Page 130 of Crazy Imperfect Hearts

I tilt my head, waiting for more.

“She loves you. She loves you, too.”

My eyes blaze with amusement. “You’re insane.”

“Oh, come on, Lucas. With the way she looks at you? That woman is head over heels in love with you.”

Regan looks up to catch us talking. “Am I doing it wrong?” she asks Christa.

“No, ma’am. You’re doing everything exactly right.”

Christa shoots me a playful look and walks away.

~ ~ ~

Damn. I didn’t think it would hurt this much. Like physically hurt like a punch to the gut. But here I am, dropping Regan off at her place. Helping Ryder carry up all the cards, flowers, teddy bears, and other shit from the hospital.

But the one thing I’m not helping carry up her stairs is the only thing that matters. Our son.

He’s only a few minutes away, but he might as well be halfway across the country. It still hurts like hell. I should have insisted we stay. But we have no idea how long he’ll be there. Hopefully it’s just a week. Maybe two. But realistically, it could be longer.

“I have a little surprise for you,” Ryder says as we approach the top of the stairs.

“You didn’t put the nursery together, did you?” Regan asks. “Because I don’t want to. Not until we’re sure he’s coming home.”

I nudge her arm and look right into her eyes. “He’s coming home, okay? He will. He just needs more time.”

She nods.

“It’s not the nursery. Besides, with Mitchell coming early, I’m still living here, so there’s nowhere to set it up. I promise to be out of your hair by the time he comes home.”

“Where will you go?” Regan asks. “It’s not like you have a ton of money lying around.”

“We’ll figure it out.” He kisses her head. It’s something I’ve never seen him do. I’m pleased they finally have the relationship I’ve always had with my siblings. “The only thing you need to worry about is that amazing kid of yours.” He stops at the door handle. “You do not need to worry about what’s on the other side of this door, okay? I mean it.”

“Ryder,” she scolds. “What did you do?”

He opens the door and Regan walks through first. “Mom? Dad?”

Ryder raises a brow at me as I try not to shrink back into the fourteen-year-old kid who got caught with my pants down.

I shake my head, glaring at Ryder. “A little fucking warning would have been nice.”

“Baby, why didn’t you tell us?” her mom cries, crossing the room.

The three of them hug and cry together for minutes. It’s family time. I should leave.

I turn to slip out quietly, when her dad, Darrin, corners me with his booming voice. “Lucas Montana.”

Suddenly, Iamthat kid again.

“Sir, I can—”

His arm extends as he approaches me, his hand out in a kind gesture. I shake it, confused.

“Ryder told me everything. Especially how much you’ve taken care of our baby girl. It may not be exactly what we envisioned for her, but any man who’s gone through what you have for her can’t be all bad.”

“Thank you, sir. I just want the best for her and Mitchell.”

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