Page 129 of Mr. Infuriating

Just as I put my foot on the brake and put my hand on the gear shift, I noticed Brittany on the front porch waving like amaniac with a big grin on her face. Her stupid, handsome dad stood behind her with a kind smile.

I waved back at Brittany and turned the car off.

This is such a bad idea.

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Gabe

Britt bounded down the porch steps and opened the back door of the Honda to unbuckle Jake from his car seat while the little boy let out an excited squeal, “Bit-nee!” as he reached for her with both hands.

Gretchen smiled at the scene while she took a small racecar suitcase, a diaper bag, a satchel, and a weekender bag from her trunk.

I followed my daughter down the stairs and told Gretchen, “Let me take those,” when she shifted the suitcases to try and adjust the diaper bag on her shoulder.

I looked at her bags in my hand and realized,She’s really going to be staying under my roof.

And I didn’t hate the idea. Not in the slightest. In fact, my dick loved it, and sprang to life to let me know how much.

To my surprise, she released the bags without argument and politely told me, “Thanks,” before checking on Jake and Brittany.

“Do you need me to carry him?” she asked Britt.

“No, I’ve got him!” My eleven-year-old beamed as she held Jake on her hip. I knew she liked how grownup she felt being tasked with caring for the little boy.

Which was why I’d easily agreed when she asked if she could stay at my house that night. The idea of another person being there to make it less awkward between Gretchen and me had also held some appeal.

“Maybe Ms. Kelly can even give me a ride to school tomorrow, since we’re going to the same place?”

“Well, I think she has to take Jake to daycare in the morning, so that won’t work. But first, you need to make sure your mom is okay with you staying with me.Ifshe says yes, I’ll take you to school in the morning.”

“Or you could take Jake to daycare and Ms. Kelly can take me to school. That’s more practical.”

“I don’t think Ms. Kelly would be on board with that.”

And neither would I.

Ever since Bodhi’s accident, I rarely let my kids ride with anyone other than me or their mom. And I tried not to transport someone else’s child.

Poor Sienna was still in therapy and would only work jobs that she could do from home. She had her groceries delivered, and I don’t think she’d been on a date in seven years.

I felt real guilt about that.

If Becky wanted to blame me for something about the accident, that’s what it should be about. Her sister was now a recluse, all because I’d asked her to pick up Bodhi.

I’d learned my lesson and wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

As Gretchen followed Brittany up the porch steps, I heard my daughter announce, “I’m staying here tonight, so Jake can sleep in myroom if you want.”

“I thought you said I could sleep in your room,” Gretchen teased with a smile.

“That was only if you thought the guest bed was uncomfortable. But since you’ll probably sleep in Dad’s room anyway, it doesn’t matter. His bed is super comfy.”

Gretchen’s hand went to her chest as she started coughing like she had something in her throat. I felt my eyebrows shoot up, and I heard myself loudly ask the little matchmaker, “What did you say?”

My daughter paused with her hand on the screen door handle and looked back at me.

“What? You even say your bed is comfortable!”

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