How the hell do I say no to that?
“Sure.” I scoop him up and carry him into the great room, sinking down on the sectional and letting him nestle against my chest. His thumb drifts to his mouth, something I haven’t noticed him do before, and he closes his eyes.
Jesus.
My heart rate might finally be returning to normal, so I let my eyes fall closed too.
His warm little body is pressed against mine, and after a few minutes I realize he’s asleep.
“Should I clean up the glass?” Lindy asks me in a whisper.
I shake my head. “No, honey, it’s okay. I don’t want anyone else to get cut. I’ll do it in a little bit. I’m just going to sit here like this for a while, let him rest.”
“I’m really sorry,” she says. “I didn’t mean to.”
“It was an accident,” I say gently. “Don’t worry. It’s just a glass, and Joey’s going to be fine.”
“I failed as a babysitter,” she announces dramatically.
“You didn’t fail. You think I’ve never broken a glass or stepped on something that cut me?”
“But he’s so little.”
“Little kids get hurt way more than big kids. Promise. You’re fine.”
She looks so sad and forlorn standing there, my heart breaks a little.
“Come sit here with us,” I say after a while, holding out my free arm.
She practically vaults over my legs to jump onto the couch and snuggle into my other side.
What the hell is happening?
I went from no kids to two kids in the blink of an eye.
And my traitorous heart kind of likes it.
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Serena
Nothing could have prepared me for the sight in front of me when I finally came back downstairs. West on the couch in the great room, Joey asleep against his chest and Lindy nestled against his side. Even now, hours later, I can still see it in my mind’s eye. And remember exactly what it did to my insides to see West cuddling my son. My heart nearly burst with joy and longing, in a way I never imagined.
It’s been hours but I’m still thinking about it.
Even as I tend to the meat in the oven.
As I meet West’s coach and his husband, along with Jayne’s boss.
As we drink wine and nibble appetizers.
West hired a babysitter for the evening, who’s in the den with the kids, keeping them entertained so us adults can relax.
He really is the most thoughtful guy ever.
“You okay?” he asks, brushing past me with a smile.