One Baby Daddy (Dating by Numbers #3)(87)

Adalyn: OMG is that breakfast pizza?

Hayden: Yup, fresh from the oven, full of all your daily nutrients: dairy, veggies, and grains plus an additional protein with the eggs.

Adalyn: I’m so happy right now.

Reading that at seven thirty in the morning made my entire day. A picture buzzes on my phone and I quickly open it up to find Adalyn munching down on a slice of the breakfast pizza, a huge—albeit full—smile on her face. I save the picture to my phone and text her back.

Hayden: Even with a breakfast pizza shoved halfway down your throat, you’re still gorgeous.

Adalyn: I’m positively glowing. I can feel the pizza aura lighting up the space around me.

Hayden: Then my job here is done. Have a good day, Adalyn.

Chapter Twenty-Four

ADALYN

Hayden: You don’t want to know what I’m doing right now.

Adalyn: You did that on purpose, open up a text like that so now I have to know what you’re doing. Well you know what, I don’t want to know. Nice try.

Hayden: It involves baby powder.

Adalyn: Damn you! What are you doing?

Hayden: I knew that would get your attention. I’m currently wearing a gladiator costume that’s less than comfortable in the thigh region.

Adalyn: Time out. Why are you wearing a gladiator costume?

Hayden: It’s the reason I couldn’t take you out tonight and I had to revert to tomorrow night.

Adalyn: A gladiator costume is not a valid reason.

Hayden: It is when I have to do a commercial in it.

Adalyn: LOL, okay, now I’m really interested. Are you sponsored by Trojan now? A little ironic, don’t you think, given our situation.

Hayden: Ha. Not sponsored by Trojan. It’s for the league. They like to do skits with all the teams for bumpers in between commercials. I’m assuming since I’m the new guy, the Quakes nominated me for this shit.

Adalyn: That’s fantastic. Do I get a picture?

Hayden: No.

Adalyn: Ahh, you’re all cranky because you’re chafing, aren’t you?

Hayden: This baby powder is pure shit. We will not be using it on our kid.

I pause, reading his text a few times. OUR kid. That’s kind of weird and scary and . . . comforting. Despite Logan being here for me, I’ve felt so alone during this pregnancy, maybe because whenever I envisioned myself being pregnant, I envisioned being married, owning a home, and cuddling up next to my husband every night. Unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury with this pregnancy.

Adalyn: I don’t think baby powder is used that much anymore with babies.

Hayden: Shit, really? Well good thing because it doesn’t work. How have you been feeling today?

Adalyn: Good, the breakfast pizza was exactly what I needed. The lunch pizza you sent to the office was even better. Do I need to prepare myself for dinner?

Hayden: I would tell me now if you would like to pass on a dinner surprise.

Adalyn: Depends, what’s on the pizza menu?

Hayden: Hawaiian pizza, extra pineapple.

Adalyn: Bless you, Hayden Holmes. Bless you.

Adalyn: Are we going anywhere fancy for dinner?

Hayden: It’s not Subway if that’s what you’re asking.

Adalyn: I’m trying to decide what I need to wear, smart ass.

Hayden: Bikini.

Adalyn: Over my dead body.

Hayden: Okay, okay, lingerie works too.

Adalyn: I thought this was supposed to be a “just friends” dinner.

Hayden: Do you not wear lingerie for your friends?

Adalyn: Want to ask Logan?

Hayden: Ohhhhhhh low blow, babe. Low fucking blow . . . do you wear lingerie for him?

Adalyn: No.

Hayden: Cool. Cool. Not like I cared or anything.

Adalyn: You’re so full of shit.

Hayden: Can’t show all my cards right away, got to play it cool.

Adalyn: Oh is that what you’re doing? Could have fooled me.

Hayden: It’s the new way of acting cool, something these youngins came up with.

Adalyn: When you say youngins you make us seem so old.

Hayden: Well we are having a baby together. That is a very adult thing to do.

Adalyn: We’re having it out of wedlock.

Hayden: Fishing for a proposal?

Adalyn: Just tell me what to wear.

Hayden: Anything you feel comfortable in.

Adalyn: Comfortable right now is sweatpants.

Hayden: Then I look forward to seeing you in your comfy threads.

Adalyn: I’m not wearing sweatpants, jeeze.

Adalyn: Heads-up. I just ate a sleeve of Oreos.

Hayden: I can see you’re starting to feel better. I hope you still have an appetite for dinner.

Adalyn: Pretty sure right now, with the way I’m feeling, I’ll be eating my dinner, your dinner, and the patrons’ next to us.

Hayden: I’ll ask for a secluded table then, this place isn’t a family style restaurant.

Adalyn: Rookie mistake with a pregnant woman. Always go family style.

Hayden: Making notes now. Should I highlight family restaurant for emphasis.

Adalyn: I recommend it.

Hayden: Done.

Hayden: Leaving my place in a few to pick you up.

Adalyn: I’ll wait outside in the front of the complex.

Hayden: No way, I’ll come get you.

Adalyn: Logan is here.

Hayden: I’ll be sure to slow down enough by the curb for you to get in.