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I drag my tongue across my teeth and shake my head. He has a point, but I’m not going to tell him that.
My phone vibrates, and I wince as I twist in my chair to get it out of my pocket. As soon as I see Arden’s name, I tap the screen.
“Dash. Shit.” She sounds frantic. “You’re at work, too. Never mind.”
“Arden, wait. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know what I was thinking. I just ran out of options and didn’t think about you being at work.”
“Okay, what do you need?” I’m afraid she’s going to hang up before she gives me any information.
“We’re slammed and Holden’s daycare called because he got sick after lunch, and I need to find someone who can pick him up.”
“I’ll do it.” I’m not going to mention that I’d be going home because of my back. That would be just one more thing for her to worry about. Is chasing a kid going to make my back any better? Probably not, but I’m willing to tough it out.
“What? Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I can head out now.”
“Leigh was supposed to pick him up when she got out of class at 4:30 so his car seat is at the daycare.”
“You want me to keep him until you get off work?”
“You really don’t mind?”
“No, Ari. I’ll message you when I get him and keep you updated. I’ll see you when you get off work.”
When I hang up, Talon and Bax are watching me. Talon shakes his head. “I take it you’re not going to go home and relax.”
I get up, wincing at the twinge in my back. “Nah, I’ll just spend the rest of the day with a toddler.”
Bax laughs. “You’re a real trooper, Dash.”
“Yeah, well, no rest for the wicked.”
When I arrive at the daycare, Holden is waiting at the back of the front office. He perks up and slides out of his seat, waving and saying my name before the woman at the desk can get a word in.
“I suppose you’re Dash,” she says. “I talked to Arden for a couple of minutes on the phone. He had an upset stomach after lunch and vomited, but he’s been acting fine since then. It’s our policy to isolate them and send them home in case it’s contagious though.”
She sets his car seat on top of the counter, which I’m appreciative of since that makes for one less thing to bend down and pick up.
“I just need you to sign here.” She hands me a clipboard, then helps Holden with his backpack.
With my signature in hand, she opens the swinging gate next to the desk and lets Holden pass. “Hope you feel better tomorrow, Holden.”
Holden takes my hand and tugs on my fingers. “Am I going home with you?”
“For now. Is that okay?”
He nods so hard his curls fall over his face.
How on earth does Arden handle him and the car seat? Tucking the car seat under my arm, I keep ahold of Holden’s hand as we walk to the front of the building and out to my truck.
Do I let go of his hand while I put the car seat in?
Am I overthinking this?
Arden will never trust me again if he gets so much as scratched under my watch.
I’m definitely overthinking. It’s not like I haven’t done this before. It has just been a very long time. I place the car seat in the truck's bed, then open the back door. But as soon as my back gets a hint that I’m going to bend down to help Holden in, the muscles scream with another spasm, and I grab onto the door to brace myself.
