Page 70 of The Best Bad Decision

It’s practically dark by the time we arrive into Phoenix. With more luggage than last time, it takes longer to make our way through immigration and baggage claim, but eventually, we make our way from the terminal to a bus to the employee parking to Cam’s SUV, and then his studio apartment. By the time he swings his car into his reserved space it’s almost eight in the evening and Maisy is fast asleep, Roger clutched tightly to her chest.

“I’ll come back for the bags,” he says, lifting Maisy from her seat and tucking her snugly against his chest. He starts towards the door, then turns back. “I mean it, Amie, leave the bags for me.”

I choose to ignore him, sliding my duffel bag onto my shoulder, his backpack on top of one of the cases, and taking a suitcase in each hand. I make it to the elevator just before the doors close.

“You’re a pain in my ass, woman.” He smiles and shakes his head.

“It’s a great ass.” I shrug, smiling sweetly. Once the three of us are in his apartment and Maisy has been deposited in the middle of the bed, Cam jogs back towards the elevator to retrieve the rest of our luggage and lock the car.

My phone buzzes again and I frown. It’s well after midnight in London, although that means absolutely nothing to my friends, who are routinely awake around the clock. What doesn’t quite sit right is the persistence of the incoming notifications. I pull it from my pocket and sink to the edge of the bed, one hand stroking Maisy’s hair as I read the screen.

Lolo

sos

sos

sos

sos help

ROO

What the fuck is going on, it’s 4am

Lolo

met a cute girl think she might kiss me!!!!!!!

Katy

fuck all the way off Lo that’s not an SOS

Lolo

IT WILL BE WHEN I’M DEAD she’s really really cute

Amie

for fucks sake Lo

Halfway through hurriedly typing my next message, I change my mind and opt for a voice note instead. I swipe my thumb on the screen and hold the phone up to my face.

“Lo, that’s not an SOS, quit with the jump scares. And for the love of God, go to bed. I’m muting you now, there’s a delicious man walking into the room and he looks like he might be about to devour me. Have an excellent night, everyone.”

I send the voice note and turn to Cam, who has returned with the last of our luggage and is unpacking some of Maisy’s essentials. I don’t know how I ever managed without him.

In the few months since he’s been in our lives, he’s fit perfectly into every routine. He knows all of Maisy’s favourites, he preempts all of her needs. It took me months—years, even—to figure that out. But he just knows, and my heart grows to three times its size when I think about what an incredible daddy he is.

He catches me watching him and winks, and that’s my undoing. I feel it low in my belly and between my legs. And then he’s crossing theroom, lifting me into his arms and carrying me to the sofa, setting me down and settling between my legs.

Two nights later, after a day of last-minute Christmas shopping, I fall into bed shortly after midnight, finally satisfied that everything is wrapped and ready to go for the start of the holiday festivities in the morning. Christmas Eve is a big day in the Whitehouse family, and the nerves are just beginning to set in, sitting heavy in my stomach. I scroll mindlessly through my social media apps to distract myself before opening my best friends’ group chat.

Amie

Girls

Can you remember what names I was thinking about before choosing Maisy?

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