Page 22 of Make Your Save

“We can order stuff from Target and pick it up in the morning, unless you want to go shopping in person?”

I raise my eyebrows, feeling the warmth of her against my side, along with Lucy against my chest. “Is it that easy?”

“Well, yeah,” she says with a soft laugh, her eyes lighting up. She reaches over to the other side of the couch, grabbing a blanket before tucking it around herself as she eases her legs beneath her body. “It’s not like we have to go buy the materials and construct it ourselves.”

“Ha ha,” I snort, rolling my eyes at her. “You’re quite the comedian, aren’t you?”

“Finally, you’ve noticed.” She laughs softly as she opens up the web browser on her phone. I pull out my own and begin scrolling to look at baby stuff. Hadley starts listing off the things I need to get, noting that we need one of those little bathtubs because washing herwith a bowl of water and washcloth isn’t going to cut it anymore.

Hadley peers over my shoulder. “What all do you have in your cart so far?” She looks at my phone and back at me, her face scrunching up. “Rowan. Why are you looking at baby sneakers?”

“She’s going to need cool shoes. I can get her a pair to match me.”

She lets out a laugh, shaking her head at me. “Yeah, maybe when she’s walking. Right now, socks will suffice.” She snorts, shaking her head at me. “You have a lot to learn, my friend.”

“You’re going to teach me, though, right?”

Amusement dances in her eyes and she cocks her head to the side as she lifts her eyebrows. “I’ll teach you a thing or two.”

The thought sends an electrical current straight to my cock. I adjust myself on the couch in an attempt to hide the effect she’s having on me with those words.

Hadley Reed is drop-dead fucking gorgeous and that’s a fact that no one else could ever deny.

She directs her attention back to her phone, scrolling through baby things as she fills up the cart. Twenty-seven items later, we’ve checked out, the baby is sleeping, and Hadley’s insisting we watch a movie about aliens. We settle back on the couch, her fingers brushing against my skin as she takes the remote from me. I watch her, curled up in her blanket with excitement in her expression, as she finds the movie she was talking about.

She turns back to me, her soft hazel eyes meeting mine. “Ready?”

I think she’s going to teach me more than a thing or two...

“Ready when you are.”

It’s in the middle of the night when Lucy wakes up again. Soft sounds come from the bassinet beside the couch and it shakes from her movement as she begins to shift on the tiny mattress. I slowly sit up, glancing at Hadley who’s softly snoring on the other side of the couch.

Neither of us planned on falling asleep on the couch, but after we settled down for a movie, it wasn’t long before both of us were sleeping. I’m not sure who went down faster, but seeing her now and the fact that she’s dead to the world, I can’t wake her up.

She’s exhausted and she’s been doing so much to help me already. Nervousness rolls in my stomach as I look at the bassinet again, hearing Lucy making louder sounds that border on the edge of a cry.

I swallow back my anxiety, knowing I have to do this. I have to do this for myself and for Lucy. Not knowing she was alive until a few days ago has been a complete mindfuck. The idea of settling down always gave me hives and relationships were always off the table. Kids were definitely never part of my plan, yet here I am now...a single dad to a little girl that I didn’t even know existed.

Rising from the couch, careful not to disturb Hadley, I cover the short distance to the bassinet. My palms feel sweaty as I stare down at Lucy for a moment, careful as I begin to pick her up. The last thing I want to do is anything wrong, and I can’t help but feel like I’m going to break her.

She’s so small and feels so fragile, yet as I lift her into my arms, I can’t help but feel a calming sense of comfort washing over me. I hold her close to my chest, my hand finding her diaper as I remember that was one of the steps Hadley said.

“Always check to see if she needs to be changed or needs a bottle. Those are the two most important things with a baby and are usually the cause of their distress.”

Holding Lucy, I walk her over to the small changing area we have set up and do my best job at trying to change her diaper. It’s late in the middle of the night and my memory feels fuzzy, but I try to follow everything that Hadley showed me earlier.

Lucy seems content with how I do it and she shoves her hand into her mouth as I lift her back into my arms. I changed her diaper and now it’s time for a bottle. Glancing back at the couch, a soft smile lifts my lips as I see Hadley still sleeping peacefully.

I take Lucy into the kitchen and stand along the counter, holding her in one arm as I try to make a bottle with the other. It’s a challenge but I hold her close to me, careful not to hurt her. I have one job now and it’s making sure this little girl is always safe.

I’m all she has, so I need to make sure I’m the best thing for her.

After fixing the bottle, I carry Lucy and the bottle back into the living room and settle down on the couch with her tucked against me. Her mouth opens immediately as I bring the nipple of the bottle to her lips, and I watch in amazement as she starts to drink the formula.

I think the shock is starting to wear off and I’m accepting of what this is. This is my future now—Lucy is my future and my main concern. She’s counting on me to give her the best life I possibly can.

“You’re amazing,” I murmur, my eyes scanning her face. I can’t believe I helped to make her. She’s a product of me, carrying my DNA. The thought alone is mind-blowing.

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