Page 39 of The Secrets We Built Together

"I don't want physio. I don't need it. I'm fine," Booker insisted through gritted teeth. "I don't think I even needed the cast on as long as it has been," he tried, waving his arm in the air like he was trying to play the whole thing off as nothing.

I didn't envy Reece having to live with a grumpy Booker when he was fighting taking time to recover with what felt like every fiber of his being.

But then it was like a spark of my old self rose to the surface, and I just couldn't help myself. "Remember when you tried to cut it off yourself and Reece caught you?"

Booker's glare could have melted steel. "That was one time."

"Sure it was, Booky Bear," I said, using the nickname I knew would annoy him the most.

Reece snorted, gracefully stepping around the boxes and going to Booker's side, patting him gently.

"Don't encourage her," Booker warned his girlfriend, but the corner of his mouth twitched.

It was a normal moment that I desperately needed to cling to while everything else felt so out of place.

"I would never," Reece gasped. Then she tipped her head to the side to lean against Booker as she snuggled into him. "But maybe this Billie person might have some ideas to make you feel better, and maybe feeling better could be an advantage in a situation you very much like to be in."

Booker licked his lips as he tried to stop his grin from forming. So this was how Reece seemed to always get Booker to do things he never wanted to do. The woman was a genius at subtle sexual bribery. A master who should be teaching courses to us mere normal girls.

"Fine," Booker sighed, pretending that he was reluctantly agreeing.

Reece patted his chest and then her gaze darted to me as she grinned. It took everything I had to not laugh at how easily she could play him.

But even I could see that Booker agreeing to talk to Billie wasn't a win yet, and I had a feeling he wasn't going to make it easy on Billie to get the job done. I felt sorry for the woman I hadn't met yet. She definitely had her work cut out with that one.

Before anyone could say much of anything else, Reece was gently pushing Booker toward the door. "We need to feed the horses," she said, though the look she gave me suggested that was just an excuse.

Booker frowned. "But it's only…"

"The best time of the day!" Reece burst out interrupting him as she gave him one last shove over the threshold. "Bye! Have fun and call me when it's time to start shopping," she shouted as she quickly grabbed the door and slammed it closed a little more enthusiastically than necessary.

The sound of the door had Amelia grumbling in her car seat as her hands became little fists and she squirmed unhappily. Xander didn't even miss a beat as he went to her, unclipping the straps and then gently picking her up to hold her against his chest. I looked around at all the boxes wondering where we were going to put it all, then I looked at Xander standing there holding Amelia.

I realized then that Xander and I were alone, and I felt awkward suddenly. It wasn't like it was the first time I'd been alone with him.

"Does this feel weird to you too?" I asked.

Xander gave me a crooked smile. "Yeah, but it will get easier, I promise. What's the worst that can happen?"

And then Amelia threw up all over him.

I burst out laughing at the look of shock on his face, and after a moment, he joined in, careful not to jostle Amelia.

"I think that answers my question," he said, looking down at the mess on his shirt.

"Welcome to parenthood," I said, then froze. That wasn't what this was. He wasn't Amelia's parent. He was just helping me out. Helping us out. Temporarily.

But as I watched him gently wipe Amelia's face with the clean part of his shirt, murmuring soft reassurances to her, something in my chest tightened.

This man, who had no obligation to either of us, was willing to stand there covered in baby vomit, while he soothed the child in his arms, and he still looked at Amelia like she hung the moon. And he was looking at me like... like I mattered too.

"I'll get a towel," I said, then hesitated, realizing I had no idea where anything was in this house.

"Down the hall, the door on the left," Xander directed, bouncing Amelia gently.

I hurried down the narrow hallway, acutely aware of how small the cottage was. The bathroom was tiny but clean, with a shower just big enough for one person. I grabbed a soft blue towel from the rack and turned to leave, only to collide with Xander, who had followed me with Amelia.

My hands instinctively went to his chest to steady myself, and I felt his free arm wrap around my waist. We stood there for a moment, pressed together in the narrow doorway, neither of us moving. I could feel his heartbeat under my palm, slightly faster than normal. His hand was warm against the small of my back, and I was suddenly aware of how close our faces were.

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