Page 33 of The Way We Collide

“She’s very healthy.” Raven sits on the step beside me, lifting a cup of water to wet her hair.

I take the baby shampoo and pour apea-sizedamount into my hand before rubbing them together to make a lather. “She’s adorable.”

A small smile lifts the side of Raven’s lips, and she watches me massaging my hands over our daughter’s head. When I finish, she uses the cup to rinse the soap out of Haddy’s hair, and I hold my hand over her eyes to shield them.

I might suck at poopy diapers, but I’ve got this bathing routine on lock.

We drain the water, and I make sure she’s thoroughly rinsed before lifting her out of the tub. At the last minute, I remember to pull off my T-shirt and place her against my chest.

The hood of her towel is over her little head, and the length is wrapped around her bottom. But her bare stomach and chest are against mine, and I slide my hand up and down her towel-covered back.

Raven sits back on her feet frowning up at me curiously. “What are you doing?”

“I saw a TikTok that said skin-to-skin contact is important for dads to bond with the baby.”

As if following instructions, Haddy rests her head in the center of my chest right under my throat and puts her hand on my shoulder. I lift my eyebrows at Raven as if to say,See?

“You’re watching dad TikToks now?”

“Garrett acts like he’s Dad of the Year, but I can do this.” I’m even getting better at keeping my voice level. “I’m Dad of the Decade.”

“It’s not a competition, Hendrix.”

“You don’t know my brother. It’s always a competition.”

Her head tilts to the side, and a little smile curls her lips. “Is it because you were the baby boy?”

That makes me huff a laugh. “I was never the baby anything. Dylan was born eighteen months after me.Shewas the baby.”

“But you were a baby, too.”

“I might’ve been the youngest son, but Garrett was the baby boy.”

Her nose wrinkles, and I know it’s hard to understand. Three years passed before I was born with Dylan right on my heels, but Garrett never relinquished his title, regardless of the new additions.

“She probably likes the way you smell.”

“Are you saying I smell good?” My brow arches, and her ears turn pink again… third time this evening.

“I mean, yeah.” She’s so flustered, I’m not letting this go.

“How do I smell?”

“I don’t know. Like vanilla and sandalwood.” Raven stands quickly, reaching for our daughter. “Let me get a diaper on her before she pees on you, then you can resume your bonding.”

Reluctantly, I allow her mom to take her. Haddy makes a little fussy noise, and I nod like I’ve already started winning.

“TikTok for the win!”

“Okay, champ.” Raven shakes her pretty dark head, and Ifollow her to Haddy’s room, letting my eyes run over her sexy ass. She says no touching, but I can still admire the scenery.

And I’ll readily admit I’m checking her out. She was totally lying earlier.

“Hey, don’t mention the snorkel thing to the girls.” I can just imagine Garrett having a field day with that one.

“Think it’ll cost you some ‘dad of the decade’ points?”

“It’ll put me in the hole for sure.”

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