Page 63 of Roommate's Guide to Love

He smiles. “I already do.”

“Then that’s all you need to know. The rest you can figure out along the way.”

Porter nods as I let my hand fall off his back. But before I can step away, he reaches for me, taking that hand in his.

I’ve obviously held Porter’s hand before. I’ve held many pieces of his body. But somehow, in the middle of a baby section at a place where you can get an oil change, ground beef, and baby formula, somehow this feels like one of the most intimate moments we’ve shared.

And I’m pretty sure this man is about to kiss me.

“Porter…”

We start to move in closer, and Grace nearly jumps out of my arms.

“No!”

I don’t think I’ve heard her say a full word, so having it be this one is interesting.

Oh my God…is Grace the literal voice of reason on my shoulder?

Porter steps back as Grace turns and reaches for him, which puts the softest look on his face that I’ve ever seen. “We should probably keep going.”

“Yeah,” I say, trying to not feel disappointed that we didn’t kiss. I mean. We shouldn’t. Fuck buddies don’t kiss. Especially in public.

But I’m going to admit, over the last twenty-four hours, this hasn’t felt very fuck-buddy at all. It’s felt very domestic. Very relationship-y.

Which can’t happen. For one, neither of us want that. Two, I’m probably only here a few more months. And three, see number one. I won’t go back on my word to help with Grace. Porter needs support, and since I know a few things about babies and he knows none, I’m not going to back away from that promise.

But I am going to guard my ovaries and heart with an iron-plated shield that medieval knights would beg for. No fucking way I’m going to let a hot man holding a baby get to me. Nope. Not going to happen.

“No fucking way!” Porter laughs in the clothing section as he stops next to a display of headbands. “This bow is as big as her head!”

I laugh at his joy over a simple head band. And by the way Grace is clapping her hands, she’s also a fan. “Put it on her. See if she likes it.”

I stand back and watch as he slips it over her ears, and while she does try and grab it, he’s able to get it in place. And yup…the bright pink bow is roughly the size of her head. And cute as hell. Also, clearly this is a diva in training, because Grace is nothing but smiles as Porter lights up at her new look.

Stella is going to be obsessed with her.

“Do you like that?”

Oh shit…Porter McCoy using a baby voice. I didn’t see that coming.

Grace giggles as Porter nuzzles her nose. It’s the most precious thing I’ve ever seen.

Yup. Going to need that shield. Do they sell those here?

“Well, we’re buying that,” he says, grabbing five more in different colors. “Now, where are the highchairs? I need one of those, right? Wait—I should get two. One for my house and one for the bar. She’s going to need her own place to sit.”

Ah, fuck me. There go the ovaries.

18

porter

“Come on,Grace…I really need you to stop crying, baby girl. If you do, I’ll buy you a pony. Or a car. Literally whatever you want. Just please…stop crying for Uncle Porter.”

In the thirty-six hours I’ve had Grace, I’ve learned so much about her. I’ve learned that she might be cute but her shits are vile. I’ve learned that her little laugh might be the best sound in the world. On the complete other side of the sound spectrum are her cries.

Also, who knew that babies have different cries? There are the little ones. Then the ones that come and go in a matter of seconds that confuse me more than anything. And then there’s this cry, a pure wailing that hasn’t stopped for hours, and I’m about to cry along with her because I can’t figure out what’s wrong.

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