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Nick
“Is he asleep?” my brother whispers, watching as I walk back and forth with Hunter in my arms, trying to get him to fall asleep.
He has not been a good sleeper lately—or ever. But these last few days have been particularly bad. The fact that I have my eyes open right now is a miracle on its own.
I glance down just as he lets out a tiny snore. Without another thought, I walk to our bedroom and delicately lay him in his crib. I pull my hands away a millimeter at a time, then take a step back, holding my breath. When he doesn’t rustle, I haul ass out of the room, avoiding the squeaky spots on the floor as I go.
I masterfully shut the door, so it doesn’t make a sound, then tiptoe down the hall into the living room. Grabbing the monitor, I turn it on and let out a long exhale.
“That was dramatic,” my brother says.
“Dude, you have no idea.”
“I live with Harper.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t when she was three months old. It’s different.”
“If you say so.”
He drops into a chair as I dramatically flop onto the couch. Just then the door bangs open and Brent walks in.
“Be louder, seriously. I will kill you if you wake Hunter up.”
Brent’s eyebrows shoot up, and he holds up his hands. “Sorry.” He looks around as he takes off his coat. “Where’s my brother?”
“He’s not with you?” Vince asks, concerned.
Brent shakes his head.
Shit.Where is he? Braden doesn’t usually miss guys’ night, especially without texting me. It sets off an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach, but a second later, the door slams open again.
My eyes flare.That fucking door.I need to put a doorstop there.
Braden steps into the room, bags under eyes and looking like hell.
“Sorry,” he mumbles, closing the door softly behind him.
“You okay?” Vince asks, rising from his chair and looking Braden over.
“Yeah—no. No, I’m not. I’m sorry I was late. I was on the phone with my therapist.”
“Why?” Brent asks, moving toward him.
Braden walks over to a chair and sits down, head dropping into his hands. “I might be a dad. Again.”
Cue eyes going wide and mouths dropping. Becauseholy shit.
“Seriously?” Vince chokes out. “Who—how?”
“Yeah, is it the blind date girl? I thought you never met her—”
He laughs bitterly. “I wish. No, I never met her in person. It’s Maddie.”
The name twists in my brain.Do I know anyone named Maddie?
“Wait—Uncle Eric’s neighbor, Maddie?”
Not lifting his head from his hands, Braden nods.
