My heart skips a beat as I watch him handle her with care.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to do that,” I tell him once we’ve successfully tiptoed out of the bedroom and reached the living room.
He shoves his hands in his pockets. “It’s fine. I’m going to go get the car seat and the rest of the stuff. I’ll be right back.”
I nod my head and make my way to the landing in between our apartments to see if Kate needs help.
I peek my head in Declan's apartment, and Kate is in the kitchen. “Do you need anything?” I ask.
She makes her way to where I’m at in the doorway. “No. But today was the best day I’ve had in a long time, and I want to thank you for that. Your family is seriously amazing, and they didn’t have to offer to take us in today. It was the highlight of my year.”
I give her an easy smile and wrap her in a hug. “I’m so glad you guys came. It was seriously fun having you over.”
Declan enters the stairway, and we break apart. He heads into my open apartment to set the rest of my things down, and then the three of us are left on the landing.
“Come get a coffee from the shop before your flight tomorrow,” I tell Kate.
She wraps me in another hug. “I will.”
I give a smile to Declan and say, “Merry Christmas.”
I head into my apartment, and as soon as the door shuts behind me, I can hear Kate on the other side. I know I shouldn’t snoop but the walls are thin.
“Seriously. You couldn’t hug her, you asshat? Knock on her door and give her a proper goodbye. And why haven’t you asked Penny out yet? You’re a fucking fool. I can tell you like her.”
“I told you. I don’t like kids. I’m not about to play daddy to some little girl. Penny and I will never happen in this lifetime.”
I rub the spot over my heart and walk away from the door because I don’t need to hear the rest of the conversation.
Is that what this has been all about since we met face-to-face? That I have a kid?
The picture is starting to make sense now. Whenever Autumn’s around him, he freezes up, like he doesn’t want to be near her. I didn’t see it before, but looking back, I do now.
I am such an idiot.
And the fact that he friend-zoned me a second time confirms it all.
My nose starts to sting, and I head into the bathroom to turn on the shower. I put the nozzle to scorching, undress, and get in to wash away the dread that coats my skin.
Once I’ve scrubbed myself raw, I get out of the shower and wrap myself in a towel. When I get to my room, I see my phone lit up with a new notification. I open the message.
Declan: Can you meet me on the landing?
I close the message and toss my phone on the bed, shaking my head.
“Screw you, Declan,” I whisper to myself. Because there’s no way I’m befriending someone who doesn’t like my daughter. That girl is my whole world, and I refuse to surround myself with people who won’t accept her as a part of my life.
I thought the funny, kind man I’ve come to know over the last few months was worth getting closer to. Despite it being weird between us over the last few weeks, I wanted us to have a friendship outside of texting, no matter how much my heart skipped a beat around him. I know he doesn’t like me like that, which is ultimately why I have a date next month, but his brash words have instantly made me have a change of heart. I’ve never given him the impression that I wanted him to act like a father figure towards Autumn. But now that I look back, his actions were those of someone who was completely turned off by the fact that his previous pen pal– his friend– had a kid.
I’m a fucking idiot.
I change into oversized sweats and make sure the apartment is locked and the lights are off. I tiptoe intoAutumn’s room and climb into bed next to her, pulling her against my body.
The memories of giving birth to her, her first birthday, and her first words flip through my brain as I breathe her in. I never expected to get pregnant at nineteen, but when she entered this world screaming, I fell in love for the first time. It was like something clicked, and I decided right then and there I would do anything and everything to protect my baby girl.
That includes keeping her away from people who don’t want her in their lives.
Chapter 10
