“Oh, well, I’ll go home and can come back tomorrow before you leave.”
“What? Why in the hell would you leave? You live here.”
“I mean, I stay here, but technically, I still live above my parents’ garage.”
“Yeah, well, we’re going to fix that. This is your home, Sloane. You’re a part of my life, a huge part of my life. I want you to meet them.”
I can hear it in his voice and see it in his eyes, he really does want me here. “What will we tell them?”
“That you’re my girlfriend. You’ve met them before.”
“But I work for you.”
Baker rolls his eyes. “And you love my kid. He’s thriving in your care, Sloane. My parents want to see me happy. That’s you. My happiness, my son’s happiness, is wrapped up in you. This is where you belong.”
“Okay.” I smile. “I’m sorry. I just have these moments that I think this is too good to be true.”
“We’re real life, baby. This isn’t a fairy tale, although I admit it feels like one. All these years you were right under my nose,” he says, leaning in to kiss the tip of my nose, just as Camden cries out over the baby monitor.
“I’ll go get him. There’s plenty of dinner for all of us. You stay down here to greet your parents.”
He nods and stands before helping me to my feet. His hand slides behind my neck, and he guides me into a kiss. “Thank you.”
“I have a feeling I’ll never be able to say no to you.” I laugh.
“Funny, I’ve thought that same thing about you. Just another reason we’re meant to be.” He kisses me once more as the front door opens.
I push at his chest and take off running upstairs. I’m a hot mess, but I’m not going to bother changing. I’m me, and that’s how Baker wants me, so that’s what his parents are going to get. Okay, fine, I’m going to try to tame the crazy knot on my head a little, but what you see is what you get.
I hope what they see is a woman who loves their son and grandson with all her heart.
“Swoan,” Camden whimpers as I step into his room.
“Hey, buddy. What’s wrong?” I ask, bending to lift him into my arms. He doesn’t answer, but he snuggles into my chest. And damn, every single time he does that, he steals another piece of my heart. “Guess what?” He doesn’t answer, so I keep going. “Daddy’s home from practice.”
“Daddy home.”
“That’s right. And you know what else? Grandma and Grandpa are here to see you. That’s exciting, right?” I ask him, as I lay him on the changing table to change his diaper.
“Citing,” he repeats, making me smile.
“That’s right. They’ve been on a very long vacation, and they’re so excited to see you,” I tell him.
“See Cam.”
“They love you very much,” I tell him.
“Cam love.”
“I love you, too,” I tell him. “You are a very special little boy. You’re so lucky to have your daddy and your grandparents and all of your aunts and uncles who love you.” I just keep rambling on, and he hangs on every word.
“Swoan, pway?”
“Sure, buddy, we can play. But you know who else I think wants to play? Grandma and Grandpa.”
“Cam pway.”
“Yes. Come on, let’s go say hi.” With Cam on my hip, I scoop up his favorite blanket, as well as his stuffed Rowdy the Rhino, and hand them to him. He snuggles them close, placing his head back on my shoulder as we make our way downstairs.
