Page 26 of Taming You

CHAPTER 11

Zoey

Ichastise myself for missing Matt after we go our separate ways. With Maggie and Henry working during the day, I have the house to myself, and I’m not a huge fan of the quiet. It makes me want to crawl out of my skin. I watch TV and read books, but sitting at home by myself has it really hitting that I have no idea what I’m doing with my life. I’m not attending classes, and I’m not working. I don’t know what I want to do now. Do I go find a job serving just to keep myself busy and to find a source of income?

I’m so glad I told Liv I’d go to the guys’ game tonight. Getting out of the house and spending time with my friends will hopefully help pull me from this funk. When I get to the rink and see Hannah holding Jayden and Matt nowhere in sight, something in me twists. I don’t know why. I should be happy Matt’s not relying on me once again to watch Jayden, but I also enjoy the feeling of being needed. I smile as I join the girls, and my heart skips when Jayden spots me and is immediately reaching for me.

I enthusiastically take him from Hannah, and the four girls grin at me.

“Someone is growing attached,” Hannah says.

I respond to Hannah but speak to Jayden. “Oh, who wouldn’t grow attached this adorable little guy? Aren’t you the most adorable little dude?

Jayden giggles, and my smile grows.

“Does that mean you’re growing attached in… other ways?” Eliza asks.

I stop bouncing Jayden for a second before resuming. I won’t admit it to them, but I am, and it sucks. No matter how much I tell myself I’m a relationship girl and Matt likes the fun flings, when I see him with Jayden, or he brings me my favourite type of coffee when we meet early when he coaches, or I see how good he is with his team, I can’t help but want to be around him more.

“No,” I say, avoiding eye contact. “I just can’t help falling for this adorable little guy.”

Liz doesn’t say anything, but Hannah hums in a way that says she doesn’t believe me.

Wanting to change the subject, I turn to Bailey and ask, “So, where’s Charlie tonight?”

“She’s with Grandma. Caleb’s mom asked to take her for the weekend.” She’s grinning from ear to ear. I know how alone she felt before she met Caleb and she all of a sudden got the four of us girls and his family. Bailey fit in immediately with us. She was hesitant at first, but Liv wore her down and we all fell in love with her and Charlie.

“So, in other words, you and Caleb won’t be leaving your bed all weekend,” Liv says with a laugh, and Bailey’s cheeks pinken.

“Caleb and I will be enjoying time together,” she says, and we all know what she means.

“Well, you can’t get any more pregnant,” Hannah says.

I laugh. “What do you think got her into this position? Caleb’s mom was probably offering to babysit all the time, hoping she’d get another grandkid.”

Bailey’s jaw drops, and I see the wheels turning in her head. The rest of us can’t help laughing.

“Oh God, she really did, didn’t she?” I ask. I was only half joking, but this is hilarious.

“I think she might have,” Bailey whispers.

When the guys come out of the dressing room, Bailey calls Caleb over. “Do you know why your mom was always offering to babysit?” she asks.

“We think she was doing it to help facilitate another grandkid,” Hannah adds.

Caleb grips the back of his neck. “She may not have offered all those times, I may have asked,” he admits.

Hannah bends over, laughing. “Man, you really wanted to get Bailey pregnant,” she says through her laughter.

“We had already agreed to try. I was just putting in some extra work,” he says, beaming with pride. “And look at us, it didn’t take us long after agreeing to try. I’d say that just means I’m an overachiever.”

“That you are,” Liz says.

He flashes us a grin before joining the guys on the ice.

“So, you had decided to try?” Hannah says as she turns to face Bailey.

Bailey nods. “The night we got engaged, Caleb said he wanted more kids with me. He wanted Charlie to be able to be a big sister and he was ready to grow our family. We threw out my birth control that night.”

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