Page 26 of Loving You

Will’s shit-eating grin had my eyes narrowing. I’d left the house before April woke, and I felt twin sensations of relief and regret at missing her.

For the last few hours, I’d been plowing through work to distract me from the inappropriate thoughts that still did their damnedest to snake their way into my mind.

And they were.

Inappropriate.

My middle-of-the-night cock-for-brains had run amuck with the fantasy of April and me together, but in the light of day, shame coated my insides at the thought of the desire and gut-level longing I felt for her.

So I’d redoubled my commitment to help her, convincing myself I could be her friend, her helper, and keep all the lust and other feelings at bay.

It was for the best.

“Kate and I have a question for you.” He wrapped his apron strings tighter around his waist and re-tied them, but notably didn’t sit.

Apparently, this wouldn’t be a long conversation. And thank god, too, because I needed to get some air soon. “Is Kate not involved in asking it?”

His flat look told me he wanted to spew some of his colorful words at me, but he was suppressing them for some reason. I straightened in my seat, interest piqued.

“She suggested it come from me, in this case.”

“Okay. Ask away.”

He swallowed, a hint of nerves creeping into all that confidence and swagger. “Kate and I are hoping you’ll be Lea’s godfather.”

My brows rose.

He slipped into the seat across from me. “It’s not just a title, right? We mean shepherding her as she grows, but also in the sense that you’d be her legal guardian if something happens to the both of us. We thought a long time about who to ask, and even though you’re not married—”

“Thank you for the reminder, dipshit—”

“We think you’d be the best fit. You already dote on her like a freaking grandpa.” He cleared his throat. “You held us all together. And if something happens to me and Kate, I want to know the kids have someone they can rely on. There is no one more reliable than you.”

Something in that rankled even while my chest felt too full from the honor he and Kate were showing me. “The kids? Am I Jackson’s godfather too?”

His sheepish grin told me the answer before he spoke. “No. I actually asked Sammy, but I would appreciate it if you’d be willing to be his legal guardian if something should happen in the next year or so. That way he and Lea can stay together. After that, J will be an adult.”

All manner of emotions twisted through me. Elation that he and Kate trusted me. A twinge of grief that Jackson was already grown. Love for the little messes that were my nieces.

And something more complex, something like regret that I wouldn’t have a partner to help in a time of crisis.

If anything happened to Will and Kate, I would take on the role of guardian to my niece and nephew in a heartbeat. But the thought of not having someone to handle that with in the event it was necessary felt like a shortcoming I could hardly see around.

Unwilling to succumb to that train of thought, I gritted out, “Are you sure? Jake and Ellie would be amazing.”

Will nodded. “They would. But we’re choosing you. Plus, you’ll make sure everyone sees them. You’ll…” He cleared his throat again, new fatherhood obviously making him more emotional than usual. “It’ll be great, and if you’re on board, then it’s decided.”

“Let me know what I need to do,” I said, standing when he did, needing to walk off this restlessness rising in me.

I followed him through the kitchen, giving him a farewell nod as I stepped into the bar just in time to see my mother glaring out the main entrance’s door as it swung shut.

Jenna Walker rarely looked that perturbed unless it was directed at one of her sons. But by the time she’d stormed up and slammed her purse into a seat at the bar, I couldn’t believe it was any of us.

After all, her most problematic children had recently given her grandchildren, angel baby Jake was getting married, and I was… steady. I wasn’t sure I’d ever given her grief.

“What’s—”

“That woman is so bitter. Who shit on her shoe and called it chocolate?”

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