He chuckles and plants a kiss on my forehead. “Not yet. But trust me when I say a man doesn’t stand up like that for just anyone.” He smiles warmly. “Now go, Sunflower. I’ll deal with your mother.”
I step out of his embrace and look back at the table to my mother’s now vacant seat.She’s so self-centered, she couldn’t even wait until we left.
After putting on our coats, we pile into Grey’s truck and zoom out of my parents’ estate. Greyson hasn’t said a word, but neither have I. I don’t know how I feel about all of this. No one has ever stood up for me the way he has. And twice in one night. It makes me feel things I shouldn’t.
It makes me want to kiss him.
Not even five minutes on the road, Greyson parks along the side of a deserted street and pushes the back of his head into the headrest. Closing his eyes, he passes his fingers through his hair. “Fuck, Bunny. I'm so sorry. I completely lost it in there. It was inappropriate of me.”
I remove his hand from his hair and intertwine our fingers. “Stop, you have nothing to be sorry about. I’m the one who owes you an apology. She had no right talking to you like that when all you did was point out the truth. So thank you for everything,” I say genuinely.
We gaze at each other, a connection we both feel but won’t address passing through us. “How is it that you know me better than anyone else?” I whisper in the quiet cab of the car. Gracie is already sound asleep in her baby seat.
He turns slightly to me, brushing my hair behind my ear that keeps falling forward. “Because I see you. Everything you try to hide, I see. Everything you don’t say, I hear. You can’t hide from me, Emma Mackenzie. I’ll always see right through you.”
My heart skips a beat, butterflies taking flight in my stomach. My eyes drop to his mouth as he swipes his tongue along those soft, kissable lips.Those lips I dream about kissing again. But I can’t.I look away, down at our hands.
My stomach decides to make itself known at that moment by growling loudly in a very unladylike manner. I break out ina fit of giggles, thinking about our disastrous night. “We went through all of that to end up not even eating.”
Greyson smirks, looking at me. “Makes it seem pretty pointless, right?” he says, chuckling. “How about we go home and order out? Gotta feed my girls before they get hangry.”
I let go of his hand and slap him in the chest. “I donotget hangry!” I tell him, laughing.
“Oh, you do. Honestly, you’re kind of scary when you’re hangry.”
“Shut up.” I roll my eyes as he winks and puts the car back into drive, bringing us home. I look out the side window, resting my head against it with only one thought playing on a loop in my mind.
He said his girls…
Chapter thirteen
Greyson
Let’s rewind to the start, but this time, with a happy ending.
I blow a raspberry on Gracie’s stomach while tickling her sides as she squeals with joy, kicking her feet and throwing her tiny hands all over in an attempt to stop me. I press one last kiss to her exposed belly before pulling back and zipping up her onesie.
To think that not even two months ago, I didn’t have the slightest clue that this beautiful tiny creature existed, and now I can’t even begin to imagine a day without her in my life. I might still be struggling with certain things involving Gracie, but the love I have for her after such a short amount of time is undeniable. I wouldn’t ever want to go back to a time when she wasn’t a part of my everyday life.
Who knew I’d enjoy fatherhood so much, when I was certain that life wasn’t for me before.
“All right, Buttercup, let’s get you all set up for bed.” I pick her up from her changing table that is getting way too small for her and place her on my hip as I walk over to the rocking chair. “A good book, a nice warm bottle of milk, and all the cuddles in the world until you fall asleep. You got yourself a pretty luxurious life, don’t you think?”
I settle down in the chair just as a giggle rings in my ear, and I look over toward the open door of Gracie’s room. Emma leans against the doorframe, head resting against it with her arms delicately folded under her chest, and the softest smile lining her lips as she watches us.
I place Gracie properly on my lap with her head leaning in the crook of my arm and pick up her bottle first, handing it to her, then the book I had set aside, and open it.
“I’m gonna go take a shower if you don’t need me anymore,” Emma says quietly as I nod. She pushes off the wall and comes over, bending down to kiss Gracie on the head. “Goodnight, Little Tulip. Sweet dreams.” She straightens and offers me a small smile before walking out of the room.
Emma’s been quiet for the past hour, which is extremely unlike her. I can tell her mind is elsewhere, most likely replaying everything that happened at her parents’ house in her head. When we got home, everything was fine for the most part, but right after dinner, her demeanor changed, and she’s been faking a happy mood since then.
I know I overstepped a bit and said some pretty harsh things, but they were necessary. I couldn’t believe the things coming out of her mother’s mouth and how Emma just sat there quietly taking her verbal attacks. I know she’s already struggling slightly with her confidence right now after all the shit with her ex; like hell if I was going to let that woman make it worse.
By the time I reach the end of the story, Gracie is fast asleep in my arms. I set the book down and slowly rise from the chair,then delicately lay her down in her crib, pulling the thin blanket over her body before kissing her forehead.
I know technically we should be starting to put Gracie down in her crib directly and let her fall asleep on her own, but I love these little moments with her in my arms. I love the way she looks up at me while I read to her with those beautiful pale brown eyes, like I’m her entire world.
I watch her for a few minutes as she curls up and hugs her blanket to her, then brings her thumb to her mouth and starts sucking on it. I chuckle quietly, remembering when Aubrey used to do the same thing.
