Page 7 of His Everything

“I’ll see if I can find some. Let me worry about the logistics of the move. I promise I won’t make you stress over it,” he says, giving me one final soft kiss before I hurried in for my final class, a smile in my eyes the entire time.

I managed to get Liam to Mrs. Holmes a little earlier than normal and the woman’s eyes roamed over my face curiously as I gave Liam a kiss letting him move into the apartment to play. “Jayden said he should be here about six to get him but if not, he’ll call.”

“Mhmm, and what’s got you all flushed?” she asks, and I can’t keep the smile off my lips. “I knew you were still in love with Liam’s daddy and that’s why you never dated.”

“I…” I can’t even begin to lie and say I’m not in love with Jayden because I am, I love him more than anything. Well, he and Liam might be a tie but in immensely different ways. “I was worried what he’d do or say if he knew about Liam, but I shouldn’t have been. I know that now, which is why I’m going downstairs to sign a new lease. Jayden talked to the building manager and we’re going to be moving into 1832-B.”

“They said they were going to start remodeling these places when tenants moved out,” Mrs. Holmes says in surprise. “It’s been empty for two weeks now but we didn’t see anything going on with it.”

I filled her in about the deal, amazed that Jayden took the time to make it happen, then headed downstairs to the office, signing my name on the paper and taking the set of keys he had ready for me. My half of the rent really is less than what I’d been spending, and I easily paid it so we wouldn’t have any issues while transferring things in the online system.

It feels nice to have an extra thousand dollars in my account. Liam needs new shoes, a new winter coat, and I could use some new things as well. That extra will go a long way into getting us what we need as well as covering food and a new bed.

A smile stayed on my lips as I went about my evening, getting a little extra in tips that I can add to my splurge and buy Liam something really nice for his new room. That sent me to the back to get my things with another smile, especially when I overhear Kelsey asking if anyone had any extra shifts they don’t want. I don’t intend to cut my hours on a regular basis, but it would be nice not to rush here tomorrow night after moving. Her eager yes to asking if she’d like my shift tomorrow, lets me head home with another smile on my lips.

It turns into a laugh when I move inside the apartment finding a dozen boxes taking up most of the floor and table. “What on earth?”

“I told you I’d take care of the moving stress. Some of the guys still had boxes in their rooms they weren’t using, so I brought them over, then got some from the grocer down the block. Liam and I had fun emptying out the cabinets and putting clothes in them until he was ready for bed. A few of the guys should be here around ten to help move the couch, beds, and the table. It shouldn’t take that long. I want you to have some time to relax before you have to go to work.”

“Well, since my part of the rent was cheaper than the full month here and Kelsey was asking for some extra shifts, I’m not working tomorrow night now,” I admit, and a full laugh slips out when Jayden lifts me up, carrying me through the mess to the couch and just holds me.

I snuggle into his arms more, letting out a content sigh just relishing his hold until I’m about to fall asleep in his arms. He carries me to the bedroom, giving me a long, hot kiss and I can’t wait until we’re in the new place, with our own little space for more of that.

My boys are up before I want to open my eyes, and I smile as Jayden gives me a soft kiss as he gets Liam up. “Stay, I’ve gothim. We still have a couple hours before anyone will begin to show up.”

I don’t argue then or when a sweet, tempting kiss wakes me a while later. Jayden pulls me up, giving my butt a little tap pointing me towards the bathroom, and I’m shocked to see it’s nine-thirty. I never sleep in that late. It’s absolutely impossible to do with Liam.

“Mama,” Liam calls when I come out dressed, finding him on the couch watching something on Jayden’s iPad.

“Hi baby,” I muse, dropping a kiss onto his waiting lips. One day he won’t want me to kiss all over him so I’ll take as many as I can get in now.

“Daddy said to let you sleep. We got bek-fast,” he adds, his smile brightening, and I wonder what that consisted of with most of the pots and pans in boxes.

“And we saved some for Mama, didn’t we?” Jayden states. “I’ll warm it up for you.”

“Watching Liam so I could sleep in,andyou saved me breakfast? I think you’re buttering me up for something,” I tease him, and the look in Jayden’s eyes makes me wish the moving was done and we were alone.

“Well, Liam and I early risers while his mama always liked her mornings in bed,” he counters pulling a laugh from me because that definitely changed after Liam got here. “We can’t starve our girl either, can we, buddy?”

“No Daddy. Mama needs to eat,” Liam agrees, and I can’t argue with wanting to eat the bowl that Jayden brings me. It might be rewarmed but it’s the most delicious biscuits and gravy egg scramble I’ve ever had.

“Thank you,” I whisper to Jayden while Liam’s engrossed in a cartoon, giving him a soft kiss. “For everything you’ve done this last week and especially for him.”

“He’s kind of amazing, isn’t he? And before you worry, Mrs. Holmes said to bring him over while we move so you’re not worrying about him getting trampled or being in the way,” he adds and god, how could I not possibly love this man—even if I can’t admit it to him just yet?

Chapter 6

Jayden

My phone blares from the kitchen counter of the new apartment, and I hurry out of the bedroom where we’re setting up Liam’s bed to answer it. A couple of the guys thought I was out of my mind, moving out of the dorms and in with a girl, let alone one that had a kid. At least until they saw the photos of Liam, realized he’s mine, along with getting a real look at Lucy. She’s gorgeous even with no makeup on, her hair twisted up on the back of her head and wearing a comfy t-shirt and leggings. There’s no pretense with her and I love it.

I take in the local number and answer, smiling when it’s the delivery driver with the new bed, mattress, nightstand, and dresser which will go in the living room to hold anything that won’t fit in the closet as well as the TV I’m ordering. That has me sending the guys upstairs to get started on moving the boxes, all of the big furniture is down here, so it’ll just be the smaller stuff to deal with now.

The delivery men are bringing the mattress in when Lucy comes our way with a box, her brow lifting in surprise and I take the box, dropping a kiss onto her sweet lips, telling her a slightfib. “I saw it online yesterday and they had an opening to deliver today. I thought it worked out perfectly, and I also ordered some sheets and stuff online that should be delivered today, since it’s not the normal size.”

“Not the normal…what is it then and will it even fit?” Lucy asks, and I drop another kiss onto her lips confirming it will. I knew that much already with seeing the space on Monday and ordering the furniture on Tuesday after I already signed the lease for this place. I wasn’t sure how long it would take to get Lucy on board with it, but when the manager agreed to let her switch her lease to be on mine instead of making her pay to break hers, I hoped she’d say yes. I just couldn’t imagine sleeping on her couch forever and if nothing else, maybe could get her to come stay with me now and then until she was ready to move in, agreeable to letting me break her lease for her.

“It’s a California King, so it’s just a little smaller width wise than a normal king size, but it’s a few inches longer than one. I usually end up sleeping diagonally on even a queen bed, so those four inches are worth it. It’s only like six inches wider than than what your twin and the toddler bed together were, and this room is just a hint bigger, so it’ll fit.”

---