Page 108 of Reckless

“She seems tiny now,” Clem said. She had never sounded so tired. “An hour ago? Not so much.”

“Are you okay?” I asked and came closer to them.

“I don’t know. Ask me later,” she glanced behind my back and waved at Tyler to approach us. I moved away so he could see the little one. He stared at her with a frown.

“She looks like those ugly naked cats. She can’t be related to me.”

I smacked him on the shoulder so hard, my fingertips hurt. When he reached over to touch the baby, I grabbed his hand and tugged it away.

“You can’t touch her with your dirty hands.”

“Oh, right,” he leaned back. “Sorry.” He looked at Clem and Lucas. “You will have to tell me what I can and cannot do until I figure this shit out.”

“You can start by watching your language,” Lucas said, and Clem and I shared an amused look. His mother Elizabeth used to give him hard time because he always swore in front of his younger brother Troy. That thought got me thinking about the others.

“What time is it? Should we call your parents now?” I asked and Clem nodded.

“I’ll go call Mom and Elizabeth,” Tyler said, planted a kiss on Clementine’s sweaty forehead and left the room.

“Don’t listen to him,” I whispered to the baby. “You are the prettiest girl alive.” Then I focused on my best friend. “I can see her here and I still can’t believe it. It’s so weird.”

“I know.”

We both laughed and cried a little, then I wiped my tears away.

“Do you need anything?”

“Yes. Tell me you are not mad at me I hid from you that Tyler was back.”

“Forget about it,” I kissed her on the same spot Tyler did, then squeezed Lucas hand and left them alone to enjoy their happiness.

I saw Tyler a lot for the next month but avoided talking to him. Every time I visited Clem and Lucas at their home, which was pretty much every day, I expected to find out he left.

That never happened.

He was always there. I could barely hold my questions in.

Why did he stay for so long?

When was he going back to Boston?

What did he even do there, if he could just leave for months?

I was a ball of nerves and curiosity, while Tyler didn’t look troubled at all. He occupied Clem’s guest room and apparently helped with the baby. Particularly at night. It turned out she had the same sleeping schedule her uncle had.

“Daphne Duck, say hi to our beautiful guest,” he said when he opened the front door for me, while holding little Daff in his arms. His t-shirt had vomit stains in several places.

“Stop calling her that.” I ignored his compliment and walked inside.

“Would you prefer I called her ugly duckling?” Tyler followed me to the living room. “Because that would suit her too.”

“I don’t know how Lucas stands you,” I extended my hands waiting for him to give me the baby. He shook his head. “I want to hold her,” I whined. “You’re here all the time.”

“Exactly. She knows me. She trusts me. You are just the hot chick that comes by every now and again.”

He commented on my looksagain. I ignored his complimentagain.

“No one trusts you, Hartley. I am sure Daff is already smart enough to smell your bullshit.”

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