Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
Devyn
Brody left before the night game, saying he had to collect on a bet, but Riley stayed through all three. I’m internally freaking out about how easy it is being with him. Watching him interact with our son is so much better than I had imagined. Who knew he’d be such a natural with kids?
Nate clung to him the whole day, hanging on every word. I wonder if he can sense something. One thing I’ve learned as a parent is how intuitive kids are. Nate blows my mind constantly. Speaking of mind-blowing, Riley has me floored when it’s time to put Nathan to bed.
“May I do it?” he asks.
I crinkle my brows. “Do what?”
“Put him to bed.” He ruffles Nate’s hair. “Would you like that, buddy?”
Nathan pumps his fist in the air. “Heck yes!” He tugs on my pants. “Momma, is that okay? Please?” He extends the last word.
I smile. “Sure, honey. Why don’t you go pick out a book, and Riley will be there in a minute?”
Nathan bounces down the hall into his room.
Riley grabs my hand. “Thank you.”
I stare at our joined fingers. “Um, yeah. Sure.”
We stand there in silence looking at each other.
Drew gets up from the couch and stretches. “Yeah…I have to be on shift early tomorrow so I’m going to bed, too. You kids have fun. Don’t do anything I would do.”
Riley smirks as Drew closes the door to his bedroom. “Doesn’t he mean don’t do anything I wouldn’t do?”
I chuckle. “No, I’m pretty sure he said what he meant. Don’t get me wrong…Drew’s incredible—he saved me when I didn’t have anyone.” I shift on my feet as I catch his somber expression from my comment. “Anyway, he’s really just a big kid at heart. He definitely doesn’t act his age most days.”
Riley tugs on my hand and pulls me in for a hug. “Hey, I don’t think apologizing for everything is even close to adequate, but you know that I wish I were there, right? Through everything? I don’t think I could ever regret anything more in my life.”
Tears form in my eyes. God, I missed this. “Riley, I?—”
“Eeeewwww!” Nathan says. “Are you guys going to make a baby or somfin’?”
“What?” we both ask as we break apart.
“Christopher says that babies get in their mommy’s tummies when grownups hug.”
Riley raises his eyebrows. “Who’s this Christopher kid?”
“A friend of his at preschool.” I kneel down to Nathan’s level. “Honey, you see me hugging other grownups all the time. That’s not where babies come from.”
“Well then how do you make ’em?” he asks.
“Isn’t this conversation supposed to happen much later in life?” Riley mutters.
I kiss Nathan on the cheek. “I’ll tell you when you’re a little older.”
“Aw, Mom!” Nathan whines.
I laugh as I stand up and look at Riley. “He’s all yours. Good luck with that.”
Riley takes Nate’s hand and starts walking down the hall. Nathan continues asking questions about the birds and the bees, and Riley looks petrified as he artfully dodges each one. He casts a backward glance as they step into the bedroom. I give him a thumbs-up and a smile as he mouths, Help.
Call me evil if you want, but I’m enjoying this way too much to save him from Nate’s curiosity. If Riley really wants to be involved in our son’s life—which I believe he does—I say there’s no faster way to learn how to be a parent than trial by fire. I mean, we all have to go through it, right?
Welcome to fatherhood, Rye.