“Just set that one by the stairs,” she said to the delivery man, who nodded.
“What the fuck is happening right now?”
“Baby supplies. They arrived earlier than expected.” She didn’t even look at me.
I stepped further into what used to be my kitchen. “You turned my house into a warehouse.”
“I got what Hazel needs.”
The doorbell rang again before I could respond. Violet didn’t even look up.
“That’ll be Liam. Let him in, would you?”
I nearly choked on my coffee. “You called Liam?”
“We need help. There’s too much to unpack and assemble.”
“It’s my house. You could have asked me before inviting people over.”
Violet finally looked at me properly, one eyebrow raised in challenge. “Would you rather do all this yourself?”
The doorbell rang again, more insistently this time.
“Fine.” I stalked toward the door, muttering under my breath. “Not like I had plans today or anything.”
I yanked the door open to find Liam grinning on my doorstep, looking far too cheerful for ten in the morning.
“Morning, Daddy,” he practically sang, stepping past me without waiting for an invitation. “Heard you needed some muscle.”
“I don’t. She does.” I closed the door harder than necessary. “Apparently I’m hosting a flat-pack fiesta nobody RSVP’d to.”
Liam whistled low as he took in the disaster zone. “Bloody hell. Did you rob a baby shop?”
“Ask her.” I jerked my head toward the kitchen. “She’s commandeered my credit card and my house.”
Liam’s grin widened as he spotted Violet emerging from the kitchen, Hazel now cradled against her shoulder.
“Morning, Vi,” he said. “Love what you’ve done with the place.”
“Very funny.” She shifted Hazel to her other arm. “Can you start moving the bigger boxes upstairs? I need to go pick up the nursery furniture.”
Liam stretched, rolling his shoulders. “Yeah, sure. I’ll haul boxes around while you go off on your merry way. Love that for me.”
Violet didn’t even glance at him. “Good. Glad we’re all on the same page.”
I leaned against the counter, taking a slow sip of coffee. “Give me ten minutes and we’ll head out.”
Violet stilled, shifting Hazel higher on her shoulder. Then, slowly, too slowly, she turned to face me.
Liam let out a low, amused hum. “Yeah, mate. Not your best idea.”
I frowned. “What?”
“Griffin.” She blinked at me like I’d personally disappointed her. “You can’t be seen in public with a baby.”
The moment my name left her mouth in that tone, my stomach sank.
Right. The media shitstorm.
