Page 34 of Spring Break With a Baby Daddy
Vivi
It’s well after midnight and I’m still awake, staring at the ceiling. Cade went to sleep over an hour ago and I know I need to sleep because he’ll be up again before dawn, but every time I close my eyes I can’t stop my mind from spinning.
Everything that’s happened since yesterday afternoon, when my only concern was what to wear on my date with Easton, is on a twisty loop going round and round.
I’m worrying about a baby who isn’t mine but feels like he might be. Worrying about living with a man I barely know and openly admit I want to climb like a tree. Worrying about marrying that same man in the not-too-distant future.
Convenient or otherwise, that last one keeps popping up the most.
Logically, it all makes sense.
He needs help securing custody of Cade. And it’s not like I’ve got anything else going on right now. Plus I like Easton. I would be helping him with the abandoned baby even if I didn’t want to jump into bed with him.
Cade is what’s important and if that means I marry a man I’ve tried to keep at arm’s length for months to ensure the little boy gets the life he deserves, I will.
And who wouldn’t want to help a friend in that situation?
Except whenever I think about how the future might turn out, all these emotions—wants and needs—swamp me.
I’ve never dealt with anything like it before.
For one, I’ve never seen myself as a wife.
Or a mother.
And yet I’m diving into both roles without pause. With enthusiasm.
It’s not like we can’t get divorced if things go bad. Or that Easton would be on his own raising Cade if I choose to walk away. He’s got plenty of people to help him if I’m no longer here.
But no matter how many ways I look at it, how many possible outcomes I come up with, I can’t imagine myself walking away.
From either of them.
“You’re keeping us both awake with that noisy brain of yours.”
Easton’s low murmur has me turning to my side and whispering, “I thought you were asleep.”
“Who can sleep with all that thinking going on.” I can hear the smirk in his voice.
“Sorry?”
With a low chuckle, he says, “Is that an apology or a question?”
I don’t know what it is. And honestly, I’m not sorry we’re in this situation. I like being the one to help Easton. The one he asked to help. The more time we spend together, the more I want to be together.
Which is why the idea of marrying Easton doesn’t scare me like it should. I should be running for the hills. He isn’t just asking to put a ring on my finger, he’s asking me to be part of a family.
“We should get married as soon as we can. Before we see the lawyer.”
My words have Easton rolling toward me. “That’s what you’re thinking about?”
“Yes. No. Not just that, but mostly.” I shrug. “Every possible scenario is running through my head and every time it comes back to us being married as the best option.”
“Getting married is the answer?”
“Yes. No. It’s complicated.”
Another laugh rumbles in his chest. “Understatement of the year, Vivi.”
