Page 75 of Forever Player

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

Willow

When I wake the next morning, the bed is empty and Brett is gone. I trudge over to Maylee’s room, pick up my baby girl, kiss her sweet cheek, and sit in the rocking chair to nurse her. As I think of last night, a smile splits my lips and it feels so good. My initial instinct is to panic.Feelings aren’t good. They are dangerous and lead to heartbreak. Slow breaths. This is okay. It’s okay to feel. Don’t be scared.I talk myself down from the impending panic that has made me run all my life. It’s time to stop running. Risk is inevitable and a life with my baby daddy will be good for me and Maylee. Since Maylee was born, I’ve wanted her to have a stable life. I wanted to give her the best of everything. It’s what made me reach out to Brett in the first place. After breastfeeding, I take Maylee and head to the main room. I place her on the floor in her play gym and make a coffee.

My cell rings and I head to Brett’s room since I left it there last night.

“Willow,” Eden says on a sigh. “Finally.”

“Good morning to you too.” I chuckle.

“We are all going to Sabrina’s Kitchen for breakfast. I’m not taking no for an answer,” she demands with a playful voice.

“Sure, what time?” I ask.

“We’re meeting at eight,” she says.

I look at the time and it’s seven thirty.

“I’ll do my best. It takes time leaving the house with a baby,” I explain.

“Patty is coming with Callie. Do your best. Some of us still have to be at work,” she adds.

“Right, okay. See you soon.”

I take Maylee to my room and place her in the playpen with some toys while I get ready. Brett wanted each room to be equipped with things for her so we have three playpens in one apartment.

After getting dressed, I quickly change Maylee and restock her diaper bag, taking her oat cereal with me. Brett left me the keys to his SUV so I guess I’ll be driving that to the restaurant. We get bundled up and head out. We bump into Ellie in the elevator.

“Hi you,” she says. I give her a hug and she coos at Maylee, who is sitting in her stroller. “I’m so excited about having you in the same building.”

“It is a great location here and it is so good to have a friend close by,” I reply.

“Is everything okay?” she asks.

I scoff. “Besides me being a complete mess? Totally.”

“What’s going on?” she asks.

We reach the parking garage and leave the elevator.

“Oh, you know me. I’m all about self-sabotage.”

She frowns. “What do you mean?”

Maylee begins to complain.

“We should talk more at the restaurant. Eden made me promise to be on time. She has to go in to work.”

“Okay, see you there.” Ellie waves, heading over to her car.

I find Brett’s SUV and press the lock button. It’s a fancy platinum Land Rover. I get Maylee situated in the car seat and place the stroller in the trunk. It’s really a great mom mobile with all the space.

We head out to the restaurant. I am grateful Maylee is chill on the drive over. We arrive at Sabrina’s Kitchen at five past eight and I consider it a win. I quickly unload us from the car and head inside with Maylee in her stroller.

The girls are all here sitting at a table. Everyone is so excited to see us and we get lots of hugs. Eden picks up Maylee and gets her out of her snowsuit, and then she gets passed around between my friends. I say hello to Patty and pick up Callie, her baby girl, since we haven’t met.

“You and Maylee are going to be best friends,” I say to her.

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