Page 41 of Inked Craving

Me:I have a few meetings today, but I do plan on coming for dinner. Okay?

Paige:Can you bring diapers? How the hell do we already need more diapers? I thought Mom was just kidding when she said that I would need twelve times the number of diapers that I ever thought I would possibly need.

I laughed. I couldn’t help it.

Me:What’s funny is that you even told Annabelle when the twins came home that signing up for the diaper service was the best present you could give. And yet, here we are, needing more and more diapers.

Paige:Don’t throw my words back in my face. I don’t appreciate it.

She sent a laughing emoji afterward, and I rolled my eyes.

Me:Take care of my girl. I’ll be over later.

Paige:We’ll be waiting.

Knowing that I didn’t call going over to her househomewas such an odd feeling. I was very careful not to do so. As if the moment I did, it would cross a line. But Paige and I were now past the point of no return. I hadn’t meant to fall the way I had, or be in this position. One minute I was just trying to be the good guy to help out my friend, and the next, here I was, working my ass off so I could get things done and make it home to Paige and a baby who wasn’t mine.

It didn’t help that that asshole Colton hadn’t even met her yet. Oh, he was on his way, would be here soon, and Coltonhadmet his child over the screen, but it wasn’t the same. I had been there. I had been the one to hold her. I was the one who made her stop crying when it was over.

I didn’t stay the night. That wasn’t fair to Paige or Emery. Because a line had been drawn. One we hadn’t even meant to happen. I was there for dinners, I was there over the weekends, but I didn’t stay the night. I didn’t act with Paige the way I wanted.

We would need to have a talk soon, once Paige was able to get a full night’s sleep, and Emery slept through the night. Because I wasn’t sure what else we were supposed to do, or how I was supposed to feel.

Because I had fallen in love with Paige Montgomery, and I hadn’t meant to. And yet, something needed to happen. I needed her to know. Or maybe I just needed to know where I stood so when I was the man on the side, watching as Paige maybe fell in love again, and someone else raised that little baby girl I adored, I’d find a way to be okay with it.

Because Paige had only been meant to be my friend. I hadn’t meant for any of this to happen. I was only supposed to be there to hold her hair back when she threw up during the first dregs of pregnancy.

And then we’d leaned on each other, and here I was. In love with a single mom and a baby girl like she was my own.

It didn’t matter that Colton was the biological father and he’d somehow be in that little girl’s life, even if it was different than anyone had planned. I still wanted them both. And I would have to be okay if that didn’t happen. Somehow.

“I’m not trying to be nosy, but is that a photo of Emery?” Andrea asked as she walked in, a smile on her face.

I grinned and handed over my phone. “Right after lunch.”

“I swear, that baby makes my ovaries want another one.” She paused. “Should I not have said that to you?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “With the number of things I’ve talked over with Paige recently, you’re fine. Plus, it’s just the two of us in my office right now. You’re welcome to say that you want another kid after looking at Emery. She is the best baby.”

Andrea rolled her eyes. “She’s pretty great. You’re doing a good thing with that kid.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, an odd sensation filling my belly.

“You and Paige. You guys are a great couple. And you’re taking care of Emery like she’s yours. I love to see it. You look happy, Lee.”

I swallowed hard and did my best to look casual. I was failing. “I’m not with Paige. Not like that. I’m just her friend. Her parents and her siblings are there often, and Emery’s never left wanting. But Paige and I are just friends.”

Even as I said it, the words felt hollow. Andrea met my gaze and nodded.

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“Anyway, there’s a few more pictures of Emery if you scroll to the left.”

Andrea looked at me then and smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Awkwardness settled in, but she smiled over Emery’s photos before handing my phone back.

“Are you heading into the lab?”

I nodded, sliding my phone into my pocket. “I have a few more hours to go. I just wanted to get through a couple of emails first.”

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