Page 29 of Hired By My Rich Baby Daddy 3

A smile appeared on my face. “I see what you’re trying to do here.”

He chuckled. “I’m not tryna do anything, love.”

“Mhm.” I unfolded my leg and started shifting toward the edge of the couch. “Well, I’m going to bed. It’s late, I’m tired, and my poor fingers are starting to hurt again. I keep accidentally hitting them on practically everything, and Oaky Woaky kept squeezing them… so I really do need to go on and lay it down.”

“That nickname is hilarious.” He chuckled. “But yeah, I get it.”

Both of us looked down at my fingers.

The pain had started throbbing again. Even the smallest touch made pain shoot through my fingertips.

Ozy gently grabbed both of my hands.

He was careful not to touch the sore parts as he lifted them toward his mouth. His eyes stayed on mine while he kissed the back of one hand, then the other.

My breath caught in my throat.

It was such a small gesture, but the way he did it made my entire body warm. His lips lingered against my skin for a second before he slowly lowered my hands.

We stared into each other’s eyes again.

Neither one of us said anything. We didn’t have to. The look passing between us said enough, and if I stayed on that couch much longer, I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep pretending there wasn’t an us.

I got up before I allowed myself to do something I would have to explain later.

As I walked away, I could feel his eyes following me. Once I reached the hallway, I stopped and looked back over my shoulder.

Ozy was still staring at me.

“Good night,” I whispered.

“Good night,” he replied.

I turned around and continued down the hallway. When I entered Oaklynn’s room, I quietly closed the door behind me, trying not to wake her.

The room was dark except for the soft light coming from the night-light. Oaklynn was sleeping peacefully in her little bed while the air mattress my mama had blown up for me sat on the floor beside it.

I carefully lowered myself onto the mattress and pulled the blanket over my body. Once I was comfortable, I rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling.

I couldn’t stop smiling.

For the longest time, I had wondered what would happen when Ozy finally learned the truth. I had imagined every possible reaction. I imagined him yelling, walking away, refusing to believe me, or hating me for keeping Oaklynn from him.

Not once had I imagined the night going the way it did.

I loved every single moment of their meeting. I loved the way his entire face lit up when she waved at him. I loved watching her grab his chain and reach for his hat. I loved how naturally he held her and how careful he was with her, almost like they had known each other this whole time.

Seeing them together made me regret not telling him the second I saw him again.

I knew I couldn’t go back and change anything. I couldn’t erase the year he had already missed, no matter how badly I wished I could. All I could do was make sure he didn’t miss anything else.

Judging by the way Ozy looked at her, he wasn’t going anywhere.

My thoughts eventually drifted back to the hallway and the living room. Still smiling, I finally allowed my body to relax. It didn’t take long before my thoughts faded, my breathing slowed, and eventually, I was snoring.

PB and I ended up laid up on my couch, and when his phone buzzed against the cushion, it made me jump because somewhere after my fourth cup, I was definitely over there sleeping and probably snoring too. I stretched a little and looked up at him through the slits of my eyes, and he looked down at me with his eyes just as low as mine.

He grabbed the phone and answered. The only thing I heard him say was, “Is he good? Aight. Y’all heading back home? Nah… not no time soon. That ain’t important. Man… aight.” Then he hung up.