Page 121 of On Thin Ice

I refused to look at the time on my phone. Ally had gone up to Cora’s place a few hours ago, and everything was fine. She needed a break, and I wanted to spend some time just me and Livi. I kept repeating those two sentences to myself for the last fifteen minutes.

I could do this. At least that’s what I kept telling myself every time she cried and I had no clue what was wrong with her. We’d done some dancing, had a bottle, and took a nap. A shorter nap than what I’d been led to believe happened with new babies, by the way.

Now she was fussy, and we were both missing some clothes thanks to her spitting up everywhere when I tried to rock her to calm her down. Okay, it’d been a bit more bouncy than just rocking.

Which could’ve been why she tossed her cookies all over me. I shuddered, glad that I’d kept my own cookies down. Blowoutdiapers were gross, but I could handle them. Projectile vomiting was something else.

Shit. I wanted to be good at this. I knew today would be a test for me—not in Ally’s eyes but in my own.

“Okay, Baby Girl, just stay right here.” I set her down on the couch next to me so I could clean some of the sticky mess off us.

My phone rang, and I swiped it on without looking, praying it was Ally.

“You could at least send me a picture or two of the kid so I don’t have to grab them off social media,” my father barked into the phone.

I pulled the phone back from my ear. What the actual fuck? Was he for real? And why the hell did I just answer it without seeing who was calling? My brain was more addled than I’d realized.

“I’m assuming that’s her. Damn, she’s loud. She cry a lot? Fuck, I do not miss that.” His obnoxious laugh was grating.

I turned to look at Livi just as she started to roll off the couch. Dropping the phone, I quickly grabbed her, holding her to my chest as my heart threatened to explode.

“Fuck,” I said, closing my eyes and cradling her against me as I tried to calm myself down.

“Dom. Dom. Are you listening?” My father’s voice was tinny and muffled, coming from where my phone had landed face-down on the rug.

Then, I did the best thing for all of us. I picked up the phone and swiped across the screen, ending the call without another word. Livi had finally settled and was staring up at me as I held her close. She had Ally’s eyes, and I swore they looked right through me.

Just like her mother.

“You’re okay, sweet girl. I got you,” I murmured, kissing her furrowed brow. “No more crying, okay?”

My phone chimed with a text, and I glanced down.

Dad: Don’t fucking hang up on me like that.

Dad: Send me some pics.

Dad: I should have some pics of her that aren’t just social media shots. I’m your father.

Dad: Saw one of you out with them at a park or some shit. You looked miserable. Pretty sure I said that’d be the case when this all came out.

“Is he fucking for real?” I asked out loud.

“Is who for real? And why are you both nearly naked? What happened?” Ally asked, walking toward us.

Shit. I hadn’t even heard her come in.

“I still have my boxers on,” I muttered.

Livi let out a little cry, and I stood up with her still in my arms.

“Hi, sweet girl. What’s wrong?” She put her hand on Olivia’s back but didn’t rush to take her. That soothed me more than I’d anticipated, and I decided not to ruin the moment by telling Ally that I’d almost let Livi fall off the couch.

“It’s fine. She’s been a little fussy, and she spit up all over both of us. I wasn’t sure if I should give her a new bottle or just wait for you to get home. Did you have fun?”

Ally’s entire face softened as she smiled at me, her hand still on our daughter’s back. Fuck, she was beautiful.

“It’s okay. I’ll just feed her when you’re done cuddling. And I had a lot of fun at Cora’s. I definitely needed it, so thank you.”

---