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“Baby,” I stroked her arm. “I’m home, baby. Come to bed.”
Her eyes flickered open and took me in, the relief doing nothing to brighten the dull dishwater shade of her eyes.
“Come to bed, baby.”
“Brayleigh?”
“She’s in her crib.”
She struggled to her feet, drowsy and incoherent. “Where are the pillows?”
“I put them back. Come to bed.”
I could sense her fatigue seeping through her pores and running down her body until she was sticky with it, providing adhesive for the thoughts that would plague her.
Tucking her under the blankets, I pulled her into my arms and waited for her skin to warm.
And then I slept.
Chapter Forty-Five – Incongruity
Lucky
Hope and I sat at the kitchen table, quietly drinking coffee while Brayleigh snuggled in her lap.
I’d left Minty in bed, lining pillows behind her back where I’d lain, hoping she’d think I was still there and sleep in.
“How was she?” Hope looked at me over the rim of her Tim’s cup.
“She had a rough night. From what I could gather, Brayleigh’s butt exploded requiring a bath in the middle of the night. When I got home, I found them sleeping on the floor in Brayleigh’s room.”
Hope smirked. “By ‘she’ I meant Brayleigh, but I do like where your head is at.”
I huffed out a laugh and admitted, “I’ve got it bad.”
“Is she good to you?”
“She is.” I cleared my throat. “She sees me.”
Hope turned her head and stared out the kitchen window. “There’s the dream, Lucky.” Looking back at me, she smiled. “You deserve it.”
“So do you.” I leaned back in my seat, stretched out my legs, and sucked back my bean juice. “Any good prospects?”
“Ugh, no.” Hope curled around Brayleigh and kissed the top of her head. “This may be it for me, Lucky.” She shrugged. “It’s not so bad.”
“It’s not bad at all.” I struggled to find the right words. “But if you want more, you should have it.”
She sighed. “I do want more. I want what you and Minty have. Dani and Carlos. Tracy and Sean. I want all of that.” She smoothed her palm over Brayleigh’s tousled hair. “I might even want another child seeing as this one turned out so well.”
“That’s because of my DNA. You’ll have to set your sights a little lower.”
She guffawed then leaned forward and grabbed a donut. “How much sugar do you suppose is in my blood?”
The shower came on overhead, and I looked up at the ceiling.
“You look worried. Do you want me to go?”
“What? No! Hang around if you can, say hi and let her say bye to Brayleigh.”
