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“Alright. I’m sorry, Mom.”
“I’m just glad you’re here, and safe.” I roll the chair over to his bed, setting the plate down beside him. I pull him in for a hug, and he relaxes against me, and while I hate all that’s transpired, I am so happy he’s home.
“Am I grounded?”
I sit back, observing him as I think.
“You have to help me in the café while you’re here.”
“Oh. Okay. Like making coffee?” He looks way too excited about the prospect of that.
“No, you have to sweep and wipe down tables.” I pause for a second, then ruffle his hair and add, “And I might let you make some of the coffee. Let’s get some sleep, okay? We’ve gotta talk to your dad tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I know. Night, Mom.”
“Night, Chance. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
I close the door behind me and head to my room, exhausted. What a day. And tomorrow will be a challenge too. But I’ll be ready for it. I always am.
FOURTEEN
DID YOU FUCK UP THE DATE?
When I knock on Ashley and Kyler’s door, pizza box in hand, my mind is still a street over with Phoebe. One, I hate how her ex acted, but two, her son is obviously struggling with the separation. That’s a lot for a kid, and as a new dad, it has me already thinking about how things could affect Quinn.
I knock again and finally hear some stirring inside. Ashley opens the door, crossing her arms at me suspiciously. “Did you fuck up the date?”
I forgot I told her I was going to ask Phoebe out. She invites me in, and we settle in on the couch, then I fill her in on being turned down for another date, Phoebe showing up unexpectedly, and the ex debacle.
We finish off my pizza while I talk, and when I’m done, Ashley shakes her head, dabbing at her mouth with a napkin. “This is crazy. Are you sure it’s worth all the drama?”
I think back to Phoebe’s lit-up face in the greenhouse. Her laughter as she ran toward the hot tub the night we met.
“I think so. I just don’t want to get in the way of things with her kid. I know how I’d feel if it were me. My focus would be on Quinn, and I wouldn’t want anyone to endanger my relationship with her.”
“You may just have to wait and see what happens, you know?”
“Yeah, maybe,” I muse. Just then, the baby monitor on the coffee table crackles to life, and Quinn’s soft mews sound throughout the room.
I can see her on the screen, her sweet face smooth as her eyes peep open. I’m not gonna lie, I’m excited she woke up.
“I’ll get her,” I reassure Ashley, jumping up from the couch and heading down the hall to the nursery.
I peer over the side of the crib at my daughter. Her legs are out of the swaddling blanket already. She’s making small suckling noises, and I gather her up in my arms, my chest bursting with pride as I look down at her sweet face. It’s only been a few hours since I last saw her, yet it feels like it’s been ages. I can’t imagine how Phoebe felt, being away from her son for months.
I settle into the rocking chair just as Ashley comes into the room, and she hands me a bottle of breastmilk. I pop it into Quinn’s mouth, and she accepts it eagerly.
“She’s so perfect.” I watch her eat, marveling at how long her eyelashes are. “I think she’s grown since I was here this afternoon.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me. She loves to eat.” Ashley grins.
“Why don’t you go shower and sleep or whatever? I’ll just stay the night again. If that’s okay.” There’s a twin bed in the nursery, where I slept last night.
“You could just move in,” Ashley reminds me, and I shrug.
“I know, but I don’t want to intrude on your and Kyler’s space.”
