Epic Sins (Epic Fail #1)(27)

“Kai is sick. You already know this. He has Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.”

“I know,” I state.

“He cries. A lot. And his cries aren’t normal baby cries. They are high-pitched and will cut right through to your heart.”

I don’t know what she thinks she’s preparing me for, but I turn back to my car and unlock it.

“Garrett! Where do you think you’re going?” Her tone reminds me of my mother and I stop in my tracks. She grabs my arm, turning me around and leads me to the door of the house. She stops just before we enter.

“Sam has calmed him down, and he’s sleeping for now. I just wanted to warn you in case he wakes up. I don’t want you to be alarmed.”

“Peggy, this whole situation is f*cked up.” I walk past her into the house, hoping I’m walking out of a bad dream.

The house is so quiet you can hear a pin drop. I walk through the kitchen looking for Peggy’s niece. The counters are filled with bags from the pharmacy and Babies R Us. Open boxes line the floor and baby things are everywhere. Swings and diapers and blankets. I feel like I’m going to pass out.

Peggy quickly places a cold bottle of water in my hand and says quietly, “Drink.”

“Whiskey,” I say, and my voice is hoarse. My lips feel like they’re cracking, and all I can think about is the double barrel whiskey that’s in the liquor cabinet. I place the bottle of water on the counter and keep walking into the den. The cabinet is on the far end of the room, and I need to get there now. I reach for the door and it won’t open. I tug again and it’s jammed.

“Safety locks.” Peggy’s voice startles me. She walks past me and pulls something out of her pocket and swipes it along the door. I hear a click as the cabinet lock disengages and she hands me what appears to be a magnet.

“What the hell?” I say as she pours me two fingers of whiskey.

“Drink.”

I swig it back and pass the glass back to her, indicating that I want more. She shakes her head and closes the cabinet.

“Are you relaxed yet?” she asks.

“No, and I don’t see myself getting there anytime soon.”

“Stop being so damn selfish and get yourself together,” Peggy snaps at me and I stiffen.

The past three days have been a whirlwind. After we agreed to take Kai in, I flew to Charlotte so I could explain what was going on to my parents. I didn’t want them to hear about this from the tabloids. Needless to say, my mother was shocked. Bill told me that he would help in any way that he could. They had already seen the news story about the ‘groupie’ dying from a drug overdose on our tour bus. Now they know the true story and not what the media is spreading. My return flight landed just under an hour ago, and I don’t even recognize the home I left yesterday. Peggy has completely transformed my bachelor pad into a nursery. I feel sick.

She turns me around, and we head toward the back set of stairs that leads to the guest rooms. I hear soft music coming from the room farthest down the hall. It sounds so familiar, but it’s an instrumental lullaby.

“Epic Fail Rock-a-Bye-Baby,” Peggy whispers, and I stop in my tracks.

“What?”

“I wanted Kai to hear his father’s music, but he isn’t ready for rock and roll just yet, so I got him the softer, lullaby versions of your songs.”

What the f*ck?

I shake my head and look at her. “Is there anything else that you need to tell me?”

The soft pings of music I hear through the door are a complete bastardization of one of our chart-topping singles. It makes me want to vomit.

She opens the door slowly, and the first thing I see is a crib. The blinds are drawn in the room, but the ceiling is glowing with hundreds of stars and constellations. There’s a person in the rocking chair at the far end of the room, holding a baby close to her chest. I only see her silhouette, outlined by long, flowing curls.

Peggy approaches her and whispers something inaudible in her ear. She nods and stands up slowly. Peggy takes her seat and they expertly transfer the baby from her arms to Peggy’s.

She walks toward me, and her wide, blue eyes are the first thing I see. They pierce into my own and I feel a rush through my body. I don’t move as she approaches me, and she suddenly looks confused. Her lips move, but I can’t hear what she’s saying.

“What?” I ask, too loudly, and I’m immediately shushed by Peggy.

“Hallway,” she says and walks past me.

I follow her and stop outside the door. She brushes against me as she reaches to pull the door closed. Her shirt shifts and I see cleavage. My pants stir and my fight-or-flight response takes over. She’s stunning. Tall. Athletic. Fucking hot. She can’t be the baby nurse.

She can’t be the f*cking baby nurse.

“Hi,” she says in barely a whisper. “I’m Sam.”

She extends her right hand and I grab hold of it. Her cool, soft hand closes slowly around mine and she pumps up and down.

“Hi, Sam. I’m Garrett.” I’m lost in her eyes and I can’t stop shaking her hand. She blinks hard as if trying to snap me out of my temporary paralysis, and she snatches her hand away from mine.

“Let’s go someplace where we can talk,” she says as she brushes past me again. Her vanilla scent leads me. The only thing I want to do right now is pull her into my bedroom down the hall. Completely inappropriate response.