Page 40 of Spring Break With a Baby Daddy
And now we’re enjoying a quiet lunch, just the two of us, like nothing life altering just happened, before we head back to the apartment where Luna and Cade are waiting.
“Is your steak not cooked the way you want?” Easton asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Oh, no, it’s good.” I smile to ease his mind. “I’m just a little distracted.”
“With what? Want to talk about it?”
Do I want to talk about our wedding night? No. Yes. “This is weird.”
“No more weird than the rest of our relationship.” He grins at me and I find I can’t stop myself from reciprocating.
“I don’t think that’s a good thing.”
“It’s not good or bad, it’s just us.” One broad shoulder lifts in an unconcerned shrug and I wish I could brush this off as easilyas he seems to have. “I’m beginning to think that’s how things are going to be with us.”
“You don’t mind?” I know he said he wants this to be real, but I can’t believe he’s okay with the situation we’ve found ourselves in. “You’ve basically been forced into parenthood and marriage.”
“Nobody forced me to do anything.” His gaze bores into mine. “I want to be married to you. I want to be a father to Cade.”
I search his eyes, look for any doubt he might be feeling; all I see is naked truth. “You really mean that.”
“Why wouldn’t I? I’m not in the habit of lying about things and I’ll never lie to you.”
The conviction in his voice has my stomach relaxing. From the second we said I do, my insides have been tied in knots. No, the knots started this morning, when Easton informed me we were getting married and we left Cade with Luna at the apartment.
I trust her. Completely. But it was still hard to leave Cade behind. And the only reason I did was because I knew it would be better than dragging him to the courthouse for a wedding.
It’s bad enough we have to take him with us to the lawyer’s office this afternoon. Everything in me wants to keep him hidden away, so no one can say he doesn’t belong with us.
“Talk to me, Vivian.”
“I don’t like being away from Cade.” It’s a truth I wouldn’t normally reveal. Except I find myself revealing all sorts of things to Easton. “Can we skip dessert?”
“We can get it to go. Are you finished or do you want to box it up for later?” He signals our waiter for the check.
“I’m finished.” I push my plate to the side. “But I hate wasting food so get them to box it.”
“Cade is fine. Luna has been keeping us updated all day, and Vail and Laney are not far away if there’s any problems.”
“I can’t believe they flew in just so they could be close today.”
I shouldn’t be shocked by the support Easton’s friends give him. I witnessed it firsthand when everything with Van went to shit last year.
The second we arrived in Love Beach, Vail and Laney were surrounded by friends and family offering assistance. Watching from the sidelines had regret slicing through me.
I’ve never experienced that kind of support, and at that point, never thought I would. Except everyone has made sure I know I only have to ask and help will be on hand.
“What are you thinking about now?”
“How lucky you are to have friends and family willing to drop everything to help you. And not expect anything for it.”
“You have that now too.”
I nod. “I understand why you think that, but it always feels as though they think they have to because of what I did for Van.”
“Maybe in the beginning. When you first came to Love Beach, I’m sure most of us felt as though we owed you something.”
“I never asked?—”
