Page 144 of Push

That would be easy. We were good at sexy and stormy. But the second chance wouldn’t be easy. We couldn’t complicate things before we even started. I shook my head and pulled back. He groaned, but this time with disappointment.

“Sorry, Sir Knight.” I grinned. “You’ll have to earn your sexy kiss. Perhaps at the end of our first date?”

Toby laughed. “Love it. Deal!” He kissed my cheek. “No backsies!”

He snuggled around me, his leg twisting around mine, and his hand patting Noah’s back.

His nose nuzzled my neck, and he whispered, “Thank you, Gwen.”

And just like that, for better or worse, I was all in.

45

He Found True Friends

Toby

The Rawles house wasalive with squeals and laughter.

Smiling, I rapped my knuckles on the front door and glanced around the yard. Zach’s place had good energy—chill, but a bit nuts at the same time. He could pay more attention to his grass, though. What did his dad think about the patches of clover growing along the front fence and by the driveway? I bet he nearly busted an artery when he looked at ’em. I was.

Noah clung to me like a koala, blinking his big eyes at all the new sights. Footsteps pattered closer. When the front door swung open, an unexpected face greeted me.

“Toby!” Maree stepped back to give me the once-over. “Don’t you look handsome in your suit this morning!” Her smile faded into an intense look of concentration. She stepped closer, her thin brows knitted together behind her glasses, and she straightened my tie and adjusted my collar. “That’s better!”

“Uh, yeah…” I swallowed nervously. My mother had never fussed over me like that. “Thanks, Mrs. Rawles.”

I might not have been used to being fussed over, but Noah was. All grizzles, he stretched his legs, bucking against me and straining his chubby hands for Maree.

She laughed. “Did you think I forgot about you?” She leaned over to smack kisses on his fists until he gurgled a belly laugh. “You look handsome, too!”

Noah happily went into Maree’s waiting arms, and she snuggled him close, swaying him from side to side like only grandmas knew how to do just right. A pinch twisted under my ribs. Well, some grandmas. I had no regrets about cutting contact with my mother, but she’d never cared about Noah. Never kissed him. She’d been just as cold when I was growing up. Nothing had changed.

Maree bounced Noah on her hip. “We’re going to have fun this morning,” she cooed. “Aren’t we?”

“Thanks for looking after him, Mrs. Rawles,” I said, dropping his baby bag by the door. “I appreciate it.” I raked a hand through my hair. “I have no idea how long this whole court thing will take. I don’t want Noah getting upset… Or Gwen…”

I snuck a look over my shoulder to the car. Gwen chatted to Marnie on her phone. She wasn’t bothered about charging into court. She was a pro. She didn’t even seem worried about being stuck in the same room with Kayleigh. I rubbed my palm over my chest. I was the one with the nerves fizzling like I was about to run on the rugby field for a grand final with everything to lose.

“We’re happy to have Noah over any time,” Maree said. “The more, the merrier!” She flashed me a sly smile. “And I have an ulterior motive.”

Juicy. I leaned closer for the gossip. “Don’t leave me hanging, Mrs. Rawles.”

“Zach and Eden say they’re happy with two kiddies, but I was thinking… If I can show them how well I handle Josie with the two babies…” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Maybe…”

“Not happening.” Zach’s voice drifted down the hallway. He lumbered into view, shrugging on a black jacket, Josie clinging for dear life to the leg of his pants. “Two terrors are enough, thanks!”

Maree’s face fell. “But—”

“No buts. Eden will ship me off on a one-way ticket to the moon if I even suggest another baby right now.” Zach tried to pry Josie off his leg, but her tiny arms only clung tighter. He turned to me with a smile. “But wearehappy to have NoBo over any time.”

“Slick suit,” I said to Zach. He looked like a different guy from the one who rocked up at Stroller Squad and hung around his folks’ place. “Aren’t Mondays your day off? How come you’re all gelled up?”

“I’m going to tag along,” Zach replied. “Can’t hurt, right? Moral support. Glaring at the opposition. A shoulder to cry on. I’m good for all those.” He grimaced. “Just, uh… Don’t ask me to get up in front of the magistrate. I’m not like Gwen. I’m more of a behind-the-scenes kind of lawyer.”

“Glaring at the opposition sounds like something I need.” I grinned. “Thanks, man. You bringing the fancy lady to court, too?” I pointed to the tiny minion still gripped around Zach’s leg.

He groaned. “Uh…”

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