Page 41 of The Single Dads Club
Ryleigh’s eyes flash to mine. “No. Of course not. You’ve been incredible. More than I could have ever asked for.”
The waitress chooses that moment to deliver the coffees we’ve both ordered.
“Thank you.” Ryleigh reaches for her mug and dumps in a generous serving of sugar and cream.
The waitress flips open a notepad and looks at me. “What are you having?”
“Five eggs, over easy. Breakfast sausage. Two pancakes with bacon, and a side of wheat toast, please.” My gaze swings to Ryleigh, who’s stirring her coffee, staring at it intently rather than looking at me. “Ry?”
“Oh, nothing for me. Just coffee.”
I shake my head. “You’re eating. What do you want? Eggs? Pancakes?”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine. French toast, please. With a side of bacon.”
Satisfied, the waitress flips her notebook closed and saunters away.
Ryleigh’s got to get over this whole thing about me paying. I make millions, and it does me no good sitting in a bank account. I enjoy treating my friends and family. It pisses me off when she takes that away from me, and I think I’ve done everything I can to not make her feel like she and Ella are a financial burden.
I take a sip of my coffee, trying to compose myself. My chest feels tight, and I have no idea why I’m out of breath like I just ran a four-second forty.
Ella wakes suddenly, letting out a sharp cry.
Ryleigh flinches and turns toward the baby. She unbuckles the straps and carefully lifts her out. “She needs a new diaper.”
I rise to my feet and reach for her. “I’ve got it.”
Ryleigh frowns, but makes no move to pass Ella over.
I thrust my hands closer. “I said I’ve got it.” Is she really going to rob me of this too? I didn’t even get to say good-bye to Ella yesterday before they just took off.
Finally, Ryleigh relents and hands the baby to me. I shoulder the diaper bag and stalk off for the restrooms at the back corner of the restaurant.
Cradling the baby against my chest, I head into the men’s room and find a dude at the urinals taking a piss, but no baby-changing station.What the fuck?
The guy flashes me a confused look, and I have no idea if it’s because he’s recognized me or because I’m holding a baby.
I huff out a frustrated sigh and exit, heading straight into the women’s restroom. Thankfully, it’s deserted, but even if it weren’t, I’d like to see someone try to stop me from changing Ella. She needs a new diaper. And we need a changing table.
I open the changing table and wipe it down with an antibacterial wipe from the diaper bag, then lay down a small blanket and place Ella on top.
“You okay, princess? I’ll get you cleaned up good as new.”
She makes a soft cooing noise, and my throat tightens.
I unsnap her onesie and remove the soiled diaper, wiping her carefully like my older sister taught me the first time I changed her daughter. Once Ella’s perfectly clean, I take out a new diaper and cover her.
“That’s my girl.” I grin down at her, snapping up the buttons on her pink onesie.
The words lodge in my throat. It’s a lie. She’s not my girl. And neither is Ryleigh.
But I intend to find out why, and what the fuck I can do about it.
“Let’s roll, baby.”
I lift her into my arms and head back into the dining room. Once we arrive at the table, I hand her to Ryleigh.
“She smells so much better now.” Ryleigh smiles for the first time since she arrived, and it’s not lost on me.
