AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I roll my eyes. “Are you serious? I usually bike into town.”
“I’ll get the stroller. You get Robin,” he says before hopping out.
By the time I’ve freed the baby from the backseat, he has the stroller open and ready.
“You’re quick,” I say as I settle Robin into her stroller.
“I’ve been practicing. Don’t want our baby girl to have to wait.”
“You sure enjoy practicing,” I joke to hide how my pulse spikes at the words ‘our baby girl’.
Despite this whole marriage thing being fake, he’s taking his duties as a ‘father’ very seriously. He doesn’t hesitate to get up in the middle of the night when Robin wakes. He switches his schedule up to stay home to watch the baby when I have to work during the day. And he’s loving to the baby, too.
You’re falling for him,Rebel Harmony taunts. Am not!
“Let’s go,” I tell Elder before Rebel Harmony can argue with me. She hates to lose an argument.
We walk the block to the town square. Main Street is all set up for the festival. I love these Winter Falls festivals. I usually avoid them, though. Interacting with people is a huge drain on my energy. But today I have Elder to run interference.
“Oh my,” a stranger says as she kneels down to greet Robin, “what a beautiful baby you have.” She stands and her gaze skims over me and Elder. “A beautiful family all together.”
“We’re not—” I start to correct her but Elder cuts me off.
“Thank you.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders and beams a smile at the stranger. “I got lucky.”
“Yes, you did. Have a lovely day!”
As soon as the stranger disappears in the crowd, I elbow Elder. “What are you doing? We’re not together. Did you forget again? Do you have short-term memory problems? Are you going dement in your old age?”
“Hey now. I’m barely thirty-three. I’m not old.”
I tap my chin and pretend to study him. “I think you’re getting wrinkles.”
“Why do elephants have such wrinkled skin?” He pauses. “Because they're difficult to iron.”
I sigh. “At least your jokes will be age appropriate for Robin once she’s old enough to understand how horrible your sense of humor is.”
He clutches his chest. “I do not have a horrible sense of humor.”
“Yes, he does,” Brody says as he and Soleil join us.
“And your sense of humor is better?” Soleil asks Brody.
“I can’t help it if you lack a sense of humor.”
She glares at him. “It’s not funny when my phone moans whenever I get a call.”
“True. It’s not funny. It’s hilarious.” He barks out a laugh. “You should see your face when it happens. Your lips purse and you remind me of a disapproving grandmother.”
“Are you saying I’m a prude? I’ll have you know I knit vibrator covers for a living.”
“I know. I’ve bought every model you make.”
“Why do you—” She shakes her head. “Never mind. I do not want to know why you want vibrator covers.”
“I want to know,” Riley says as he and Moon arrive.
Moon rubs her hands together. “Oh, goodie. I want all the details.”
