“Sloane, it’s me. You knew all my shit with Knox. Why are you holding back on me?”
“Because he makes me smile, Core. I’m happy here. I don’t miss teaching. I loved my students, but being here and taking care of Camden feels like what I am meant to be doing. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s the truth. It feels like this is where I was always meant to be.”
“I love this for you,” she says, emotion in her tone.
“I don’t know how I’ve been around him all these years and never fell for him, but here I am, and, Corie, it’s one of those situations that if this ends, I won’t recover. Losing both of them would shatter my heart.”
“You can’t think that way. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Baker is not someone to play games. He wasn’t before Camden, and he’s especially not now.”
“I know. He hasn’t been with anyone since Natasha,” I tell her, and immediately regret it. “I shouldn’t have told you that. Please don’t say anything.”
“Sloane, I’m your best friend. I’m not going to say anything, and that doesn’t surprise me. He was never big on sleeping around. And when he found out he was going to be a dad, he was all in with that little guy. Baker doesn’t do anything halfway. Trust that this is going to work. Give it your all so if you ever have to look back, you can say with certainty that you gave it everything. Sometimes things don’t work out, and life has other plans, but, babe, I feel good about this.”
“Me, too,” I confess. “I do, and I care about both of them so much. Camden, he’s stolen my heart, and I think that’s why I’m still a little cautious, but I’m not letting it hold me back. Baker and I have said that we’ll always be honest with each other, and we talked a lot about how it’s not just him, but Camden, too, and I’m in this. I’m so in this, I don’t know where he ends and I begin.”
“So, what you’re telling me is that we’ll have a wedding to plan soon. Just remember, your bestie is twenty weeks pregnant when you set a date,” she teases.
I chuckle. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Perfect. All right, I need to get back to work.”
“Have a good day. If there’s anything else I can bring for Saturday, let me know.”
“You got it. Thanks, Sloane,” she says, before ending the call.
After placing my phone back on the counter, I get started on dinner. It’s a taco recipe that I saw online. You’re supposed to use beef, but I’m using chicken to make it healthier for Baker. It’s basically shredded hashbrowns, chicken, and cheese with taco seasoning. It's not the most nutritious meal, but it’s yummy, and Baker has assured me that a few cheat meals won’t hurt him.
I check the chicken that’s been in the Crock-Pot for a couple of hours. It’s almost ready to be shredded. Then I’ll combine all the ingredients, cook for two hours on high, and dinner is served.
“Something smells good,” Baker says, walking into the kitchen from the garage.
“Dinner, but it’s going to be a while before it’s ready. Are you hungry now?”
“Not for food,” he says, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. He kisses my neck, and I tilt my head, giving him access. “Where’s Cam?”
“He’s napping. He’s been down for about half an hour,” I reply, turning to face him. “Welcome home.”
“You make this place feel like home. Have I ever told you that?”
“You might have hinted at that a time or two.”
“Come on. I need my fix before I have to share you with Cam.” He bends, lifts me over his shoulder, and carries me into the living room, where he tosses me onto the couch. Immediately, he falls to his knees, leaning between my spread thighs.
“How was practice?” I ask, running my fingers through his hair.
“Good. We’re ready for the game this week. Have I ever told you how much I love these leggings you’ve been wearing lately?”
“Well, it’s getting colder, and they’re comfortable for when I chase after Camden all day. Besides, you know what these gray sweats do to me.” I waggle my eyebrows.
He chuckles. “Babe, I’m a fan,” he assures me. “In fact, they’re going to look even better on the bedroom floor later tonight.”
“Tonight? We have at least another forty minutes or so before Cam wakes up.”
He grins. “I like the way you think,” he says, just as his phone rings. Groaning, he keeps one hand on my thigh while digging his phone out of the pocket of his sweats. “Hello?” He listens and then says, “Now? Yeah, okay. I’ll see you soon.” He ends the call, tossing his phone beside us on the couch, and groans.
“Everything okay?”
“My parents are almost here. They’re back from their cruise around the world and flew into Nashville to see Cam and me before flying back to Philly tomorrow.”
