I don’t know when it all changed.
“There are more important things than money and cases. Like your innocent daughter lying in your arms right now. Why don’t you think about something other than yourself for a second?” I snap.
He continues to pat her back, then she lets out a loud, wet burp. Before I see the evidence, I can tell she spit up by the horrified look on his face.
I can’t help it. It makes me smile. I like seeing him suffer.
He tries to look over his shoulder. “What the hell is that? Why am I wet?”
I let out a laugh. “She spit up on you. Serves you right for being a dick.”
“Jessie, this is my career. I was just given a newborn baby on a Thursday night with no information or plan set in motion. Have a little sympathy.”
I snort. “You’re barking up the wrong tree if you’re looking for sympathy. Why did you even call me in the first place?”
His eyes, which normally hold so much confidence, meet mine with sheer desperation. “I can’t bother Roman and Eva right now. You know if I told Eva, she would drop everything. But she has her own one of these at home that’s causing her to lose sleep.”
“True. I’d prefer you didn’t put this on her right now. But what about any of your other friends?”
“They’re probably just as clueless as me.”
“You guys are all a bunch of duds.”
He looks less than amused.
I smile. “Sorry.”
She’s been quiet for a couple of minutes in his arms. He seems to notice the same thing, with a slightly different reaction.
“She isn’t crying. Why isn’t she moving? Is she dead?” He sits up straight, panic flooding his body again.
I lean back to see that her eyes are closed and she’s breathing softly. “Oh my gosh. You need to chill. She’s sleeping.”
He really doesn’t know a damn thing about babies. I don’t know what the hell he is going to do, but I think my job here is done.
“Well”—I clap my hands and stand—“I guess we’re done here. Good luck with that, Walker. I wish you the best.”
“You’re leaving?” He stands quickly. “You can’t leave. I need you.”
“What exactly do you want me to do? You now know how to feed and burp her.”
He moves in front of me so I can’t take another step. “What about everything else? If you leave, I’ll have to call Eva. I don’t want to, but I can’t do this alone.”
Of course I don’t want him bothering Eva, but I’m not sure what he’s asking of me.
“What about your parents?” I ask, wondering now why they weren’t his first phone call.
“I can’t.” His words come out on a choke of emotion. “They would lose their minds and tell me to do something crazy, like drop her off at the fire station. A doorstep baby isn’t good for our family image.”
Shit, he’s right. His parents aren’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type. And there’s an odd part of me that’s proud of him for stepping up and trying to figure this out. I just can’t believe I’m the only one he feels he can rely on.
But I watch him, standing in front of me, begging me for help, his daughter cuddled underneath his chin, and I know I’m going to say yes. I’ve always been powerless to my pull to him, no matter how much I hate it—and him.
“Fine.” I sag my shoulders in defeat. “What is it you need?”
He swallows hard. “Stay the night. Please. Help me get set up with some kind of … I don’t know … routine.”
“So, you’re keeping her?” I question.
