I turn my back on him. When his hand lands on my shoulder, I try and shrug it away, but I’m unsuccessful.
“Was that part of the deal?”
Chapter 37
Dax
It’s a simple question, and it’s laden with accusation. Devin was not part of the deal, but he was instrumental.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I only pose the question to buy more time. Ruby starts to babble, so I bounce her in my arms.
“Was this job some back-door deal? As long as I stay with you, he’ll have a job kinda thing.” She faces me and pokes my chest. “If you think you’re going to get me to stay with you in exchange for my brother’s financial security, you miscalculated.” The finger that was poking my chest now points in my face. “In fact, I will leave your ass so that he can get fired.”
“He started working for me weeks before we got married.” I phrase my words carefully to ensure everything I say is true. “And why are you talking as if you still plan on leaving me? You said you would give this marriage a chance.”
She turns off the water and glares at me again. Her eyes bore into mine, and I know she’s trying to read me. I’ve been toldthat I have one hell of a poker face, but right now, I feel like she can read my mind. I don’t like that feeling.
“If this was a ploy to get me to raise Ruby, it’s not happening.” She walks away, and I follow her. “This is what they would do. Instead of forcing him to take responsibility, they figure they can dump it on me. That’s what they’ve always done.”
I follow her into the bedroom. She drops herself on the bed, and I sit next to her. I put Ruby down, and she crawls to the middle of the bed. She bounces and claps her hands in excitement.
“I promise there is no plan in place for us to raise Ruby.” I put a hand on her shoulder and pull her closer.
“I hope not.”
“Sweetheart, I had a lot put on me when my father died. I understand.” I rub her shoulders, hoping this will get her to talk.
“It’s not the same. I had plans, Dax. I worked two jobs after high school to pay for fashion school, but I gave every dime I saved to my parents to help with the bills. I got scholarships and financial aid to cover the tuition, but my mom had her botched surgery, and they guilt-tripped me into deferring. They didn’t offer to help me with any of it. I did it all by myself, and I had planned to share an apartment with Eden in Boston, but I sacrificed it all. Do you know what happened when it was time for Devin to go to college?”
I can only imagine.
“What?”
“Dad helped him with his application. Helped him with applying for financial aid and drove him to school. No one ever asked him to sacrifice or give up a thing. And he flunked out after three semesters. Now, he shows back up with a kid, and I’m not going to help him with her. That’s my limit. And I need you to stand with me on this.”
I pull her closer, and she rests her head on my shoulder. I kiss her temple.
“I’m sorry you went through that. It was unfair to you.” She relaxes against me, so I kiss her temple again.
“And I keep getting screwed over. This marriage and—”
My heart drops when she mentions her marriage to me, and for a moment, I feel small, but then I remember that there was no other way. I tilt her face and gaze into her eyes.
“You said you were going to give this marriage a real chance.” Something changes in her eyes, but she looks away before I can study it more.
“I am,” she says quickly. “What I’m saying is not about you. It’s to show how easily my family sacrifices me for the greater good.” She takes a deep breath. “Now they are slowly trying to make Devin’s child my responsibility.”
I know I need to tread carefully here. My wife is only asking that her husband stand in solidarity with her. That’s not too much to ask. Ruby gurgles. On instinct, I reach over and rub her small back.
“They’re not going to do that, sweetheart. I’ll take care of you, and if there’s ever an emergency, and Ruby ends up with us, I’ll look after her. She’s not—”
