Page 5 of A Date with Fate

“For someone who doesn’t want to hold him, you’ve got interesting ideas.”

Taylor shrugged. “I didn’t say I didn't want to. I said I shouldn't.”

My brows dropped, but before I could say anything in response, Taylor was leading me back to the sofa, pushing me lightly back into the cushions.

The swaddle fell off his little body easily, and since I still hadn’t thrown a shirt on, I just reclined back into my bed for the night and let Hayden rest right on my chest.

To my surprise, and overwhelming pleasure, the baby quieted immediately, nomming on a fist while pressed against my skin.

“Wow,” Taylor said in a hushed voice. “I’ll be honest. I did not know it would work like that.” She had plopped down on the next cushion over and now regarded her nephew with immense pleasure. Slowly, carefully, she reached a finger out and brushed it over one puffy cheek.

The baby stretched a little against me, making Taylor breathe in sharply as she brought her arm back to her lap.

Before I could stop myself, I reached out, capturing her cool fingers in my grip. “Hey, it’s okay. He's fine.”

Taylor gave me a wobbly smile before gently tugging her hand free. “I know,” she said, but her voice didn't sound very sure. With a jerk of her chin, she slowly stood. “I’m going to go make sure Carlie didn’t drown in the shower.”

“Okay, but no rush. We’re doing just fine,” I said, running my finger down the soft, warm back of the infant.

“Got it,” Taylor said. “Goodnight, Scott. Goodnight, Hayden.”

“Goodnight.”

When she turned the corner, disappearing once more from sight, I found myself staring down into the dark eyes of a still very awake Hayden. The corner of my lip curled up as I cupped a hand over his diapered behind and settled my shoulders deeper into the sofa.

“Might as well get comfortable, huh, little man. I have a feeling I won’t be getting much sleep the next few days. It’s not a very big camper,” I whispered. “And I like that girl a whole lot.” The baby didn’t respond, other than a happy-sounding smack of lips. But that was just fine. Checking that there was no way that the baby could roll free, I tossed a blanket over my legs, content to wait out Carlie.

Chapter Two

Taylor

I shouldn’t have laughed, but I couldn’t help it. Not when we rode down to Logan's fancy schmancy parking garage, where he’d reserved an extra space for Scott’s visit. It was all normal, but when I looked around the garage, filled with sports cars, spotless SUVs, and motorcycles, his enormous dually truck stuck out like a sore thumb.

Scott came up from behind me as I covered my giggle. “What? Can't you tell which one’s mine?”

“No, not at all.” I grinned up at him, my belly dropping a little as I realized how close we were standing. His blue eyes flashed in the underground lighting, and not for the first time, nervousness plagued me about this trip.

It was a road trip between two old friends. Completely platonic, overly boring, and absolutely not thrilling.

So why were my hands actually shaking when Scott bent a little, bringing his face far closer to mine. I must’ve gasped, because he stopped, dark-blond brows lifting a little as his hand ran over mine, gripping the handle of my suitcase and picking it up and out of my grip.

“Oh,” I said, sheepish. I knew I had to be blushing, which, for someone my age, was completely insane.

But this guy, something was so different today. I didn't know what yet, but I had loads of time to figure it out.

“Allow me,” Scott said, striding ahead with my bag, opening the back doors to his truck, and sliding the bag in there. “Anything else?”

“Nah, I’m a light packer.” Which was true, but I also didn’t feel like elaborating on the fact that instead of going back to my apartment, I had been staying in hotels for the past several weeks. I had the cash to do so, and it was somehow easier than having the conversation about how Clay, my ex-boyfriend, had yet to get out of my home.

Home. It didn’t feel like my home anymore. Honestly, I wanted to sell it. The part of me that had wanted that apartment was gone now, a strange and foolish notion that I’d wanted to move downtown like Logan.

Maybe I had more of my mother’s wandering soul in me than I’d thought. Or maybe, I thought as Scott opened my door for me, his calloused hand warm in mine, I just hadn’t found home yet. That’s all right, I told myself. I had time. The world was wide. There would be a place for me.

“Are you all ready?” Scott was looking at me, questions clear in his eyes.

I grinned at him, reaching out to tug at the car scent tags he had hanging from his mirror. “Absolutely. Jackson Falls, here we come!”

Scott snorted. “You’re already easier to travel with than your brother.”

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