Page 40 of Keeping Promises

Hadley doesn’t put up a fight, and she takes the list that I left in the cart. We go section by section, adding items that the baby will definitely need and other things that are just cute or funny. By the time we reach the diaper section, I’m still sulking over her vetoing the deluxe baby bath that included a hose sprayer, jets, and an inflatable pillow. I mean, I want my kid to have the best, but Hadley said that was too much.I guess I see her point, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to sneak back and capture the barcode any less.

I stop midsip, finishing the last of my smoothie when I look up. Holy shit, that’s a lot of diapers. Hadley took back the gun and is busy snapping things away. Who knew there were so many different options—different sizes, Swaddlers, Cruisers, sensitive skin, organic? I mean, shit is shit no matter what you clean it up with or capture it with.

“Why don’t you grab a few packs of whatever diapers and wipes you just scanned and throw them in the cart. It can’t hurt to start early on stockpiling.”

Her eyes are trained on the screen on the gun as she presses buttons. “That’s probably right, especially because this only lets me select a maximum of ten. I don’t know much about babies, but I feel like ‘endless’ should be a quantity option when scanning these things. Here, think fast.”

Hadley tosses me a box of wipes and two packages of size 1 diapers.

“Okay, I think all that’s left is clothing and furniture.”

We begin to navigate through the aisles, adding a few random items here and there to the registry.

“Well, Ben and Lexi have the crib covered.”

“Wait, what?” she screeches and stops abruptly. I nearly ram the cart into her back, but luckily, I have quick reflexes.

“Oh shit,” I mutter under my breath. “Did you not know that?”Good fucking going, Asher, way to ruin the surprise.

Her eyes are wide as she slowly shakes her head.

“Well, I mean, I don’t know that for sure, but when Ben spilled the beans about this—” I motion my hands between us. “—he had been looking up cribs and said that he and Lexi wanted to do something nice for you like that. So if, for the record, they do end up giving you a crib, can you please act surprised?”

Hadley’s eyes are glazed over in awe, and her hands are covering her nose and mouth. Once she composes herself, she pops her hip to the side. “I can totally act surprised. How’s this face?”

She makes a dramatically shocked expression, like one of those cheesy ones you might see at a cheerleading competition or maybe in a photoshoot. I can’t hold back my laughter.

“How about we work on those and just keep it our little secret for now.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders, and we guide the cart toward the clothes section.

“I just can’t believe they would do that. It’s too much.”

My steps falter, and I face her. “No, it’s not. You’re their family. They would do anything for you.” What I’m close to saying isI’m starting to realize that you’re my family, too. And I would do anything for you, too.But I decide it’s best not to complicate things and keep my thoughts to myself.

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