“Hey now.” Evan grins.
We spend the next half hour talking while Mom loves on Lexi. It’s me who finally suggests we head home. “Mom, you about ready to go?” I ask. She insisted she feed Lexi to give Evan a “break.”
“Oh, I guess we should let these two settle in.” She stands and hands Lexi back to Evan. “You call if you need anything,” she tells him with a pat to his cheek.
“Yes, ma’am. Kinley, I can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done for us.”
“I’m happy to help. Call me if you need anything. Oh, and I bought an adorable outfit for her newborn pictures. Mine will be way better than the hospitals. Maybe I can stop by tomorrow sometime?” I ask.
“We’ll be here,” he says with a smile.
Mom and I say our goodbyes then leave father and daughter alone for the first time.
Chapter 21
Evan
“It’s just you and me, kid,” I say to my daughter, who’s sleeping soundly in my arms. She doesn’t have a care in the world. If I get my way, she never will. I want to give her the world. Instead of putting her in her room, I place her in what Kinley calls a pack-n-play. She said I would need it if I take Lexi places with me, so she has a safe place to sleep. She also mentioned I would probably want her close when I first brought her home. Once again, she nailed it. I owe her so much.
Once I have Lexi settled, I unpack the bag Kinley brought to the hospital for me and start a load of laundry. I busy myself unpacking the formula samples the hospital gave me and then call my foreman, letting him know Lexi came a few weeks early and I’m going to need him to handle the crew and, well…everything for a few days. He and I had already talked about this, so the only surprise is that it’s a few weeks sooner than we discussed.
I do a few more things around the house as quiet as I can and she’s still sleeping. I’m glad I read all those books or I would be freaked out that something was wrong. Babies sleep a lot. Deciding I should try to catch a quick catnap, I stretch out on the couch and close my eyes. Just as I’m about to drift off, I feel my pocket vibrate.
Pulling out my phone, I see I have a text from Aaron.
Aaron: I’m at the door.
I pull my tired ass off the couch and go greet my best friend.
“Hey,” Aaron whispers when I open the door. “I didn’t wake her, did I? Kinley said she was probably sleeping.”
“Nah, she’s sleeping, but it’s all good. Come on in.” I step back to let him pass.
“I bet you’re glad to be home.”
“You have no idea,” I say, following him into the living room.
Aaron stops by the pack-n-play to peek in on my daughter. My daughter… it’s surreal she’s here.
“She’s a cutie, man. We’re going to have our hands full.” He softly chuckles.
That’s my best friend. Always there no matter what the situation. He automatically includes himself in the future of warding off horny boys from my baby girl. “I don’t even want to think about that yet.”
This causes Aaron to laugh and the sound startles Lexi. “Shit, man, I’m sorry,” he says before placing his hand over his mouth.
“Don’t be. I read that you need to not keep everything quiet so they will learn to sleep through everyday household noises. It didn’t wake her, so we’re all good.”
“Do you need anything?” he asks.
“Nah, I’m good.”
“Kinley told me she refused to let you bring her home in your truck. She said you were going to be getting a new one. Any ideas of what you might get?”
“Honestly, man, I don’t know. I haven’t thought much about it. I know I need something more reliable. I might check out Dodge. I really like Kinley’s Durango.”
“Yeah, it’s sweet. I looked at Dodge before I bought mine, but decided I needed to stay a Ford man.”
“Yeah, I need to get that taken care of soon. I can’t keep Kinley’s Durango forever.”
“She’s in no rush. She works at home most of the time and I already told her if something comes up she can take my truck. I spend most of my days in the stables anyway.”
“Yeah, but it’s something I’ve been planning on. It would have been easier to do it without taking a newborn with me, but it is what it is.”
“Yeah. Have you heard from her? From Misty?”
“No. I don’t really think I will. It’s all on me, and I don’t regret it. I love that little girl, I can’t even express what it felt like to hear her cry for the first time.”
“That’s heavy stuff, bro. I’m happy as hell for you. I know nothing about babies or how to raise them, but I’m in your corner. Anything you need, I’m there.”
“Thanks, man. I’m not sure how truck shopping is going to go with a newborn, but I’m about to find out.”
“I’m sure Mom or Kinley would be happy to keep her.”
My chest tightens at the thought of being away from her. I just got her after months of worrying about Misty taking care of herself and praying my baby girl arrived healthy. Can I leave her?
“What’s that face?” Aaron chuckles. Fucker, he knows damn well what I’m thinking.
“Maybe I could convince Kinley to come with me,” I say. She could help me with Lexi and I wouldn’t have to leave her yet, although I know I’m going to need to eventually. Speaking of that, I need to arrange childcare too. I thought I had a few more weeks to get that all squared away. Yeah, I’m the boss, but I work the horses and cattle with the rest of the crew, so not helping isn’t an option. I need to be out there with them, keeping my finger on the pulse of the operation.
Aaron laughs. “You know she will. All she and Mom talked about when Dad and I got in today was baby Lexi.”
“Yeah, they were both here for a while. Your mom fed her. She’s going to be after you to settle down, man,” I laugh.
“Not opposed to it, just need to find her.”
Aaron has always said he’s holding out for the one. He doesn’t do relationships. If he’s not feeling it within a few hours of meeting her, he’s one and done. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard Kinley preach to him about not being able to really get to know someone if he doesn’t give them a chance. His theory is it should be instant. Not sure I agree with him, not after all the time I spent with Kinley. My feelings toward her have changed; so much, I fight them anytime I’m near her.
“What do you have going on the rest of the night?” I change the subject. No way do I need to be thinking about Kinley with Aaron sitting here.
“Nothing, man. I thought about going into town to get something to eat. Mom and Dad went out and Kinley is editing, so she will be glued to her computer for hours. You hungry? How about I go pick us up a pizza or something?”
“Starving! Now that I think about it, I haven’t eaten all day.” I was too nervous about bringing my daughter home to worry about food. My stomach is finally protesting.
“I’m all over it. I’ll be back in a bit,” Aaron says, standing from the couch. “Do you need anything for this one?” He points to where Lexi is sleeping peacefully.