Page 69 of Grumpy Ex's Secret Baby

TYSON

Haleywassittinginthe passenger seat, humming along to Trinity’s favorite songs. The radio was turned up loud, and Trinity was in her car seat belting out all the wrong lyrics. Snow was falling around us as we drove out of town.

I had told Haley that I just wanted to take a drive, and she had been all for it. She was itching to get away from the house even though it had been a week since Joseph was arrested. She was still waking up in the middle of the night with tears streaming down her cheeks. I would hold her until she went back to sleep, but I knew the dreams were still haunting her.

Getting out of town for a few hours was the easiest way to take her mind away from everything.

“So,” Haley said for the millionth time as she looked at me. “Where are we going?”

“I told you I’m not telling you until we get there. You’re going to ruin the surprise if you keep asking me.”

“You know that I hate surprises.”

I shrugged and drummed my fingers on the wheel in time with the music. “That sounds like a personal problem, Hales. You’re the one that agreed to go on a drive to an undisclosed location with me.”

She laughed and reached over to take my hand and lace our fingers together. I squeezed her hand and kissed the back of it.

“You drive me crazy sometimes,” she said, grinning at me.

“You love it.”

“I love you.”

I chuckled and kissed the back of her hand again. “I love you too, Hales. Now, just sit back and enjoy the ride. There’s probably a half hour left before we get there.”

She sighed and leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes. I grinned and glanced in the mirror at Trinity. She was still holding her doll and singing as loud as she could.

My cheeks started hurting from smiling as I listened to my daughter. As much as I hoped she would always remain this young and carefree, I knew it wouldn’t happen. I just wished that she would always feel comfortable coming to me and her mom.

Almost half an hour later, I pulled off the main road and onto a dirt one. Tall trees lined the road, rising high. They were covered with snow, but our road had been cleared.

Tall brick walls rose on either side of the road, and a black iron gate was stretched across it. Haley’s eyes grew wide as I pulled out my phone and opened an app to open the gates. The gates opened with a loud groan, sliding out of the way.

“Tyson,” Haley said as she turned to look at me with wide eyes. “Where the hell have you taken us?”

“Hales, just sit back and enjoy this.”

I drove through the gates and up the road, peeking at Haley from the corner of my eye. She was shaking her head in disbelief and grinning when she saw the wide road open into an even wider driveway.

A large house rose high above the driveway, the walls made of wood stained black, white stone, and glass. There was a large porch that wrapped around the side of the house and led to the back.

“Tyson, what is this place?” Haley asked as I parked the truck. “Where are we?”

“Well, I told you I was planning on moving to town. This place is just outside of town, but I got the keys yesterday.”

She got out of the truck without saying anything and went to get Trinity out of her seat. Trinity took off running to the porch and up the stairs without a care in the world.

“It’s my house,” I said as I wrapped an arm around Haley and pulled her into my side. “And yours if you want it.”

“You’re giving up the city?” she asked.

“I told you I would, Hales. You and Trinity are my family, even if you don’t want to live with me yet.”

She bit her bottom lip and looked at the house. “Why don’t you give me a tour?”

I grinned and kissed her temple. She hadn’t said no to moving in with me, which was the important part. As much as I wanted her to live with me, I was going to let her make that decision. Our lives were just starting to get back to normal, and I didn’t want to push her too hard.

“Trinity, do you want to go see your new playroom?” I asked, walking with Haley to the front door.

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