Page 19 of Unexpectedly Falling
“Baby, huh? Did I not just make you dinner?”
“Your skills are improving—I’ll give you that,” Bodhi agrees, trying to look serious and failing. “Better than that casserole you tried.”
“Don’t remind me,” Mason huffs before placing a sleeping Remi in the Pack ’n Play.
“How did you do that?” I ask totally in awe.
“You just have to stay calm. You’re learning but she’s learning too, and you need to give both of you some grace. But see? You’re already killing this dad thing.”
“I don’t think that last part is true,” I say wryly as I rest my hip against the counter.
“He means you’ll find your rhythm, and even if you don’tknowwhat to do, you’ll be confident enough to figure it out.”
I stare at the both of them, each far younger than I am, and at least in this case, far more worldly. I’ve been in situations far more dire than this, but somehow being in charge of such a tiny little life—my daughter—has taken me out at the knees.
“So,” Mason starts with a twinkle in his eye that already makes me wary, “are you gonna shower or do you wanna talk about the super-hot blonde who spent the night?”
I snort and shake my head. “I’m showering.”
“He’s so easy,” Mason says to Bodhi, the two of them snickering at my expense, but I don’t care because they saved me today and I have no doubt they’ll do it again.
NESSA
NESSA: I have a confession
The messagebarely shows it’s been delivered before my phone starts ringing. Kinsley is breathless when I pick up, completely skipping the pleasantries. “What? What happened? Where are you?”
I worry my teeth against my bottom lip as I tap the steering wheel with my thumb. “I didn’t take the apartment.”
“Okaaaay.” She draws out the word, clearly waiting for more.
“Jensen asked me to stay at his house to help with the baby. I told him I needed time to think about it but apparently not that much because I just told Coach Turner that I’d found alternate accommodations.”
“Want me to pretend I didn’t see this coming?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my gosh! This is wild! I can’t even believe it!” Her delivery is overdramatic but it’s perfect because I can feel my shoulders relax as I slump back in my seat and laugh.
“That’s exactly the kind of enthusiasm I was looking for.”
“You know I only do that for you, right?”
“I know and your efforts are appreciated.”
She snorts. “Uh-huh. So, roommates with the sexy sheriff?”
“Yes.”
“You’re totally gonna sleep with him.”
“I am not. There will be rules.”There have to be rules.I don’t say that part out loud because it’s far too revealing—even to tell Kinsley.
And she’ll never let it go.
“Rules are meant to be broken.”
“Not when the stakes are this high. I want to be in Remi’s life and I don’t want to cross any lines we can’t come back from.” I huff, annoyed.
