Page 100 of Just One Kiss

He hurried toward the crib and set the baby down, spinning around in a circle and heaving out a heavy sigh.

What if I hurt my son like I hurt Dylan?

His face flushed and he couldn’t get a deep breath. What was he doing? He palmed his face. He’d been pretending to be something he wasn’t—capable.

He had no business—

The door opened and Carly walked in, worry on her face. “I could hear him screaming downstairs. How long’s he been like this?”

Josh faced her. “For a while.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

Like a perfect storm, the room began to spin. Carly rushed toward Jaden, picked him up and kissed the top of his bald head, but she drew back almost instantly. “Josh—”

“What’s wrong?”

“Have you felt him at all tonight?”

“I’ve been holding him—he’s been screaming for over an hour.”

“He’s burning up.” She had turned frantic.

“He’s probably just worked up from all the crying,” Josh said.

“I know a fever when I feel it.” Carly picked Jaden up and stormed out.

“Where are you going?” Josh followed.

“To the emergency room,” she said. “This isn’t normal.”

Josh’s heart raced as they hurried out of the apartment and into the street. She buckled Jaden in to his car seat and they sped off toward the hospital. He could practically feel the barrage of angry words she wasn’t saying.

“Carly, I’m so sorry,” he said. “I didn’t think he was sick.” Josh’s stomach rolled. He felt like a total jerk for getting so angry that the baby wouldn’t stop crying. Why didn’t he think Jaden might be sick?

“Just get us to the hospital,” she snapped.

He didn’t say another word until they arrived at the emergency room. He dropped her off at the door, then went to find a place to park.

Minutes later, when he ran inside, Carly and Jaden were nowhere to be seen. The receptionist promised she’d find out where they’d gone, but as Josh paced the room, his mind turned over the events of the evening.

This is all your fault.

He wasn’t any good at this, and it was obvious. Same as his own father. His thoughts turned to a childhood he’d worked hard to forget. His anger—Josh thought he had it under control, but the night had proven otherwise.

Maybe he was just like his dad. Would he hurt them if he stayed? If Carly knew the truth, she’d force him to go. And she’d be right to.

Carly and Jaden would be better off without him.

The door of the ER opened and Carly’s dad and sister hurried in. “Josh—what’s going on?”

Josh shrugged. “I don’t know. I parked the car and when I came in, Carly had already gone back. They said they were going to find out where they were, but so far, they haven’t told me anything.”

Gus frowned. “Did you tell them you’re the father?”

Josh nodded.

Gus stomped over to the desk where the receptionist sat, on the phone. “I’m gonna need you to hang that up.”

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