Page 24 of Fool for You
“Thelasttimeyouasked me to babysit, Stetson flat out refused and ended up going with you, remember?” I placed my palms on the kitchen island, mimicking my sister’s stance. It barely crossed my mind that someone said I was the one whoneededbabysitting, not three days ago, and now I was the one being askedtobabysit.
Abi bit her bottom lip, her eyebrows furrowing with an expression that screamed worry.Please, Wyatt,she begged silently,watch my kid.Being the asshole brother I was, I’dlet her stew for a little bit. Except my sister didn’t know the meaning of the words ‘little’ and ‘bit.’
“That was almost a year ago, and now you’ll have Stetson and Poppy. Stet will be thrilled to help entertain her for a day.” Her hands moved from the counter to her sides, her expression still pleading.
“A day?” I repeated, louder than I intended. “You and Rhett want to trust me”—I pointed to my chest—“with your kids for an entire day.”
“Well, afternoon into the evening. We’ll be home shortly after bedtime, but…” Abi raised a shoulder. “Stet can stay awake until Cash and I get home.”
“Where are you guys going? The four of you? The ultimate double date?” I pushed myself off the counter, swinging my arms until they landed on my hips.
Abi’s face fell as her hands slid across the marble counter, her fingers coming together as she fiddled with the engagement ring on her left hand. She was being quiet…unusually quiet. Whereas before she couldn’t stew…it seemed to be all she wanted to do now.
“Abi,” I drew out her name.
“Cash and Rhett were able to sign up for a rodeo in Boise. A few cowboys had to back out, and they had some room, so they were able to jump on.”
“Boise? Tonight?”
As much as I hated to admit it, my stomach dropped the moment I knew they were going to the Round-Up, a rodeo I had announced at a time or two. It wasn’t a huge event by any means, but still, it wasmyrodeo. Cash and Rhett would probably bring home a couple of hundred bucks each, but seeing as they both just did rodeo for their own enjoyment and not for their careers, they most likely got a call and signed up last minute. And yet—I didn’t get any kind of call from the committee. The look on Abi’sface was all the proof I needed to know she was even hesitant to tell me where they were going. That stung a little harder than it should have.
I missed being behind that microphone. Every time I thought about what I was missing out on—the rustle of papers as we followed the line up, the judges in our ears calling out scores, the view being the best one in the entire house, the excitement that just came with being there—whenever those memories even remotely passed through my brain waves, I could feel a piece of me shatter. Working on the ranch was one thing, helping me figure out that rodeos weren’t everything I had to look forward to, but it didn’t completely kill the void that only being back in that booth could fill.
I licked my lips and heaved a sigh, pulling myself back together to look at my sister.
She let out a long breath through her rounded lips. “Sorry, I know it sucks to know we are all going to a rodeo while asking you to stay behind with the kids—but—”
“Abi.” I stopped her, raising my hand. “I’m the one who fucked up, remember? Just because I can’t participate doesn’t mean that Cash and Rhett shouldn’t.” I swallowed, putting on my best face. “You don’t think Stet will want to go?”
She huffed. “Oh, he will, but we want to go to dinner after, as yes”—she lifted her hands air quoting—“the ultimate double date. Which includes a restaurant and drinks, and no kids allowed. You’re great with the kids. Stet and Poppy love you.”
“I know they do,” I said with a cocky grin, waggling my eyebrows. “I’m the best damn uncle any kid could have.”
But damn, I’d rather be at that rodeo.
“I’ll pay you,” Abi added quickly.
“No, you won’t.” I gave her a pointed glare. “You know damn well I’ll watch them. I’ve finally seenBlueyand kinda want to watch more.”
“Not too much screen time, please. That kid has become addicted to his Nintendo.”
“Well, why did you let yourfiancéget it for him for his birthday?”
“He was turning eight. It was a big deal,” she defended. “We didn’t think he’d get attached to Mario.”
I chuckled, rolling my sleeves up. “I’ll hide it. When are you guys leaving?”
“Around one, enough time to get some chores done, and Cash has a few clients this morning. Oh.” She lifted a finger in the air. “Kyla needs you to stop by her house so she can fit the baby carrier on you.”
I pinched my brow. “Why?”
“You can’t do night check and feed the horses while carrying a baby, can you?”
“Hell no, but…looks like Stetson is learning night check tonight because I am not wearing a baby carrier.” I shook my head, firm on my decision.
But I made a liar out of myself when I did indeed go to Kyla’s, where she showed me how to put on Poppy’s chest carrier. She hooked me up and slipped Poppy inside, her little blue eyes facing me, a smile on her small lips. Kid was cute, I’d give her that. She had the Hartwell eyes with her mama’s hair, and she knew she had her Uncle Wyatt wrapped around her little finger. Kyla went over all the things I needed to know in detail, and I took mental notes. I’d watched Stet a few times, but never when he was as young as Poppy. I may have been good with him, but I traveled a lot, plus I didn’t think Abi and Sylas were trusting enough to leave me alone with him. I could get the kid asleep, I could rock him and put him in his crib, no issues. I could hum until he calmed and began to hum along with me, but Abi or Sylas was always with me.
“Dumb question…” I asked, looking down at my niece as she cooed. “Well, a few. Can she sit up yet? Can she hold her head up? Can she…walk?”
