Page 63 of Saving You

“Sounds good to me,” I say as we head downstairs.

He settles on the couch with Charlie in his lap and Finn at his feet. Pulling his phone out, he opens a delivery app and hands it to me. I order some nuggets and fries for Charlie and a burger for myself. Caleb finishes the order before we get comfortable and watch a Christmas movie.

Caleb pulls me into his side, and I snuggle in. Right here is where I feel safest. I could spend the rest of my life in this man’s arms with my daughter.

Our food is delivered, and Caleb gets everything settled for us on the coffee table so we can continue the movie. Charlie falls asleep before the movie finishes, and Caleb carries her upstairs, settling her in her bed as Finn joins her. I wait for Caleb in the hallway, and we make our way to his bedroom.

“You okay to talk?” he asks.

“Yeah.”

“This is my view of everything. You don’t have to do this. This is all your decision. I want you to know I’m not going to pressure you into anything. Derek has court-ordered visitation. I say the three of us meet him somewhere in public. We let him see her, but we start the process of getting a restraining order and revoking his visitation. We don’t want to give the court any reason to side with him, so that means going with the order.”

I soak in his words, knowing he’s right.

“Okay, let’s do that.”

“Okay. We should file a police report about tonight so that you have it in writing. I’m your witness.”

I nod and strip out of my clothes and climb into his bed naked. He does the same and pulls me to him. He places soft kisses on my temple and cheek before whispering good night.

CHAPTER 23

Caleb

We go through our regular morning routine. The difference this morning is Bailey meets me at the station after she drops off Charlie. I sit with her as we get the police report filed about last night’s incident with Derek.

When we finish, I walk her out to her car, giving her a quick kiss before she drives to work. Back inside the station, I gather my stuff to begin my patrol shift. While I’m out on patrol, I stop by the courthouse and pick up some information packets for Bailey about getting a hearing to have the decision of Derek’s visitation rights overturned. On my way home after shift, I stop at the store, grabbing some more Christmas decorations so we can spend the entire evening decorating the house. I don’t own a lot of decorations because I never felt the need to decorate with it always being just me. Mom always decorates her place, so I help her.

While I’m at the store, I text the family group chat to let them know I’m bringing the girls.

Caleb: I’m bringing two people with me to Christmas dinner.

Max: Two?

Caleb: Yeah.

Max: Who?

Mom: Any dietary restrictions?

Caleb: No allergies that I know of. They aren’t super picky.

Mom: Okay. Can’t wait to meet them.

Max: Again, who? You just bringing some friends with you?

Caleb: Nope.

Max: Now I’ve got to know. You have two girlfriends and you’re bringing them both to dinner? ??

Caleb: WTF? No. It’s my girlfriend and her daughter. You really think I’d do that?

Max: Just giving you shit.

Mom: You’re seeing someone? And she has a daughter? Why don’t you bring them for dinner this weekend? I’d love to meet them.

Caleb: I’ll ask.

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