Ugh… fine… (rainbow and lightning bolt emojis)
You’re the bestest.
Call me… asap!
I put my phone back in my purse and ring the buzzer, thinking it’s not appropriate for me to use the code again.
Easton answers quickly.“Yo?”
“It’s me… Hadley.”
He laughs.“You know the code.Use it.”
But he must click the accept button anyway because the lock clicks open.I look around the area, but the street-level bar Peeper’s Alley isn’t open yet, so there isn’t anyone around.
As the gate closes behind me, I pull my suitcase through and take a moment staring up at the cement steps.How many times did I walk up these with the goal of having a fun night, and now it feels entirely different?My heart stutters at the thought of caring for his baby.This is real life, not just fun anymore.
Maybe if I’m lucky, the little guy turns out not to be his, and this will just turn into an afternoon of babysitting.I’m not sure how Easton feels about Tanner.He looked a little in love with the baby last night, and if Tanner turns out not to be his, Easton might be crushed.
I shake my head and pick up my suitcase.It’s not my business.Easton and I don’t have a relationship like that.This is as much as we’ve ever intertwined our lives.Hell, I’ve never even gone to a game.The only reason I knew Decker was from running into one another by accident one night.Then Easton started asking me more and more often to meet up with them while they were out.
When I reach the landing, Easton’s door is already propped open.A flashback hits—one night I showed up to find his door propped open, and I found him shirtless in the kitchen.It had been a long dry spell for me, so I jumped him, and he ate me out on his counter, then fucked me over the back of the couch.
Tanner’s cry pierces through my thought, reminding me I’m not here to get off, I’m here to watch a baby.And not screw him up in the process.
“It’s okay, your babysitter is here,” I hear Easton say.
I push open the door to find him shirtless again, holding Tanner to his chest as he does something in the kitchen.Easton’s back is to me, and it’s as chiseled as ever.It’s odd.Before messing around with Easton, I’d never once had the thought that a man’s back could be hot, but it turns out on Easton, it’s a turn-on.
“Hey,” I announce myself, but he doesn’t turn around.
“Not gonna lie, I was a little worried with the new day you’d change your mind.”He sets a bowl on the counter and settles Tanner in the high chair.
Easton looks as though he’s rocking this dad thing, and my fears of inadequacy stack up inside me.Maybe I should go play shortstop for the Colts instead of being the one responsible for a living, breathing baby.My odds of success are better on the field than in this condo.
“Come closer, he’s not a biter.”Easton laughs and nudges a chair into place, using his foot to push the one on the other side out in offering.
I leave my suitcase by the door and go to sit down.
“Relax.I get it, it’s scary, but honestly, you just have to make him happy.”
I raise my eyebrows.“That easy, huh?”
He laughs, his usual infectious one.Easton Bailey is so damn swoony with his deep laugh and timely jokes.“Well, not easy, but we’ll figure it all out together.”
He has way too much faith in me.
“I just want to remind you that I’ve never cared for a child before.”
He spoons the baby food from the bowl and holds it out to Tanner.His arms and legs are flailing, and he’s so excited that a laugh bubbles out of me.
“I remember.”He puts the spoon in Tanner’s mouth, glancing at me.“Breathe, Hadley.He’s not as breakable as you’re worried he is.”
“His survival is going to be solely on me until you get home.Which is when, by the way?”
He continues to feed Tanner, making the job look easy.Tanner is more than eager to eat, and I’m tempted to ask for the spoon, but it won’t look nearly as smooth if I do it.
“Practice will be done around five or so.But you should know…” He cuts a glance at me, and my stomach drops.“I got the results last night, and there’s a ninety-nine point nine percent chance that he’s mine.”
