Page 38 of Insta-Love

“Baby.” I lean around her breakfast and give her a cuddle. “How was your night?”

“Cool.” Her gaze flicks to the boy across from her.

He gives a lift of the hand when Bowen and I both turn to check him out. “Hi, Lily’s mum.”

“This is Tyler,” she explains. “He broke his arm skating.”

Lord, help me now. She’s found a kid with the same interests and it’s a boy.

“I bet you two chewed each other’s ear off all night, then.”

The two of them smile shyly at each other as the ward nurse walks in.

“Hi, Mum,” she greets me, passing over a clipboard. “I have Lily’s discharge notices here. The doctor will be around soon to give her the once over, and then you’re free to go home.” She pats Lily’s good leg through the woven blanket.

I like her. She’s warm and inviting. The kind of woman you can see baking cookies with the grandkids and giving you a big, floury hug while she does.

“How long is the cast on for?” Bowen asks, catching the nurse’s attention.

She loses some of her charm when her gaze settles on the brute of a man beside me. “The doctor will cover that for you.” Her eyes narrow. Here it comes. “Are you Lily’s father?”

He answers her without hesitation. “Caregiver.”

Huh.

“Lovely. I can see she’s in good hands, then.” Her smile widens as she shifts focus back to me. “Lily has been an absolute pleasure to have stay with us.”

“Thank you for making her feel at ease.” I offer a smile as I take the seat beside Lily.

Bowen stands with one hip against the wall beneath the window, arms folded while he watches the nurse carefully.

She leaves, detouring past Tyler briefly to check he has all he needs.

I wait until the nurse is out of earshot before I turn to Bowen. “What was that all about?”

“I don’t know,” he says with a shrug, eyes on the door. “She seemed as though she didn’t trust me.”

“I meant the caregiver comment.”

Lily spoons her cereal, gaze flicking between the two of us.

He glances to her before answering. “Seemed appropriate.”

“You aren’t her step-parent, or even my partner. So maybe tone it down a little next time, okay?”

“I give care though, don’t I? I gave it when you were too occupied to.”

Great. We’re back to this. “If you’d rather wait in the car, I’m sure we won’t be long.”

“Fine where I am, thanks.”

I enter a Mexican standoff with the bastard, only the clearing of Lily’s throat breaking our silent duel.

“Tyler knows who you are, Bowen.”

“Yeah?” He softens the second his gaze hits Lily. Can’t hold that against him.

“Yeah,” Tyler pipes up from across the room. “My brother follows you.”

Bowen moves across to the kid—thank God—to start a conversation. I relax into the seat a little, conflicted with how I feel about the guy. He obviously cares a great deal about people; he wasn’t wrong there. But this arrogance, his snark … it’s as though he struggles to let it go.

How could I entertain the idea of anything with him when I don’t know what kind of man I’d get day-to-day?

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