Payton’s body vibrates against mine with her laughter.
We spend the rest of the day before I need to go in for my shift in our safe bubble. I don’t know how I’m going to make it through work tonight, especially once Payton comes in for her shift after dropping off Gabby with her mom, without touching her. But the thing that powers me through is that once we getdone working, I can touch her all I want, and I can’t wait to get her back to bed and in my arms—right where she belongs.
Chapter 20
Payton
“Thank you so much for watching Gabby last minute.” I set down the travel bassinet beside the rest of the items I had already brought in.
“Of course. You know I’m always up for watching her. All you have to do is ask.” Hollie smirks as she takes in the pile. Did I go overboard with what I brought to my brother’s house? Maybe.But this is Gabby’s first official sleepover, after all. The other night doesn’t count since I was still in the same house, just a different room.
I’m not sure if the butterflies in my stomach are because I will be away from Gabby or if they’re from the fact that I’m going to have an uninterrupted evening with Rhyland. After all, this is Rhyland freaking Cole. My teenage self is freaking the fuck out. Okay, that’s not entirely true. It’s my present self that is freaking the fuck out, while my teenage self is giddy that all her dreamsare coming true. Out of all the women in the world, Rhyland chose me.
“Are you even listening to me?” Hollie nudges my side with her elbow.
I shake out of the daze and find Hollie has moved even closer with a ridiculous smile on her face. “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”
Hollie rolls her eyes before glancing down at her niece in her arms, who is trying to shove her fist in her mouth, causing drool to drip all over Hollie’s shirt. I think my brother has his work cut out for him if he thinks he’s going to get any Gabby snuggles without prying her out of his wife’s arms. “I was saying, to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t ask Rhyland to watch her.”
“What?” I pause, searching the diaper bag for a burp cloth, and slam my eyes shut.God, I hope Hollie didn’t notice my voice cracking.“Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know.” She sits on the couch and accepts the burp cloth from me. “You guys live together, for one, and it just seems like you two are getting closer.”
She knows. There’s no way she doesn’t know. Don’t panic, Payton, don’t panic.It’s not that I want to keep Hollie in the dark about what’s going on, but the last thing I want is to force her to keep this from her husband.
“And wasn’t it he who watched Gabby on the last date? Not to mention—” She clears her throat. “—the, umm, incident where he came to your defense.” I sigh, knowing that she’s referencing the fight the other night at Tilley’s. Of course she knows. Maybe this is the new fight heard round the world—or at least heard round our small town.
My body relaxes when I realize maybe she doesn’t actually know.
“Oh, yeah, right.”Breathe, Pay. Just a bit longer and you can escape.
“Ugh, I knew Joel was a dick, but to show up at Tilley’s with the she-devil…” Hollie trails off.Was that just a growl that left her lips?“Thank God Rhy put knuckle sandwiches on the menu.”
I snort at her terrible attempt at a joke.
“Your brother was so fired up when he got home. I was worried he was going to go hunt Joel down and throw his own punch or two.”
It’s not like he would have needed to look too far since he ended up on our doorstep. They would love to know that for once, I stood up to him and slammed the door in my face.
Tears burn behind my eyes, but I not only refuse to let any more out over that man but also to let him steal my thunder of my first date with Rhy. I close my eyes to get myself under control.
“Hey, you know you can talk to me about anything, right? Judgment-free zone here, I promise. I mean, you didn’t judge me when you learned I was only pretending to be your brother’s girlfriend.”
God, I love this girl. Hollie wears so many hats in my world—sister-in-law, partner in crime, best friend, and sounding board.
“It’s been a hell of a year, but look at you, look at this one. You are so strong, and you don’t even realize it. I just want you to remember that, and if you ever want to talk, I’m here.”Tell her, Payton. Just tell her. But I can’t tell my best friend if I expect Rhy to keep the same standard.
“I know, thank you. I’m just trying to move on from all of it. And to answer your original question, I had asked Rhy, but he said he had plans tonight. He left early this morning, and I haven’t actually seen him since.”
It’s not a lie. He left this morning for the farmer’s market, and he hasn’t returned home since. I wanted to go with him, but he refused, saying that he had some other things to do to get readyfor tonight and that Gabby and I should enjoy the quiet at the house.
Hollie frowns as she adjusts Gabby in her lap. “Well, I’ll just forget that me and Uncle Ollie weren’t your first choice.” One day, Hollie is going to make an amazing mom.
“Speaking of Uncle Ollie, where is my lovely brother?”
“He ran to the store to grab some things for dinner.”
“You look hot today, by the way.” Hollie points up and down at my outfit. “If this is you moving on, then I so approve.”
