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By the time her daughter finished her bottle, Zoe was drifting off to some clearly much-needed sleep.

“Hope you sleep through the night,” I said to Lainey. “Because your mama clearly needs it.”

Reaching for my phone, I shot off a text to Che, knowing he and his woman had a spare playard or two stashed somewhere.

He shot me back several question marks. Then simplyOn my way.

I met him in the doorway, pressing a finger to my lips as I gestured back toward the sleeping Zoe.

Che moved inside, opening up the playard with the expertise of a seasoned dad.

“Need anything else for… her?” he asked while peeping her pink outfit.

“Seems like her diaper bag is stocked. Should be fine.”

Che nodded, glancing back over at Zoe again.

“Get her a blanket.”

“Will do,” I agreed as I hugged Lainey to my chest as I lowered her downward so she didn’t have what I used to call ‘touchdown’ with other babies—the second they felt themselves being put down, they jolted awake and were impossible to get back down again.

Lainey just smacked her lips and continued on sleeping.

I crept into the hallway, grabbing a blanket for Zoe, then carefully draping it over her after removing the plate from her lap.

She’d eaten everything but the crusts.

“Best part,” I murmured as I bit off some of one.

With the baby and mom both asleep, I kicked off my shoes and climbed onto the bed, watching the cheesy-ass acting from the ballet movie Zoe had put on. It seriously brought into question her taste in movies. Though I did end up watching the whole damn thing, so what did I know.

There was something… familiar about this night.

A baby asleep a few feet away.

Me, not sleeping, listening for any whimpers or cries.

Only this time, I wasn’t racked with feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

If anything, I was weirdly relaxed.

The fuck was that about?

CHAPTER SEVEN

Zoe

Sleep clung to me.

That kind of deep, demanding sleep that kept pulling you back under each time something threatened to jolt you awake.

It was the kind of sleep I hadn’t gotten since Lainey.

Lainey!

I shot awake, bleary eyes disoriented as I looked around the unfamiliar room.

Sun streamed in through the windows, making my heart trip into overdrive as my head whipped over to find a… playard.

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