He got a funny little charge out of the idea before he could remind himself it wasn’t true and now he was going to have to explain.
“I’m going to be watching Leo,” Evangeline told Ashton herself. “My name’s Evangeline.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Evangeline,” Ashton told her without missing a beat. “Grayson’s been on his own with Leo, so it’s great that he’ll have some help now. I’m Ashton, that’s Chad, and that’s Ken.”
“Great to meet you,” Chad said.
“So… you’re single, Evangeline?” Ken asked with a wolfish grin.
“She’sbusywith work,” Grayson heard himself growl.
Ken’s eyebrows shot up and Grayson cursed himself inwardly for being such a grump. He had no reason to be protective of this girl he’d only met a few minutes ago.
“So,” Chad said quickly. “Exactly how many babies do you have?”
Grayson was confused for a second until Chad nodded at the stroller. Evangeline smiled and pulled back the blanket to reveal the hoagies.
“Yes,”Ken said, immediately reaching for a wrapped sandwich. “Are these from Mario’s?”
For some reason, Grayson wanted to smack his hand away, but he steadied his temper.
“Yeah,” he said. “Go on and take them. I figured you all might want something to eat for the overnight shift.”
“That’s really nice of you, man,” Chad said, bending to take a sandwich.
“Sorry I can’t be here with you,” Grayson said, looking away.
“Well, you’ve got your own overnight shifts to worry about,” Ashton said with a smile at Leo. “Maybe you’ll be bringing him back here one day to volunteer.”
“One day,” Grayson said, smiling as he tried to picture it. Right now, it felt like Leo was going to be a baby forever.
“The time will pass faster than you think,” Ashton said, shaking his head in wonder before bending to grab a sandwich for himself. “My baby girl’s already in preschool.”
Ashton had adopted his best friends’ daughter, Kaylee, when she was one-and-a-half and her parents died in a car crash. It had happened a little over two years ago, while Grayson was still serving, but everyone in town knew what Ashton had done to offer Kaylee a home, and how it had indirectly led to him marrying Lucy Webb, who he’d loved for years.
“We’d better get a move on,” Grayson said. “Anyone else coming in tonight?”
“Nah,” Ashton said. “Take the rest of these with you. You’ll want your own supper.”
He almost said no, but when he glanced over at Evangeline something told him not to turn down the easy meal. He’d probably have to catch her up on a lot of stuff for Leo tonight, so there might not be much time for cooking.
“Okay,” he said. “See you guys later.”
“Later, man,” Chad called to him. “Thanks for dinner.”
“Thanks, Grayson,” Ashton said.
Grayson headed out, a little embarrassed that they were making a big thing out of something so small.
His investments had paid off handsomely, and he had everything he needed. Buying the guys a couple of sandwiches wasn’t generous when he did it, because there was no sacrifice to his own lifestyle.
He marched back up the darkened lot toward his car, lost in his thoughts.
“You okay?” Evangeline asked, jogging after him with the stroller.
“Yeah,” he said, slowing down. “Sorry, I’m a fast walker.”
“You don’t like them making a fuss over you,” she guessed.
