Page 63 of Crossed Up

My mouth must still be hanging open in shock because he chuckles as he holds out a beefy hand. “Hello, ma’am. My name’s Callahan Ward, but you can call me Cal. Are you Lyla Taylor?”

I grin back at him and shake his hand with a nod, noting absently how it dwarfs mine. It’s almost comical how big this dude is. Aidan is 6’3, and I can tell just by looking at him Cal would make my boyfriend look average. “I am, and I really appreciate you taking this job on such short notice. I’m assuming you have questions before we head to the stadium?”

He follows me dutifully to the kitchen and declines any drinks, choosing instead to jump right into it. “So it’s you and the six-year-old I’m watching over, correct?” I nod. “Great. Now, in order to do my job, I need as much information as possible about the situation.”

Blowing out a breath, I quickly launch into the story of Sebastian, giving Cal as much detail as I can. “So, just to recap,” he begins, staring at his notes. “Sebastian Pennington Junior is the perp, and the feds are aware of the situation and actively looking for him? Are we assuming he’s armed and dangerous?”

The question gives me pause as I consider, but eventually, I give him a slow nod. “I hurt his ego by leaving, especially after defending myself against his attack. I have no doubt he wants to hurt me back, and his texts have essentially confirmed as much.”

Cal stays quiet, giving me a chance to study him. His expression is grave, but the smile lines around his mouth and eyes tell me he laughs a lot, and my gut is telling me I made a good choice in hiring him.

Crew comes skipping into the kitchen but stops short when he sees the giant sitting at our counter. His entire countenance changes in an instant as he backs away slowly, moving to my side and clinging to my leg. To his credit, Cal has a calm smile as he watches our exchange, and he slowly moves off the stool to crouch in front of us.

He holds his hand out to shake, never once quickening his movements or taking his eyes off Crew. “Hello,” he says softly. “My name’s Cal. Are you Crew?”

Crew nods slowly, his face belying his anxiety over meeting someone new. “Are you here to take my mommy?”

A quiet gasp slips from my lips, and I drop to my knees, pulling him into my arms. “Crew-bug, no. Nobody is going to take me, I promise. Cal is my friend, and he’s going to keep us safe at the game today. Is that okay with you?”

With the threat of me leaving successfully quashed, his eyes narrow in suspicion. “You’re not a bad guy?”

The large man’s smile grows even more. “I’m not a bad guy, I promise. Actually, do you want to know a secret?” He pauses, and Crew nods hesitantly. “Up until a year ago, I was a GI Joe.”

Crew’s eyes go wide as saucers. “Really?”

Cal grins mischievously and shows us his phone screen. It has a picture of him with three other men, all in their fatigues, nearly blending in with the desert background. “See? Me and my friends catch the bad guys.”

Squeezing Crew’s shoulder, I grin at him. “Now that we know Cal is one of the good guys, can we get going? We’re going to be late for your dad’s game.”

He jumps into action, and soon enough, we’re on the road with Cal following in his own vehicle close behind. I meet the eyes of the sweet boy bouncing in his booster seat. “Crew-bug,” I start gently. “You know your dad and I aren’t married, right? So I’m not actually your mommy yet.”

In a move eerily similar to his father, Crew rolls his identical blue eyes. “Daddy said he loves you, and you’re his girlfriend. That means you’re going to get married. And that makes you my mommy.”

No hesitation, not a care in the world about formalities. In his six-year-old mind, his dad and I love each other, so that means I’m his mom now.

“Don’t you want to be my mommy?”

Careful to keep one hand firmly on the wheel, I reach a hand back and grip his knee tightly. “Oh, sweetie. Of course I do. I would love to be your mommy and marry your daddy someday.”

His grin is blinding, even through the rearview mirror. “So I can tell people you’re my mommy now?”

“If it’s okay with your dad, you can say I’m your mom.”

The parking lot is a madhouse, so I circle around to park in the staff parking at the training facility next-door. I have to get Wren to call in clearance for Cal, so while I’m waiting, I send a warning text to Aidan so he’s not blindsided by this new development later.

Me

Hey, I know you probably don’t have your phone on you, but I wanted to give you a head’s up just in case I don’t see you before the end of the game. Crew just started calling me Mommy, and I wasn’t really sure if I should let him, but he’s pretty adamant.

Aidan’s reply comes within seconds.

Daddy

Good.

Huh?

Me

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