Page 102 of Better Hide

“Baby!” Our neighbor Rosa walks in and throws her hands in the air. O.P. jumps up and down at her feet, barking. Rosa has been our neighbor for years. She started dogsitting O.P. when we needed, and she spoiled him rotten. He always gains weight when we’re gone. I swear she’s feeding him ice cream.

Rosa bustles into the living room, putting down her backpack and sitting down next to Cole and MJ. When MJ sees her, she smiles from ear to ear.

“Thanks for coming.” Cole smiles as MJ crawls over to Rosa.

I don’t remember inviting her.

Jayden walks into the room, wearing a nice pair of jeans and a button-down. I frown. What’s going on?

Cole stands, patting his pockets down. “Got everything you need?”

“You know I do, honey. Now get.”

“What’s going on?” I ask as Cole walks past me. He winks. “We’re going out for the weekend.”

“What?”

Jayden wraps me in a hug from behind and whispers in my ear, “Surprise.”

I turn to look at him. Jayden smiles gently down at me. “Rosa is gonna take care of things here.”

I’ve never left MJ before. My stomach clenches.

Jayden whispers lower, “There are cameras up in every room. We can watch everything the whole time.”

I watch my happy baby girl wobble on Rosa’s lap. Then she spots me, and her smile widens.

“Ready?” Cole smacks my ass.

Jayden starts dragging me toward the front door. I dig my feet in. “No, wait. Where are we going?”

“Go on, honey. We’ll be fine.” Rosa helps MJ walk along the back of the couch. “You know she loves to play with me.”

Jayden hands me off to Cole, who whisks me outside. Panic fills me. “Wait!”

“You need a break, Jo.”

I don’t want to leave my baby. What about her feeding schedule? And nap times? And what about when she cries?

“Jo.” Cole grabs my face and forces me to look at him. His voice gets soft. “Rosa knows MJ. She’s raised five kids of her own. I’d never leave our baby with her if I didn’t think she’d take care of her.”

Jayden brushes past us. “I told her I’d kill her if she let anything happen. So there’s that.”

“Jayden!” I gasp.

He shrugs. “It’s the truth.”

Cole lets go of my face but continues to look earnestly into my eyes. “You’re a wonderful momma, Jo. But you haven’t taken a day off in a year. We have a whole weekend away, if you’ll let us.”

My first reaction is no. I can’t leave my baby. But I do want time off.

“Youcanleave her,” Cole says softly. He fishes in his pocket and grabs his phone, pulling up a screen with camera footage. I see Rosa and MJ playing on the floor. Safe.

I let out a huge breath. Maybe this will be good.

“Good girl.” Cole grins and swoops me up. “Now, let’s go.”

“Cole,” I laugh as he shoves me in the back of Jayden’s truck. He follows me in with an evil smile. “Been a while since I’ve feasted on you.”

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