Page 110 of Roommate's Guide to Love

“It’s going to be so great,” she says. “Mrs. Metcalf left everything in perfect order. It’ll take me a minute to familiarize myself with her system, but she left it foolproof for me. I’ve even started researching some new books to add that I know were a hit back in my former classes.”

“I love this for you,” I say, kissing her cheek as she cuddles into me. “Though I must say, I’ll miss you at the bar.”

Quinn rolls over to face me. “You’ll just miss slapping my ass.”

I shrug. “That, and other things.”

Since it’s still the summer, we’re still taking shifts between the bar and Grace, though it’s been busy on Fridays and Saturdays, so we’ve been working both nights together and have found a sitter for Grace. Luckily, Wes’s daughter is more responsible than most adults I know and Grace loves her. But the time is going to come when Quinn is back at school, so I’ll need to hire someone to fill her spot. She tried to say that she could do both, but I assured her I didn’t want her burning the candle at both ends. When she still tried to fight me, I told her that if she was now a customer, because she was living with and dating the owner, that she got free food and beverage. Once I promised that could also apply to her sisters, she got on board.

It’s a small price to pay for a happy, and relaxed, Quinn.

“You know,” she whispers as she starts giving me small, but frequent kisses. “There are some things I always wanted to do at the bar. And if I’m not working there, I’m not sure if we can ever do them?”

“Oh really?” I pull her in even closer, stealing a few more kisses along the way. “Care to tell me what they are?”

“Let’s just say it involves me on top of the bar. You can let your imagination take it from there.”

My groan is swallowed by her lips on mine, and shit, if she keeps talking like that, I might just have her work one day a week. Just for the benefits.

I’m starting to get lost in Quinn’s mouth when I hear something that I’m not used to so I slowly pull away from Quinn. Except when I open my eyes, I’m looking at something I’ve never seen before.

“Quinn. Quinn! She’s up!”

I hurry and point as Quinn rolls away from me just as Grace let’s go of the coffee table she was holding onto and starts walking toward us.

Walking!

“Oh my God, Oh my God! It’s happening!” Quinn yells, rolling around like a maniac trying to find her phone. “Where the fuck is it, I’m not going to miss this!”

We both sit up, neither of us taking our eyes off of Grace as she waddles over to us.

“There we go, Grace. You got this, baby girl!”

She takes another four steps, and just as Quinn finds her phone and starts to hit record, Grace plops on her butt, a big smile from ear to ear.

“I’m so proud of you!” I scoop her up and hold her above me, kissing her all over, which always makes her laugh. “You’re such a big girl! You walked!”

Her addictive baby giggles fill the room as Quinn and I love on her, setting her back down on the ground to see if she can do it again. She does, which Quinn gets on video this time, but falls pretty quickly.

It’s fine. She walked. And I’ve never been so simultaneously proud and terrified.

“I can’t believe she did it,” Quinn says.

“This is cause for celebration!” I yell, picking Grace up and tossing her in the air. “Dinner. Out. We’re closing down the bar tonight so we can properly celebrate. The old geezers will understand.”

“Really?” Quinn says. “You’re going to close down the bar for her first steps? What happens when she learns to pee in the potty?”

“Not sure. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. But tonight, this little girl earned herself all the pasta her little mouth and hands can handle.”

Quinn laughs, kisses me on the cheek, before taking Grace out of my arms. “Well then, let’s take this little one for her nap. Get her nice and rested for her big night out.”

“Perfect,” I say, kissing both of them on the cheek before Quinn walks her upstairs.

I fall back onto the couch, the smile on my face a mile wide. How is this my life? Toys are scattered on my floor. I keep diapers in my entertainment center to save me from going upstairs every time Grace needs changed. I wash sippy cups and baby silverware every night. And yet, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

I know that if Grace wouldn’t have come into my life, and Quinn wouldn’t have moved home, I would’ve been fine being a bachelor. I don’t think I would’ve given any thought at all to one day wanting to settle down and start a family. I can thank my likely mommy issues for that one.

But now that I know what it’s like? To see how Grace looks at me each day, even in her resting confused face? Falling asleep next to Quinn every night? Mornings with the three of us snuggled in bed together? I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

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