Page 52 of Protector Daddy

New positions…in life. Right.

“But being a teacher is so important. Taking a break isn’t a failure. It’s just giving you time to regroup—”

“I quit school, Brady.”

“Taking time off is okay, kiddo.”

“I didn’t take time off. I quit. I think I just wanted to spend time with kids, but I’m not sure I’m meant to teach them. Like maybe I’d be patient enough if they were my children, but someone else’s…I just don’t think that life is for me,” I said quietly. “I mistook loving kids for thinking that I was going to be a good teacher. And that’s just not true.”

His brow furrowed. “But you’re so good with Presley. Tab’s convinced she’ll be reading early because of all those stories you read to her.”

“She’s family. Next best thing to my own. Doesn’t mean I’d be the same with other people’s kids. I can be a short-tempered bitch.” I laughed and went to snap my ponytail holder back on my hair and remembered Christian had stolen it.

A faint smile curved my mouth. Guess I’d have to start carrying a couple of them.

“Maybe you need to take some time to think about it. You could change your mind.”

“I am thinking about it. But I’m pretty sure my mind is made up.” I shrugged. “Maybe what I want is a kid of my own not a classroom of them.”

If I’d announced I was on crystal meth, I don’t think my brother would have looked any more horrified.

He wasn’t the only one. I’d never considered such a thing until the words had spilled out of me. Now that they had, the idea wasn’t abhorrent.

It was a little strange, sure, since my best friend was all about the freewheeling bed-hopping lifestyle. I’d assumed I was too. Or eventually, I would be.

Turned out I hopped very few beds. Instead, I made sticky buns and watched Netflix and was learning how to crochet amigurumi yarn animals, thanks to Mav’s new wife.

That reminded me. I needed her help doing the spikes on that dragon I’d started. I’d have to ask her once she was back from her honeymoon.

Freewheeling? Eh, not so much.

“What? What’s wrong with you?”

“This from the man who recently had his own kid.” I shook my head and shifted to use the mouse to check the rest of the location screens.

“If you like babies so much, borrow mine all you want. I don’t mind. Tab won’t mind. Hell, you can take her next weekend.”

“Your wife might have an issue with you offering out her kid like a watermelon.”

“Nah, she loves sleep more than she loves me at this point. It’ll be fine. Or hey, Mav’s having one too. You know how irresponsible he is. Van too. I bet they’ll be happy if you take the kid every few days.” Brady paused and looked heavenward. “Sorry, I’m trying to be better. I didn’t mean that. Special dispensation.”

I didn’t know who he was talking to or how he was trying to be better, but again, did he not understand that offering children to me wasn’t solving the problem?

Not that there was a problem. I wasn’t some baby-hungry mama-to-be. I just liked kids. I liked how they smelled like powder and sweetness and fresh shampoo. I loved how they giggled when you tickled their bellies. I liked teaching them new things and watching their eyes light up.

Perhaps I needed counseling. Or to move away from this baby-obsessed town.

My brother laid his hand over mine and jerked me back to face him. “Is this Mickey’s doing? Tab watched a movie on that woman’s network the other night about two girls who made a pact to get pregnant together.”

If I’d laughed any harder, I would’ve sprained something. “Mickey? Mickey won’t even get near a dude if he isn’t double bagged. She won’t take any chances, so no. She doesn’t want a baby. And I didn’t say I did either.”

“You very clearly stated you might want your own kid. I heard you say that.”

“Easy does it, Leave it to Beaver. And don’t go running to Mav with this intel either. I was just saying maybe someday in the future. Like lots of women think they might want a child someday. No big.” I jerked a shoulder although inside me, it did feel big. I wasn’t even sure why.

I was in no place to even consider having a child. I had a job—a couple of jobs now—my own apartment, a savings account, and a two-year degree. Certainly the start for a stable life. But I wasn’t there yet by a long shot.

Most importantly, I didn’t have a man to build a family with. Just a lot of very buzzy emotions for a guy who’d rocked my world sexually.

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