“What?”I ask, wishing my voice didn’t sound so abrupt, but I feel as if a bomb is about to explode and I’m the one in charge of getting someone to cut either the blue or the red wire.
“The baby.”Easton nods toward the baby in Penelope’s arms.
Before I can ask what he’s talking about, Hazel walks over to Decker and slips her hand into his, staring at me just like she did at the bookstore while I read to her.
“Miss Hadley, are you Tanner’s mommy?”
My gaze drops to Hazel, then shifts to Penelope.She’s probably ready to dial 9-1-1.Not only have I kind of sort of broken into their building, but her daughter knows who I am.I want to raise my hands and swearI didn’t offer your daughter candy to get into my white van,even though right now I probably look unhinged.
A cute golden retriever trots over, and my hand falls to pet their soft fur, using the dog as my emotional support system with the hopes that it grounds me.
I comfort myself a little longer with the dog but quickly realize all eyes are still on me, wondering if that little boy belongs to me.
“That baby isn’t mine.”I look right at Easton.“But I need to talk to you.”
“Are you sure?It’s okay, you know…” Easton scans the room, realizing I know who everyone is and, well, they don’t know me.“Oh—you know Decker, and this is his wife Penelope, their daughter Hazel, and their dog Sparkles.”
I notice the table filled with dishes, which means I interrupted them eating.Perfect timing, Hadley.As always.“Hi.Sorry—can I steal Easton for a minute?”
Easton goes to Penelope, holding his hands out as if he’s going to take the baby, but Penelope waves him off.
“Go.We’ve got him.”She studies me.
I shift in place, wondering what she must be thinking.
“I won’t be long.”
I walk out the door with a gracious smile I hope lets her know I am a sane person and that this just isn’t my best moment.
Easton follows, shutting the door behind him.
We fall in line on the stairs, making our way to his condo on the next floor up.
“Sorry I used the code.”My cheeks heat because the agreement we had when he gave it to me was to only use it when he was expecting me.“I tried to call you a few times.”
He punches the code into the keypad of his condo.I’m sure he’ll be changing it the minute I leave.I’ve always known the score with Easton, and if he agrees to what I’m going to ask, it would be a miracle, but I have to try.
I won’t be surprised if he says no and boots me from his life completely after this.
“It’s fine… and sorry.”He pats his pocket.“Maybe my phone died.I think I just left it down at Decker’s.”
We walk into his condo, and the space looks completely different than the last time I was here.This is not the Easton Bailey condo I remember.
There are baby items everywhere.A high chair sits in the middle of the room with a bowl and spoon still crusted with whatever was last eaten from it on the tray.The sink is stacked with bottles, and a changing table has taken over his family room, surrounded by an activity mat and a bouncy chair.
The familiar bachelor pad has morphed into something else entirely.
“So… the baby, he’s yours?”
He circles his neck, and I hear it crack a few times.“Still up for debate.”He must notice my eyebrows crinkle because he continues, “It wasn’t you, huh?I hoped?—”
“Easton, we were together two months ago.I think you would’ve known my body had changed.”I continue to scan the space, trying to match the man I know to the one living in this version of his life.
“Tanner is, like, six months old.You could’ve snapped right back.”
I tilt my head.“I’ve never had a baby, but I’m not sure that’s exactly how it works.I don’t think you just snap right back, but it’s nice to know you’re forgetting all the times we were together over the last fifteen months.I guess I’m not that memorable.”
He sits in the chair, tossing a baby rattle onto the floor.“You’re the most logical choice.I’ve slept with you the most.”
