Page 22 of Never Really Over

Just seeing it makes my heart clench and I quickly look away. “Yeah.”

“You’re fucking kidding me, right? This is Natalie’s house?”

“Why would I joke about that, asshole? Yes, that’s her place.”

“Fuck me, that’s weird.”

“What’s weird and stop with the word fuck, will ya? Poppy might be sleeping but I try not to cuss so much around her.”

“You just called me an asshole.”

“Yeah, but that’s just what name she’ll know to call you.” I smirk.

He chuckles and leans back in his chair. “We drove past this house when we were driving around Hollow Grove and Bridget about shit… sorry, pooped, her pants when she saw it. It’s her dream home.”

“I’m not ready to sell it.”

“I understand that. But when you are, you have a buyer already, got me? Don’t put it on the market. Just give me a call and we’ll make the deal happen.”

“She’s really got you by the balls, doesn’t she?”

“Bad. I’m so screwed. Rest of my life I’ll be her slave.”

“And love every minute of it, am I right?”

He clicks his tongue. “Yup.”

Never in a million years did I think I’d ever be jealous of Dalton, but right now, I am. “Happy for you.” Second thing I never thought I’d say. Tonight’s been full of surprises. Sharing a beer with Dalton would have been at the bottom of things I’d ever want to do but turns out, people do sometimes change for the better.

“Thank you. And I mean it about the house.”

“I know you do but don’t be the old Dalton and act like a douche if you don’t get your way. I’m not ready to sell it yet and I’m not sure when I will be. If you start hounding me about the house, I’ll sell it to someone else.”

“Understood.”

I hear a little squeak come from my bedroom and hold my breath, wondering if Poppy is going to go back to sleep or wake up. The next sound is her wailing so I excuse myself and get her out of the crib.

“Hi, Tootsie Pop,” I coo, cradling her to my chest and reaching into the crib for her pacifier and pluck it into her little mouth. Though, recently she’s been sticking her thumb in her mouth and tossing her pacifier on the floor so I think it’s bringing her more comfort. She spits it out and shoves her thumb in, proving my theory correct, and rests her head on my shoulder, letting out a heavy sigh.

“Couldn’t sleep, huh? Want to go meet an old fri… well, a person?” I ask her.

Her diaper is still dry since she’s only been sleeping for an hour so I bring her with me to the kitchen.

When I enter the kitchen, Dalton is rinsing out his empty beer bottle in the sink and sets it down, turning toward us.

Poppy clings tighter to me when she sees a stranger in our house so I assure her that he’s safe and it’s okay.

“This is Dalton. Dalton, this is my Tootsie Pop, or Poppy, if you’re boring and don’t like to give kids fun nicknames.” I give her a little shake with my forearm and she tightens her grip on my shirt.

“Hi there, cutie.” He looks at me. “Those blonde curls are something else. She’s fu… freaking adorable. Good baby?”

“Yeah, she is. Partly because I’m her favorite person, partly because she’s just a good baby in general. Has her moments, of course, but mostly, she’s great. Ready for this?”

“Heck yeah. Can’t wait.”

“Lot more work than just holding and playing,” I remind him.

“Is it hard for you? Doing this full time? Her not being yours, and all?”

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