Page 133 of I Knead You Tonight

Sully moved out a month after Drew and I made things official. We tried talking him out of it, but he waved us off and packed his things.

As nice as it is having my room back and Riker in his own space, I kind of miss the hippie.

“You don’t know what you have until it’s gone,” he sulks, picking at the breadbasket in the middle of the table.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Drew’s instructor says into the microphone. “Our evening will begin shortly. If you could please take this time to use the restroom and turn off your cell phones, we’d appreciate your full attention for tonight’s event.”

There’s a rustle around the room, chairs scraping back and people rushing off to the bathrooms.

I grab Riker out of his high chair. “I’ll be right back. Gotta get this kiddo a fresh diaper real quick.”

“I can take him,” Wren offers.

“You sure?”

She points to a growing belly. “I could use the practice.”

She scoops Riker away from me and grabs his diaper bag before disappearing.

I take my seat.

“Man, it’s still so weird to see you acting all dad-like,” Foster comments.

“It’s weird knowing you’re goingto be a dad.”

He gives me a dopey grin. “Isn’t it?”

“It’s weirdI’mgoing to be a grandpa,” my dad comments.

“Not really,” I say. “You’re already as old as one. It just kind of makes sense.”

Beth nearly spits out her water at the comment and my dad glares at her as she laughs.

“What?” She smiles. “He’s not wrong.”

“You are so close to walking home tonight.” He shakes his head at her, and she just lifts her shoulder, unafraid.

“Don’t worry, Beth.” Sully winks. “I’ll give ya a ride home.”

“Hey, watch it,” my dad says, eying my old roommate warily. “I might be old, but I can still fight like a spring chicken.”

“Yeah, watch out, Sully—Dad might break out his cane and whip your ass with it.” Wren slides back into her chair with Riker. “I’m pretty sure Riker could take you, Dad.”

“Only because I’d let him,” he says. “Here, let me hold him. I haven’t seen him all day.”

“No way! It’s my turn.”

“Actually, it’smyturn.” I steal Riker back.

My dad laughs. “Just wait, Wren. Pretty soon you’re going to be begging people to hold your baby for you.”

It’s true. She has no idea the long nights she’s in for. I didn’t come into Riker’s life until he was three months old so I missed a lot of the really long ones, but these last few months of teething and growing have been hell with everything else Drew and I are pushing through.

Wren and Foster are in for some fun.

There’s a tapping on the microphone, and we all turn our attention to the stage.

“Thank you so much for being here with us tonight. Let’s all give a round of applause for our culinary students.”

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