Page 91 of After Care

“Oh, baby, Edie and I just ran into each other downstairs.”

Ivy’s head swung between the two of us. Her brow pinching. “But you—”

Tommy raised a thick palm and Ivy stopped. He shook his head, hanging it slightly, and a strange unease came over me. Then the baby squeaked. I stepped around Ivy’s bed, getting a closer look at the new babe.

“Can I get him for you?” I asked, excitement filling my voice at the prospect of holding an infant. Ivy nodded, her lips curled in appreciation. Scooping up the newborn, I nuzzled into his head, rubbing my cheek against his fuzzy hair before pulling back to look at dark blue eyes peeking up at me. “Hello, handsome,” I cooed.

“He’s just perfect, Ivy.” I stared down at his tiny, squished up nose, minute mouth, and wide eyes. A single tear slipped down her cheek when I glanced up at her, and her smile broadened. Realizing I might have overstepped my bounds, I glanced over at Tommy. He was family. Maybe he should have held the baby first.

“Want to hold him?” I offered, but he shook his head at the same time Ivy sweetly giggled.

“Babies aren’t Tommy’s thing,” she mocked, holding out her hands to take her son. Pressing the child into her arms, my body felt lighter, relief washing through me that all was well.

“You okay, darlin’?” Tommy asked, and I nodded as a tear escaped. I brusquely swiped at my cheek, not trusting words to answer him. A warm hand rubbed up my back, and I shuddered.

“You’re shivering, darlin’,” he added, his voice that puddle plopping sound that made my belly flutter. I nodded again, unable to respond, afraid any words would open the floodgates of my adrenaline release. His hand continued to stroke up my spine, soothing me as I continued to tremble.

Suddenly, the door burst open. A harried-looking Gage rushed to his wife, reaching for her cheeks and kissing her in that demanding way I’d seen him use before. Knowing the moment was intimate, I turned away, only my eyes wandered to Tommy, who was watching me. A slow, weak smile curled my lips.

The baby squeaked again, and we both turned to the kissing couple. Gage pulled back and looked down, as if he’d completely forgotten why his wife was in the hospital.

“Say hello to Daddy,” Ivy crooned to her son, kissing his forehead before looking up at Gage.

“Did you decide?” Gage questioned, his eyes hopeful as he gazed at his wife. I glanced back at Tommy, uncertain of the question. Tommy watched his niece with just as much curiosity.

“Granger Thomas Everly, welcome to the family,” Ivy announced in a hushed tone.

Tommy gasped, his eyes filling, his hand stilling on my back to clutch at my sweater.

“Granger?” I questioned.

“Granger is Gage’s real name, and of course, Thomas, for Tommy,” Ivy explained, a loving expression filled her face as she watched her uncle. I turned to find him swallowing hard before he pinched at his eyes. Without thought, my arm slipped around his waist, and he tugged me into his side, a place I’d missed too much.

20

Moments of truth

“You look dead on your feet,” Tommy commented after I excused myself from Ivy’s room. After a few additional words of congratulations, I decided it was time to give the young couple and their new addition some privacy. Tommy excused himself at the same time and followed me out the door.

“I’m a little overwhelmed.” I chuckled, swiping fingers through my longer bangs. I’d let the curly Qs and crazy Cs of my hair remain, allowing a stylist to shape them more distinctly and trim my bangs in a way to flatter the waywardness. Tommy’s eyes followed the movement, his mouth opening to speak when I added, “And a whole lot tired.”

“Where you staying?” he asked and I stopped walking.

“Oh my gosh.” I laughed. “I have no idea. I didn’t even bring a change of clothes. I grabbed my purse and called an Uber, searching flights on the way to the airport. It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done.” Looking up at him, I knew that wasn’t really true. The craziest thing I’d ever done was let a virtual stranger drag me into an empty ballroom and finger me. As if Tommy could read my thoughts, one brow rose, and a smile broke over his face.

“Anyway, I didn’t plan any further than getting here.” I looked away from his intense gaze and easy expression. I couldn’t allow myself to remember all the things we shared as I stood in his presence. I’d break into tears again, the emotion of Ivy’s delivery and my rush to get here suddenly hitting me.

“Darlin’,” Tommy hesitated. “I was wondering if I could take you somewhere.” My brows pinched at the nervous tone of his invitation, and for some reason, I couldn’t deny him.

“Okay,” I weakly responded, allowing myself to blindly follow him when there were so many unasked questions and unanswered explanations. I didn’t have the will to fight with him, though. I was just too damn tired all of a sudden. So, when Tommy placed his hand on my back again, I let him lead me from the hospital.

+ + +

“We’re here,” he whispered, his voice low at my ear as my heavy lids opened slowly. I’d fallen asleep in the backseat of the car. A private driver met us outside the hospital, and I don’t think we made it out of the parking lot before I sunk into the soft leather and closed my eyes. I woke at the sound of his voice tickling me, a thrill rippling through my body as my head rested against his heart. Somehow, I’d ended up against his chest, his arm around me where he repeatedly curled my hair around my ear.

A nervous energy vibrated off Tommy as he removed his arm from around me and opened the door. Stepping out, he reached for me and directed me toward a massive, modern-looking mansion. A large set of cement steps led to a double-set front door, but the thing that caught my attention was the ramp installed at the side of the entrance. I looked up in question.

“Welcome to my home,” he said, his voice shaky as he spoke. Taking my hand, he led me to the front door and pressed a code into a keypad. A snap popped the door open, and Tommy pressed forward. The entrance wasn’t gregarious, but definitely spoke of wealth, with an elaborate chandelier brightly lighting the foyer and a set of stairs that led sharply upward. It was a combination loft-effect and Hollywood-eclectic, but not distasteful. It also wasn’t what I envisioned of Tommy’s home.