Page 6 of Love Me

“And it’s the exact same one I have in my car?”

“I know how long you did research on that thing so she could stay rear-facing, I’m not stupid enough to mess with you and the safety of Charlie. It’s the exact same make and model.”

I blink at him slowly and my eyes start to water with tears. When I had Charlotte, I didn’t think I would be doing this without her father. Blinded by hormones. The red flags were always there, I just chose to ignore them. Liam hasn’t left my side since the moment I told him I was expecting her. This shouldn’t surprise me. But the extra mile he continues to go doesn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated. I’d be lost without my best friend.

“Fuck, beauty. Don’t cry.”

“Language, bear, please!”

“I can’t help it, when you cry it kills me. Don’t cry. It’s just a car seat. This will make things easier on us.”

Us.

Christ. What am I going to do once he finds a woman to settle down with? Explain to her that I need him, too? I need to get my shit together. Time for another heart-to-heart with Charlie’s father, Levi.

“Yeah. This will make things easier. You’re amazing. You know that, right?”

“You’re not wrong. I’m pretty cool.” He turns his attention back on my little girl. “Aren’t I? I’m your favorite, huh? Not momma, me.”

“Charlotte Sidney. Who’s your favorite?” I ask her, rubbing my nose against hers.

“Bear.”

Of course he is.

“You really don’t mind taking her? Liam usually scoots out of work, is everything okay?”

He rubs the back of his neck while looking over the menu behind me.

“Yeah, everything’s cool. He and Graham are just workingon a wood supply issue from the cooperage. Her school is right up town, I’ll go the speed limit the entire way.”

I squint my eyes at him for a long moment before the bell chimes again and I’m forced to make a decision.

“Please, Ms. Nettie, get this thing off of me. Why? Why do we have to go through this every single time?” The eldest Hayes sibling says as my grandmother’s dog, Winnie, loses her ever loving mind, jumping at Sawyer’s ankles and barking as if she’s the most vicious little thing in the world.

“What are you doing here?” Sawyer asks Carter as he joins his brother at my counter.

“Being the fun uncle and taking Charlie to school.”

“What the fuck? Why do you get to take her to school?”

“Because Liam asked me to, shithead. Why is that surprising?”

“Because you hate kids.”

“Why the fuck does everyone keep saying that? I don’t hate kids. Just because I don’t want any doesn’t mean I hate them. Get off my case, shitstain. Hey, maybe we should update your nickname from shithead to shitstain. Gonna need to run that by Dallas.” Carter pulls out his phone and starts to text. These boys are all at or over six feet tall, athletically built, successful businessmen, and they behave like prepubescent children.

“Han, you really gonna let this fool take Charlie to school?”

“You all are insane. We just need Dallas to walk in and it’ll be a party. Liam is the only sane one out of you boys. Poor Kinsey. No wonder she’s out trying to do her own thing.”

“That didn’t answer my question,” Sawyer deadpans.

“Mother give me strength,” I mumble under my breath as I look up at the ceiling to compose myself. “Yes. I’m going to let him take her to school. He has Liam’s truck.”

Sawyer looks at me like I’ve grown three heads before henearly whines. “But I need the practice. Ivy and I are going to have a hockey team someday.”

“I don’t think driving Charlotte to school is going to give you the practice that you’re looking for. Read a baby book. Carter, you can go on upstairs and wake her up. She’ll be excited to see you. After she’s ready, bring her through here so I can say bye to her, will you?

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