Page 97 of Gunner

“Thanks again.” I shoved the sheet of paper back into the envelope and folded it, then stuck it into the waistband of my jeans. “Appreciate it.”

“So, is there anyone special?” Jamie poked my chest.

“I am not telling you. Go mingle and have fun.”

Smiling, I walked away with Jamie’s laugh trailing me. With the STD tests out of the way and being on those pills Ben had told me about, I had no reason to believe Ben would turn me down.

I can’t wait to see him later.

“Hey, prez! Your cup’s empty.” My cup was removed from my hand and replaced by a full one. I nodded my thanks at the prospect and made a beeline for Crowe, who was standing by himself with a baby in his arms. The child with the blond hair and chubby face could only be Gift, Gerald and Bay’s kid.

“Stuck playing babysitter?”

Crowe shrugged. “I don’t mind.”

“Don’t tell me you’re getting baby fever.”

“Hell no. Max and I don’t want anything to do with children.”

I gestured at the baby. “Doesn’t seem that way.”

“This is different. She doesn’t come home with us.”

“Good point.”

“Here, your turn to hold her.”

“What—”

But Crowe had already taken the drink from my hand and placed the six-month-old baby in my arms. I shifted her in my arms, unsure what to do with her. I’d never held a baby before. She gurgled and cooed, kicking her chubby little legs. She waved her arms while she gave me a dimpled, toothy grin. A warm feeling spread through me as I stared at her innocent face.

“She’s not crying,” Crowe said. “Damn, I had to bribe her with silly faces and belly tickles before she would come to me.”

“I’ve got the natural touch.”

“All right, hand her over. Bay’s probably wondering where I am with her.”

Crowe took the baby, but as soon as she left my arms, her face scrunched up, and she let out a wail. Desperate little armsstretched back toward me, tiny fingers opening and closing in a silent plea. A twinge of something protective stirred within me.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Crowe cooed, trying to soothe her. “It’s Uncle Crowe. You remember me. We’re good friends, aren’t we?”

Gift’s face turned a bright shade of red as she cried harder, drawing attention our way.

I reached out instinctively and took her back from Crowe. She stuck her thumb into her mouth and rested her head on my chest. Damn, but it felt good she calmed down with me instead of Crowe.

Crowe scowled. “What are you grinning for? She was fine with me before you came along.”

Chuckling, I patted Gift’s back. “I guess she’s tired of looking at your ugly mug, but I can’t hold her all day, so go get Bay.”

Crowe left, shaking his head. Gift removed her finger and patted my cheek, her touch soft and reassuring.

“Hey there,” I whispered. “Do you know I was there when your daddy found you? We won’t let anything like that happen to you again.”

I’d never wanted kids, and I still didn’t, but in that moment, holding her, I knew I could have made a good dad. The version of me now—at least. I’d always been afraid I would be a shifty father like mine had been. Just the thought of my dad and turning out like him had been all the contraception I needed, but the longer I held her while she was looking at me, babbling in her own language, the more I knew I didn’t have to be like my father.

I didn’t have to be him.

A drunk. A whore. An abuser.

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