“I got you a decaf, Dais.Come on, now.You need to put your feet up.”
“Waylon doesn’t like my feet up.I spent last night wearing the floorboards through just to get him to settle.”
I set the cardboard tray on the entry table, haul the groceries in one by one, and close the door.When I turn around, Daisy punches me in the arm.
“Ow!”
“You left me.”
“I know.I’m a shit.I’m sorry.”
“You’re worse than a shit, you’re a festering shit.”
“A festering shit?”I laugh, but it’s clear she’s not happy with me.“I flipped out.”
“Why?”she demands, taking her coffee cup from the tray and sipping it slowly.
“I—I don’t know.”What do I say to her that makes what I did okay?I can’t tell her somewhere between helping her by the side of the road and delivering her baby on that same stretch of blacktop, I realized I was head over heels for her.Could I?No.I wouldn’t put her in a position where she had to choose between a romantic relationship with me or our friendship.She didn’t need that kind of pressure.Especially if she didn’t feel the same.
“West.”
“I just ...I thought I was gonna lose you.”
Her brow arches, and I know I’ve said the wrong thing again.“To my son?You knew I was pregnant when we became friends.”
“No.Not to Waylon.Jesus.How selfish do you think I am?”I grab my coffee.Mostly so I have something to do with my hands because I can’t ever remember being this awkward around a woman as I am when Daisy-Mae needles me with her gaze.“He’s everything.Heshouldbe your everything.I panicked—at the hospital—I just panicked.I didn’t know what to do.I didn’t want to intrude on your time with him.”
“Intrude?You’d just delivered him.”
“I know.I’m not saying it makes sense, and I’m sorry.I’m here now.I’m here, no matter what.You need me, you call.”She walks across the room and sets her coffee on the table, and then carefully sits down with Waylon in his carrier.In a matter of minutes, she has him unfastened and cradled in one arm and is undoing the buttons on her top as he fusses.I avert my gaze as she gets the baby latched.I don’t wanna come off as a creeper, but I can’t stop watching her in her element.Messy hair, undereye circles, and all.She gave life to this little person, and she’s fucking incredible—every inch of her.I’ve never loved a single living thing or person more than I love her.Daisy’s eyes meet mine.I dart my gaze away and focus on my coffee cup.
“It’s just boobs, cowboy.”
I clear my throat.“I don’t wanna make it weird.”
“It’s not weird.It’s the most natural thing in the world.Besides, you watched him coming out of me, it doesn’t get more awkward than you up in my cookie right when a baby was shooting out of it.”
I stare at her, slack-jawed, mouth gaping and then I guffaw so loud it startles Waylon, who’s nosily enjoying his breakfast.Daisy’s laughing hard too, and for a second she can’t control herself.Waylon slips off the breast with an irate cry.
“Shh, shh, shh,” Daisy’s laughing too hard to stop shaking.My stomach hurts.I can’t remember the last time I laughed like this.Everything with her is always so natural, so comforting.She finally gets Waylon latched again and pats his little baby butt as he feeds.“I know, mama is terrible, isn’t she?Simply the worst.”
“You’re fucking incredible,” I blurt out.
Daisy’s smile falters as she looks up at me.“I’m barely hanging on by a thread.I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“You’re not giving yourself enough credit.”
She shakes her head.“I’m a mess, West.I haven’t showered since I came home from the hospital.”
“Then finish feeding him and go take a shower.I’ll watch him.”
She shakes her head.“No.It’s fine.I’m sure I’ll have time when he sleeps.”
“You do know I have three siblings, right?I’ve been babysitting since I was four years old.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Yeah, I do.Trust me, at this point, I’m doing us both a favor,” I say with a grin and then wrinkle my nose.
