Nate(63)

“She’s not like normal chicks.”

“Your situation isn’t normal. You didn’t think that through when you offered to bring her in here.”

I hadn’t, but I wasn’t in any hurry to kick her out.

Not that it would ever get to that place.

I glared at him. “We just tackled one issue. I don’t need you creating another one.”

“I’m not creating it. It’s there. I’m pointing it out, and I’d not only be a bad best friend, but a bad SBCer, and a bad lawyer if I didn’t point it out to you. You think you could love her?”

“Logan!”

I was getting a headache. A giant fucking one. It was named Logan Kade.

He kept on, nonplussed, “You don’t love anyone, not like that.” A beat. He seemed to consider it. “You love your sister. You love me. You love Mason. I think that’s it. You’re fond of the soccer kid.”

I had to grin at that. The soccer “kid” would have something to say about being called a “kid.”

But… Logan was right.

There was something wrong with me. There’d always been something wrong with me.

“She told me that I should’ve been with Valerie.”

His eyebrows went up. “What? She did?”

I nodded. “It was the night of the surprise baby shower from you guys. I sat her down to tell her about Duke, and she knew it. None of it fazed her, and she said all that about her sister.”

He whistled under his breath. “Is it true? Should you have been with the sister?”

I considered it, considered Valerie.

I’d already gone down that road.

I shook my head. “No. Valerie was nice, and I did like her. I cared about her, but something was missing. I don’t know. She wasn’t the one for me, so I never made a move for more. We were simply good doing what we were doing.” I considered him. “You think I messed up? Not going for Valerie?”

“I mean.” He winced. “That’s hard for me to answer. Only you know, but I do think you have a future problem on your hands if you hook up with Quincey and it goes bad. You guys are acting like you’re a married couple, both Mom and Dad to Nova. I love your kid, but boundaries at some point will need to be decided.”

“She just escaped a bad situation.”

“I know.” He held his hands up. “I totally get that. I’m only saying, think for yourself in this situation. You know?”

I grunted. I knew what he was talking about.

“So, she’s dancing?”

“Yeah.” A wave of pride rose through me. “She dances a lot every day anyway, but she told me not long after that night that she had a part in a show coming up. Between rehearsing and everything with Duke, it’s like she’s a ghost. When she’s home, she’s with Nova. When she’s not with Nova, she’s gone.”

“That’s discipline.”

I nodded, agreeing.

“Okay.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “We celebrating tonight? I fly out tomorrow.”

I smiled at him, just smiling.

“What?”

“Emily is leaving in an hour.”

His mouth pursed together. “That means…?”

“Welcome to the life of being a parent. We ain’t going anywhere unless I can bring my daughter.”

“Right.” He took a deep breath. “Nova’s like the opposite of Mason’s kids. She’s, like, perfect. Not loud. Or hardly ever loud. Mason’s kids are hellions.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You surprised about that?”

“I’m just saying. Valerie must’ve been super nice because you were a massive dick when we were kids.”

I glared. “We’re toilet training. Guess what shift you just signed up for?”





36





Quincey





Screams ripped through the room, and I was out of bed and sprinting before I opened my eyes.

That was Nova.

Nova needed me.

I burst through the door but drew up short. Nate was already there, and he was picking her up. Cradling her to his chest, he glanced at me over his shoulder. “I don’t know what’s wrong.”

I rushed to him, and I couldn’t stop myself. I took her from him. Probably not the right thing to do, but I needed to hold her. I needed her.

Her little body trembled in my arms, and tears ran down her face. She was pale, and a blood-curdling scream was coming from her.

I’d read everything on infants.

What was I forgetting? What could this be?

I checked her forehead. She didn’t feel like she had a temperature.

Nate checked her diaper. She was still dry.

He stepped back, his eyes wide and panicked. His hair was sticking up all over, and he’d come straight from his bed. No shirt. Only boxer briefs.

Another scream left her, and I cursed. I was the one trembling more now. “Car.”

“What?”

“ER.” I was starting for the garage, even as I spoke. I wasn’t taking a chance. When there was something seriously wrong with kids, they declined fast and fierce. I. Wasn’t. Taking. A. Chance.

Nate was coming behind me. “We could call Emily?”