Page 26 of Insta-Family (Forbidden Descendants 3)

“Uh…”

I hesitated. For some reason, I felt invaded and unsure. But I couldn’t put my finger on a reason why I should feel that way. It wasn’t his fault that his presence made me hyper-sensitive and overly aware of seemingly everything.

Pushing the strange, irrational sensation to the back of my thoughts, I rushed to add, “Sure. I mean, I did say you could drop by whenever you wanted.”

I’d just thought he’d give me a head’s up first. So I could prepare.

As if reading that very thought from my head, he furrowed his brow and said, “I should’ve called first. I’m sorry. I—”

“No, no.” I waved a hand as I moved to the rocking chair, which was located the farthest away from where he sat on the couch. After collapsing with a sigh, I pulled my knees up to my chest and hugged them. “It’s completely fine. Ava Grace seems to be taking full advantage of the attention.”

Grinning, he looked down at her. “Yeah,” he murmured, a tender, affectionate quality entering his voice. “I was such a boring guest, she fell right to sleep on me.”

“He’s a natural with her,” Dad announced, nodding proudly as he stretched the arm he had resting along the back of the couch just a little farther so he could squeeze Vaughn’s shoulder.

I blinked, never having seen my father be so openly praising and supportive of someone he’d just met before, or bond that quickly with them.

It was...weird.

“I just taught him how to change a diaper, and he didn’t balk once,” Dad added as if trying to impress me.

“You taught him how to change her diaper?” I asked slowly before furrowing my brow. “Why?”

Dad shrugged. “I figured if he wanted to be involved with her life, he might as well learn now.”

“Yeah, but—” I couldn’t fathom a time when Vaughn would ever have to change my daughter’s diaper again. But I shook my head past that and winced at my guest, saying, “I’m sorry he made you do that.”

Vaughn only shrugged as if he truly hadn’t minded. “It was fine. I wanted to learn.”

He did?

“Uh…” Not sure why anyone would want to learn how to change a diaper if they didn’t have to, I moved past that and shrugged. “Alright. Whatever. But hey. While you’re here, I still have your family p

hoto albums,” I told him. “You left them at the hospital. I think the gift bag full of them is in my room if you want me to run back and get them.”

I started to slip off of the seat, wincing from all the soreness my recent childbearing had caused, and he lifted his hand, halting me. “No rush,” he assured. “They can stay here, or I’ll take them home when I leave. It’s fine either way.”

“Okay,” I said and relaxed back into the chair, bending my knees back up to my chest.

Resting my head back, I closed my eyes and released another breath. God, but closing my eyes felt so good. If I let myself, I could just drift off and—

“Breakfast is ready!”

Mom’s cheerful voice had me jerking my eyes open and sitting upright again. As she entered the living room with two heaping plates full of eggs, hash browns, and sausage links, I lowered my feet from the chair so she could place one on my lap.

“Here you go, honey. And, Vaughn,” she added as she turned away from me to lift the second plate. “This one’s for you.”

“Oh! I…” He blinked in alarm and glanced briefly toward me as if seeking guidance before he refocused on my mom. “You didn’t need to do that.”

“Bud,” my dad spoke up, lifting one eyebrow severely as he always did when he was about to disperse some wise warning. “When Aspen makes you a home-cooked meal, trust me, you want to eat it.” Then he chuckled and patted his own belly as if that were some kind of proof, even though Dad had never once carried extra weight on his stomach.

Rolling my eyes, I picked up my fork and tucked into my food.

“Here. Pass that baby over here and eat something,” Dad finally just instructed.

Since people generally did whatever he told them to—the result of being a high school football coach for thirty years, I guess—Vaughn obediently handed Ava over.

And his empty arms were promptly filled with the plate that Mom gave him.

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