Page 31 of Bloom: Part 2

“He’s not supposed to be lifting anything heavy.” He held the baby out like he didn’t know what to do with her while sheshrieked with laughter, kicking her legs. “Does someone want to take her?”

“Uh, actually, we’ll be back in a few.”

“Bay, we can’t just leave her with a stranger,” Gerald protested while allowing himself to be dragged off by Bay.

“He’s not a stranger. He’s Bloom’s man, and a doctor. I need to talk to you for a minute.”

“Talk?” I snorted. “Those two are going off to—”

“Bloom, the baby. No swearing.”

“I wasn’t going to. Honest! But you better hold her properly. I don’t think that’s how you’re supposed to hold her.”

“I know how to hold a baby.” He looked adorable with the baby against his chest. The way she stared up at him and grabbed his face was kind of sweet.

“Bloom, over here.” Crowe beckoned me to where he sat with Max on his lap. Sarge and Chris were laying out food, pretending they weren’t taking peeks at each other.

I couldn’t decide whether they were already fucking, but I’d bet a kidney they were close to doing it.

Crowe frowned when I didn’t move instantly. My conversation with Logan in the car replayed in my mind. I didn’t want Logan to feel I was abandoning him.

“Go on,” Logan said.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I’ll entertain this baby until those two come back.”

“Then you’ll join us? I’ll save a seat next to me for you.”

“Sure.”

I went up on the tip of my toes and kissed him on the lips, then hurried over to Crowe’s table. Max had disappeared. Crowe definitely wanted to talk to me about something.

“You look almost as good as new.” He took the hem of my shirt and raised it to inspect my bandage. Over his head, Logan glared, his chest rising and falling. My stomach flipped.

He wasn’t kidding about owning me, was he?

I brushed Crowe’s hand away. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what? Look at your scrawny chest? I used to wipe your ass when you were a kid. Don’t forget that.”

I sat upright, drawing my shoulders back. “I know, and I’m grateful for everything you did and continue to do for me, but…I have Logan now.”

Crowe pulled back, drumming his fingers on the table. “What’s that supposed to mean? You don’t need me now?”

“I’m not saying that, but when I do, I’ll let you know. For now, it’s Logan’s turn to be my everything.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea, Bloom? You’re obsessed with him, and that’s not a good thing.”

“Can we talk about this some other time? It’s my coming home, and I feel you’re intentionally starting shit.”

The drumming on the table ceased. A muscle twitched in Crowe’s jaw. “You start fucking some guy and suddenly think you can talk to me this way?”

“He’s not just some guy, Crowe, and I don’t think you get that.” I doubled my hand into a fist. “He’s to me what Max is to you. You set me straight when I first found out you and Max were an item. Now I’m doing the same. You gotta respect that.”

“I just can’t get over the idea that you’re not ready for a relationship. I feel like he’s taking advantage of you because you don’t fully understand the implications of a relationship.”

“Who says I don’t? And how’s he taking advantage of me? Everything that man does to me, I want to happen. In fact, you two are so alike. Yes, you are!” He shook his head, but I plunged on. “If you care about me, you should want to see me happy, right? Well, I’m telling you that Logan makes me fucking happy, and I don’t do happy. That should tell you everything you need to know.”

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