“I’m sure you’re doing an excellent job with her.”
I shook my head. “That credit goes to her parents. They did all the hard work, and I get to reap the benefits.”
“Ryder, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but youareone of her parents. It just so happens that she has three instead of two.” Dad gestured to where James was biting his knuckle in an attempt not to laugh too loudly at whatever Mom was saying. “Four soon. She’s a very lucky young woman. A child’s age doesn’t matter. She might be an adult now, and grow into an amazing woman, but you will always be her father, even if she’s got several now.”
“I wish I felt like it more sometimes,” I admitted, unaware that I felt that way until the words tumbled out of my mouth.
“Why don’t you talk to her about it? I’m sure you play a bigger part in her life than you think you do. Lord knows I sometimes wished for another me when I was chasing you around as a kid.”
I bumped him with my shoulder. “Maybe you’re right, Dad.”
“I usually am—but don’t tell your mother.”
Steeling myself, Dad and I returned to the table to hear the end of that god-forsaken story.
Chapter 26
My alarm didn’t geta chance to wake me up the next morning because Raleigh decided to take over its job.
Loud, thundering raps against my door jolted me out of a deep sleep, and I knew without opening my eyes who it was.
We’d confiscated Angel’s key.
I rolled out of bed and stepped into the jeans I’d worn the night before, leaving them undone.
“All right!” I said, flinging the door open to find Raleigh with his fist raised, poised to continue the incessant pounding. Any smartass remark I had about the situation was swallowed as my eyes landed on the stroller at his side. “Hi, princess!” I bent to unbuckle Evie and lift her into my arms. She cooed and babbled, and the slobbery smile on her face made the rude,earlyawakening worth it.
“I thought she might sweeten the deal.” Raleigh followed me inside, shutting the door behind him. “And this.” I turned, and he retrieved a coffee from the base of the stroller, which I happily accepted.
“Oh, good. I don’t have to murder you and leave this pretty girl one daddy down. You know, I thought mywedding daywould warrant a nicer wakeup call.”
“That’s not my style.” My best friend collapsed onto the sectional, spreading his arms across the back and kicking his feet up on the table. “You ready to do this?”
“Hell yeah, I’m ready.” I settled into the seat next to him, tucking Evie into one arm so I could drink my coffee. “I never thought I would be, but I couldn’t see myself anywhere else. Where’s Angel?”
“Checking in on James, then heading to the venue to make sure everything is in place.”
“Have you seen it?”
“I have; it’s really nice. Hannah and James did an amazing job with everything.”
“I’m sure you helped.” I winced, Evie latching onto a fistful of hair and tugging—hard. “Ow!”
Raleigh laughed and pried his daughter’s hand out of my hair. “That’s why I started tying mine up. Why don’t you go shower? Hannah’s going to be here in twenty minutes to do your hair, and she said to make sure it was clean.”
“I’ve hardly had any coffee!” I protested, handing the baby over anyway and getting to my feet. “What’s wrong with what I normally do?”
“For starters, baby slobber doesn’t make very good hair gel. I don’t think that’s the product Hannah intended. Besides, that breaks the one rule she gave me.” Raleigh looked up at me with a smile that made his piercings catch the light. “Now go. You have a wedding to get to.”
On my way to the bathroom, I snatched my phone from the nightstand, filtering through the notifications that didn’t matter in search of James’s name. I found it near the bottom.
See you soon…
Mr. Campbell-Clark.
I didn’t even bother to fight the goofy grin on my face.
That name had a nice ring to it.
