Page 101 of Fought and Freed

“Are you sad we’re not having a girl?” he asked.

“Yeah, I really wanted one. What can I do with a boy?” Amber played with the pink netting. “Were you hoping for a boy?”

“I didn’t care as long as they were healthy.” He checked the price on the crib, and his eyes bugged out.

Two thousand dollars? Hell, no. Amber needed to lower her standards. This was way out of his price range.

He dropped the price tag. “A crib like this is out of our price range, Amber.”

“I figured.” She traced a finger over the crown. “I was just looking, anyway.”

Skylar nodded, then wandered away when the sales rep walked over to Amber.

He headed over to the clothing and found a shirt he wanted to get for Cody. It was a onesie that said, My uncle would teach me the fun stuff. Then another one caught his eye that made him think of Jace. It said, If you think I’m cute, you should see my uncle.

He wanted to get Maddy one, too, but none of them sounded right. She wasn’t the stepmom.

He walked back over to where Amber was talking to the salesclerk.

“Look, honey, isn’t this cute?” She placed a hand on the crib she stood next to. “They can have it delivered in time for the baby.”

He checked the price. It was cheaper than the other one, but still out there. And it was pink everything. “We’re having a boy.”

Amber got a stubborn look on her face. “Sometimes the doctors get it wrong.”

Skylar just sighed and shook his head at the clerk, who left them to talk.

Amber looked up at Skylar. “Can I ask you something?”

“Go for it.” He smiled as he picked up a cute baseball outfit.

“Do you think we would be together if Maddy didn’t show up?” Amber asked.

“No, because I’d still have feelings for Jace.” He glanced toward the cash register. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yes.” She pointed to the items he held. “What do you have there?”

His hand tightened on them. “Some shirts I want to get for my family.”

After he dropped Amber off, he drove home.

When he walked into the house, everyone was waiting for him.

“Well?” Cody asked.

“Just wait a second.” He reached into the bag, pulled out the onesie, and handed it to Cody.

Cody took it and read the front. “My uncle would teach me the fun stuff. Damn right, I will. So, since it’s blue, does that mean you’re having a boy?”

Skylar smiled. “Yes, I’m going to have a son.”

They all crowded around him, patting him on the back.

Skylar handed the other shirt to Jace, who read it and blushed.

“What does it say?” Maddy asked.

Jace’s blush deepened. “If you think I’m cute, you should see my uncle.”

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