Page 22 of Saving You

“Not happening anytime soon, little sis, but does that mean I have free reign to spoil your kid?”

She chuckles. “I think Josh will have you beat. I’m going to end up being bad cop all the time. He’s already filled the nursery with stuffed animals, blankets, toys, and books.” She runs her hand over her belly. “This child will want for nothing, especially with Josh as their dad.”

The affection in her voice has tears pricking at the corner of my eyes. I want that for Charlie. I want her to know the unwavering love and affection of a father.

I turn my head and pretend to cough as I discreetly wipe at my eyes. I feel heat at my back as a hand grips my hip, giving it a squeeze. I look up and meet Caleb’s concern-filled eyes. It’s like he can see a part of me I don’t show anyone else.

He breaks eye contact and looks at Charlie, but his hand remains on my hip. “I hear they have a great grilled cheese sandwich,” he says.

Charlie starts bouncing on her toes, gripping her hands together and placing them below her chin. “Please, Mommy?”

“Yeah, we can stay for dinner.”

Charlie wraps her arms around my legs and looks up at me. “Thank you.”

I smile and run a hand over her soft blonde hair. It may seem like she’s been asking me for a lot lately, and I’ve been giving in, but all she’s asked for has been to spend time with these people who have completely embraced her. I can’t take that away from her.

“Why don’t you order me one too,” he says. I feel Caleb’s breath against my ear as he leans down and whispers, “I’ll see you up there.”

He squeezes my hip again before walking towards the dressing room. Goose bumps scatter across my arm and neck, and my cheeks are flushed. The moment he steps away, I immediately miss his warmth and wrap my arms around myself, attempting to fight the cold.

Hannah grins at me from behind the other girls, and I stick my tongue out at her. It’s childish, but I don’t know what else to do. Maybe she’s right and my feelings and thoughts aren’t one-sided.

CHAPTER 8

Caleb

Iwalk into the dressing room and make my way to my bag. Taking a seat, I put my helmet on the bench and drop my head into my hands, running my hands through my hair.

I’m failing. I told myself I would create distance between myself and Bailey and Charlie. I’ve gone twenty-nine years without meeting this woman, and now I’ve seen her several times over the last few weeks. And every time I do, I’m completely enraptured by her.

She’s trying to hide her pain from everyone else around her, but I see it, and all I want to do is take that pain away.

“You’re fucked,” Grayson says.

I turn and glower at him. I know this, I really don’t need the fucker pointing it out; and what does he do? He fucking laughs at me while he slaps his knee. He’s enjoying this way too much. So, I decide to get a reaction of my own from him. It’s not my usual tactic, but I’m all turned around right now. This isn’t me. I don’t get hung up on a woman.

“So, you’ve been seeing a lot of Hannah with her being at all these games.”

That sobers him up really quick, and I smirk. I see the wheels turning in his head ashe decides how to get me back. I can tell the exact moment he figures it out.

“Who thinks Caleb will marry Bailey,” he calls to the entire dressing room.

His question has the loud voices quieting and everyone looking our way. More than half the hands in the dressing room go up. What the hell? What in the world would make them all jump to that crazy conclusion? How do all of them know who Bailey fucking is?

“I’m not even dating the woman. How did you manage to jump to us getting married?”

“Man, you’ve smiled more in the last few weeks than I’ve seen you smile all year. There is something there. Plus, I saw the hip grab and I heard all about your defending her at the bar last weekend. Just call it as I see it.”

“Grayson knows your private ass the best. If he says you’ll marry her, I believe it,” Luke calls from the other side of the room, and a few guys nod.

“Have you ever had a girlfriend?” Matt asks.

“Yeah,” I say. My last relationship ended within five months of returning from active duty. The nightmares and occasional mood swings or zoning out were just too much for her. She just packed her stuff one day and left. After Gina, I decided no more relationships.

“When?” Matt’s being annoyingly persistent.

“It’s been a while.” Five years.

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