Page 33 of Who's Your Daddy
“That’s great news.” Cal’s voice is way too chipper.
“I hate this place,” I mumble, eyes drifting shut.
Brian grunts. “I’m not too crazy about it either, but it’s only a year.”
I snap my eyes open again and narrow them on my boss. “Ninety days. That’s all I promised.”
Chapter 11
Cal
“Testing. Testing.”
The guy next to me is watching, biting back a smile.
“You mind holding this and standing right here?” I ask, holding up one brand-new walkie-talkie.
The man shrugs. “Sure.”
I count my steps until I’m about ten feet away, then hold the second walkie-talkie up and press the button. “Can you hear me now?”
He nods.
I walk another ten feet. “How ‘bout now?”
When he gives me a thumbs up, I stalk back another ten.
“And now?”
He presses the button on the device in his hand. “Yes.”
“My man.” I grin. “That’s about the distance from here to the school, right?”
Eyes narrowed, he studies me, like he’s cataloging my features so he can give them to a sketch artist.
“I’m not a creep, I swear.” One hand held out, I dart back to him. “I’m a dad. A new one,” I explain.
“Ah.” He nods, his expression relaxing. “It’s hard to leave them.”
“Exactly! I’m Cal.” I hold out my hand.
He returns the gesture. “Roger. My daughter is in fourth grade.”
“My son is in first.”
With a flick of his wrist, he turns the walkie-talkie off. “He’ll probably like this. My daughter would never go for it. Ten going on seventeen and all.” He chuckles.
“Yeah, I’m really glad my surprise kid was a boy.”
His eyes go wide. “Surprise kid?”
Before I can explain, the double doors fly open, and a rush of kids descend the steps.
T.J. is leading the pack, but even once I’ve scanned the crowd, Murphy is nowhere in sight.
“Uncle Cal!” My nephew launches himself into my arms.
Fortunately I’m used to his enthusiasm, so I catch him easily.
