I fucking hate this.
“Is that right?”
Birdie nods. “I can haveanythingthere. Mommy doesn’t have to study the menu and worry that there was cross contamimem.”
“Cross contamination?” I ask her, and she nods.
“Well, that’s good news. I bet you’ve missed eating out, haven’t you, baby?”
She nods but then shrugs. “It’s okay. At least I feel better.”
“That’s the most important thing.”
“Maybe we can go there on a date. Just you and me. Daddy takes Mommy on dates. You should take me on one.”
Bridger grins from ear to ear, and I can’t help but chuckle at her. “You’re my best girl. Of course, I’ll take you out.”
But I might have to get takeout from the one safe restaurant in town for my peanut.
The baby starts to squirm and fuss, and Bridger sways side to side.
“Someone’s about to wake up, need a diaper change, and a bottle. We’d better head home, baby bird.”
“Okay.” Birdie sighs as if it’s the saddest thing ever, then gives me a hug. “Don’t work too hard, Uncle Brooks.”
“I’ll do my best, baby girl.”
I set her on her feet, then walk to Bridger so I can kiss the baby.
“Thanks for stopping by.”
“Come for dinner tomorrow night. I’m grilling steaks.”
“I’ll be there.”
He nods. Birdie slips her hand in his, and the three of them walk out of my garage.
I’m alone in here today. I have three guys who work for me. My other master mechanic, Gabe, is on vacation with his husband and wife. Mitch took the afternoon off to take his wife to the doctor.
Jake Wild, who just graduated from high school in the spring, worked his ass off for me all summer, but now he’s off to college. He’ll put hours in for me whenever he’s home. I was sorry to see him go.
The kid has one hell of a work ethic.
He had to get it from his dad. Ryan Wild is a billionaire several times over and one of the best men I know. He and Polly are raising one hell of a kid.
I grab a cold bottle of water and drink half of it down before I turn on some music—some Aerosmith today—and get back tothe truck I’m working on. I’d like to have it done by the end of the day.
Birdie looked good today. For too long, she was a tiny thing, and she wasso sick.We couldn’t figure out what in the hell was going on, and it really upset Blake, the doctor in the family, that he didn’t have answers.
But finally, Birdie was diagnosed with celiac, and now that we know what foods aren’t safe for her, we can keep her healthy.
I both love and hate that there is a clean kitchen in our town. I didn’t even know whatclean kitchenmeant until everyone in the family had a sit-down with Blake to talk about what Birdie’s diagnosis meant, and how we all could protect her.
So yeah, I love that there’s a place here where Birdie can walk in, carefree, and order anything she wants, just like any other kid without food sensitivities.
But I fuckinghatethat it’s Juliet who brought it here.
I never spoke to her again after the day she chose to go back to that asshole. Not once. She tried to call me, but I ignored it, and after a while, she gave up. I told my family she was gone, and that was the end of it.
