Page 55 of Summer Kisses

"I never thought it would happen. That either of us would ever make a move."

Dalton's gaze slipped over my shoulder, and I turned to find Hazel standing in the entry way, looking a little surprised. After last night, she should have known how I felt about her. HowI'd always felt. I wonder how much she'd heard. "You want breakfast? I can whip up some more eggs."

Hazel sat next to Dalton. "That sounds great. How are things with you?"

Dalton blew out a breath. "It's a little rough right now, but Brady straightened me out."

Hazel frowned. "Oh? How so?"

I poured her coffee and set the mug in front of her. "I told him to focus on himself and the baby. Do what's best for him. This back-and-forth can't be good."

"I have to agree. You want your baby to have stability and predictability."

"Oakley's making things more difficult than they need to be. I just want to prepare for the baby and for her to relax, not stress about things."

I got out the eggs and broke them in the pan.

"I would imagine it's only going to get worse when the baby gets here. If you don't want a relationship with Oakley other than a co-parenting one, you probably need to set those boundaries now."

"That's why I told him to get his own place."

"I want to work as much as possible the next few months to save for the baby and all the things he or she will need," Dalton said.

Hazel touched his arm. "You're going to be a great dad."

His brow furrowed. "I don't want this kid to suffer because the parents aren't meant to be together."

"Your child is so lucky to have you."

"I just hope Oakley won't keep me from him or her," Dalton said, despair seeping into his voice.

I set my empty mug in the sink. "You should talk to an attorney so you know what to expect and you're ready with aplan when the baby is born. Are you going to get a paternity test?"

"I'm positive the baby's mine."

"The attorney might recommend a test just as a precaution. You can say the court requires it or something if Oakley has a problem with it," Hazel said.

"I'll call an attorney tomorrow and talk to Ivy today about looking for a place. I feel better now that I have a plan. Worrying about whether Oakley'll let me live with her is ridiculous. I want to come home at the end of the night and know I can sleep in my bed."

"That seems like a basic necessity," Hazel agreed. "I think you're on the right track, and like Brady said, we're here for you."

"They say it takes a village to raise a kid, and I'm finding out that it's true," Dalton said.

"We want to help." It was nice to have Hazel here to help with conversations like this. I wasn't sure what the right answer was, and I didn't want to tell him the wrong thing.

"Everyone needs boundaries," Hazel murmured.

"I don't want any boundaries between us," I teased with a grin.

Hazel laughed and shook her head. "You will once the honeymoon is over."

"It's just getting started." And I wasn't ready to let her go.

Dalton stood abruptly. "Yeah, that's my cue to leave."

"Where are you off to?" I asked him.

"I'm going to see if Ivy can give me a few tours today."

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