Page 25 of Better Daddy
With a quick kiss to Cal’s neck, she thanks him for rushing in, then slides down his body. It’s oddly endearing how adorable they are. Though it’s equally nauseating.
I blame it on the pregnancy hormones.
Cal props the broom and the mop up in the corner and holds up his hands. “I was specifically warned not to enter the bathroom when you’re in here,” he whispers. “So I’m going to back out slowly, and we’ll pretend you never saw me. Okay?” He takes an exaggerated stepback, then another, and at the threshold, he shoots me a wink, then spins and disappears.
Lo wears a dreamy smile as she gazes out into the hall. “So,” she finally says when she snaps back to the present. “Why were you screaming for me?”
“There aren’t really mice, right?” I ask at the same time.
With a roll of her eyes, she puts her hands on her hips. “You just told me there weren’t.”
“I literally just moved in. How would I know? What the hell is this place? And tell me this isn’t the only bathroom.”
Lo bites her bottom lip. “Yeah, it’s less than ideal.”
“Less than ideal?” I hiss, my blood pressure spiking in a way that probably isn’t good for a pregnant woman. “Warts are less than ideal. Mice, less than ideal. Hell, the commute to Jersey is less than fucking ideal. This, Lo”—I motion to the space around us—“This is ludicrous.”
She sighs, her shoulders lowering. “I don’t understand how Terry lived here, and I’m not sure I’ll ever figure out why he insisted that the guys move in.”
“Nothing about this makes sense. Why are we here?” I whine. Yes, I’m being difficult, but I’m not sure how much more I can take. “I have to share a room with my ex-husband. And my kid. And before you say that second part isn’t a problem, let me promise you, it really, really is. I have a naked-sleeping problem, and the last thing I need is to scar my six-year-old by stripping down in our shared room in the middle of the night.”
Lo scrunches her nose. “A naked-what now?”
“I—uh…” I grimace. “I tend to undress while I’m sleeping.” I peer out the open door to make sure we’re alone.
My secret should still be safe. I can’t imagine Sully mentioning this to his law partner or his brother. Hell, he probably doesn’t even remember. The man has barely spared me a glance in the last few years.
“Like you kick off your pants?” she asks. “That’s normal. We’ve all done it when we get overheated.”
“No, Lo.” I shake my head. “Like completely naked. Half the time I can’t find my clothes the next day. I am apparently very neat when I sleep. I fold my pajamas like clean laundry and put them away. One time, I found them in the fridge the next morning.” I wave a hand. “The point is, I wake up naked, and I can’t be naked in a room with Sully and T.J.”
Lo claps a hand to her mouth, but not before a snort escapes her. “Sorry.” She winces. “I know all of this is less than ideal, but can’t you put on a few more layers or something? It’s only a few months.”
“It’s nine months, Lo. Nine freaking months. Not to mention I’ll be hotter than normal because I’m freaking pregnant.”
She hums, her focus drifting up and to the side like she’s thinking. “What if?—”
I hold up a hand, cutting her off. It’s not up to her to come up with a solution. And it’s not fair of me to put the responsibility on her. Everything seems even more dire since I walked in here, but that isn’t her problem. “Forget it. You’re right. I’m just emotional. Extra layers make sense.”
“Are you sure?” she asks, frowning. “What if you and I share a room? Cal could bunk with Sully and T.J. If that’s what you need to feel comfortable here, he’d understand.”
My heart sinks. I’m being selfish, and here she is, willing to kick her boyfriend out of bed to accommodate me. “No. You and Cal are just starting out. You deserve this time. It’s special.”
Her green eyes brighten and her cheeks go pink. She’s so damn happy, and I’m happy for her. She deserves it. So does Cal. Just because Sully and I are miserable doesn’t mean everyone else should be.
I pad over to the sink and unzip my toiletry bag. “I’m going to take a shower and get ready for bed.”
“It’s six.” Lo holds up her phone like I might not believe her.
I nod. Yeah, it’s early, but I’m ready for this day to end. Tomorrow will be better. It has to be.
Chapter 8
Sully
At the sound of a clunk on the hardwood floor, I bolt upright. I regret it instantly.Fuck. I haven’t even opened my eyes when I slam against the low ceiling above me.Again.
I bite back a string of curses as I rub my forehead. Men over six feet should not sleep in bunk beds. The pain ebbs as I lie back again, but as I shift, my lower back twinges, sending a bolt of pain down my leg. The bloody leg that’s hanging off the end of this cursedly tiny bed. Fuck my height. Sleeping arrangements like this are a nightmare for men over forty.
