Page 26 of The Way We Collide

“Will she cry?”

Garrett glances at the large clock behind the bar. “I bet you’ve got about ten minutes before she starts crying.”

“Ten minutes?” I cut him a look like he knows anything.

“He’s right, actually.” Raven passes our daughter to me, helping me situate her against my chest in a way that puts her little face closer to mine. “For some reason five o’clock is the witching hour. She always gets fussy around that time.”

“Haddy?” Raven’s voice is gentle. “This is your daddy.”

Haddy wobbles on my arm, and I bend my knees, trying to balance her.

“Here.” Garrett lifts my hand, putting it on her back. “You have to hold her.”

“I know that.”I didn’t.

I don’t know shit about babies.

She seems more secure, though. Sitting on my arm, she looks at me several moments before patting her chubby hand against my cheek. It’s damp and a little sticky, but I know better than to saygross.

Her other finger is still in her mouth, but she emits a squeal-like noise like she’s trying to tell me something. It’s kind of cute.

I glance at Raven, unsure, and she gives me an encouraging smile. “She likes you.”

“Just look at you two.” Liv walks over, putting a hand on Haddy’s back. “Where’s my phone? Dylan, take a picture of them.”

“Oh my goodness!” Dylan coos, pulling her phone out and taking several pictures.

I study the little girl on my arm, wondering what she’s thinking. I wonder if she’s as startled by all of this as I am. She has no idea the gang of family surrounding her, and how they’re all ready to steal her away and spoil her rotten.

But I do.

“We’ve switched to feeding Gina at five,” Liv continues. “I figure we can all eat together when she’s older.”

“That’s so smart!” Raven’s brown eyes are wide. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”

“It sounds like you’ve had a lot to think about all by yourself.” Liv’s smile is sympathetic.

“It wasn’t so bad. My little sister Amelia helped me, and my dad was there—disapproving and asking a ton of questions.”

“Call me anytime.” Liv takes her hand, and they drift over to where Dylan is talking to Rachel. “You have my number.”

“Looks like you’re getting the hang of it.” Jack gives my shoulder a pat.

“You could’ve warned me.” I cut my eyes up at him. “I could’ve had a whole twelve hours to prepare for this.”

“Raven wanted to tell you herself.”

“Dylan told me.”

Jack’s face scrunches with a grimace. “Dylan’s always been a wildcard. You know your sister.”

“She almost killed me the first time we met.” Logan walks up, and I turn, reaching out to shake his hand.

“One of you could’ve warned me.”

“Are you kidding? And miss that look on your face?” Garrett’s voice is loud and laughing, and his daughter sits in the crook of his arm. She’s pretty much doing the same thing as mine, patting his shoulder and blowing raspberries through her lips. “Let me know if you need me to draw you a diagram. Those poopy diapers are tricky til you get the hang of it.”

The last thing I intend to do is let my oversized brother think he’s got one on me. “I can handle a poopy diaper.”

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