Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Sloane
I’m jolted awake to the feel of lips pressing to my cheek. “I need to get going,” Baker whispers.
Last night comes crashing back, and as I blink open my eyes, I remember that the three of us slept in Camden’s room. “Have a good day,” I whisper in my sleep-laced voice.
Baker pulls me back into his chest and buries his face in my neck.
I should pull out of his embrace, remind him that I work for him and that lines are being blurred, but I don’t.
Instead, I soak up the feel of his arms wrapped around me and remind myself that he’s had a rough few weeks—hell, a rough few years, and he’s leaning on me like I told him that he could.
That’s all this is.
I don’t know how much time passes, but he eventually sighs, kisses my cheek one more time, and releases me. He climbs over both of us, bends down to kiss Camden, and whispers, “Have a good day,” before he disappears out the door.
There’s no way I’m getting back to sleep after that, but I continue to lie here until I hear the faint sounds of his SUV pulling out of the garage. Carefully, I climb out of bed and head to my room to get ready for the day.
I need a cup of coffee, but Camden’s still sleeping, so instead, I lounge on my bed and read a little until I hear him jabbering through the baby monitor. Smiling, I turn off my tablet and the baby monitor and head to his room.
“Good morning, handsome.” I smile at him, and he rewards me with one from him. “How did you sleep?” I ask, bending down and lifting him into my arms.
“No sweap. Pway,” he says.
I chuckle. “First, let's get your diaper changed, some food in your belly, and then we can go to the park for a little bit to play. Maybe we’ll call Bellamy and see if baby Coral wants to come with us.”
“Baby,” he says, his eyes lighting up.
“I know. You love your baby cousin, don’t you?
” I ask, as I finish changing his diaper.
“Now, let’s fill this belly.” I tickle his tummy, and he laughs.
Downstairs, I strap him into the new booster seat that I ordered for him.
It’s counter height and sits at the Island, and he loves it so much better than his highchair.
I saw it online one day while he was napping and texted Baker, asking if I could buy it.
I smile when I remember his reply. “You have the card; use it for whatever the two of you need.” He included me, and it warmed my heart.
Not that I would. I only use the card for things Camden or Baker needs, like sending flowers and buying him clothes.
I’d never use it for my own personal use.
“Okay, kiddo, today’s menu is scrambled eggs, toast, and some blueberries.” Grabbing a plate, I get to work, popping two pieces of bread into the toaster, quickly cutting blueberries in half, and placing them on the plate in front of him. He dives right in, shoving them into his mouth.
Once his toast is buttered and on his plate, I start some scrambled eggs for each of us. He eats like a champ, and I snap a picture of his empty plate and him smiling with a messy face, and send it off to Baker.
Me: Breakfast was a success!
I know he can’t reply, but he’ll see it when he gets a chance to check his phone, and I know he likes to get updates about our day.
Not because he’s a helicopter dad, but he loves his son, and he wants to be involved in all aspects of his life, even if it’s pictures of things he’s missing while he works.
After Camden’s cleaned up from breakfast, he runs off to the living room to play, and I follow him, phone in hand, while I call Bellamy.
“Hey,” she greets me.
“Morning. I’m calling with an official invitation for you and Coral to join us for a morning at the park,” I say in a prim and proper voice.
“Oh. Are you not going to the event at the stadium?”
“What event?”
“It’s fans weekend.”
“I knew that was a thing, but I guess I forgot about it,” I admit.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s open to all fans, and they can get autographs or whatever. I’m taking Coral to surprise Reid.”
“He’s going to love that.”
“You and Camden should join us. I know Baker would love for him to be there. Cam’s never attended any of the events, outside of family day when Baker had him. Mrs. Ward never brought him, and neither did Natasha.”
“Really?” I ask. That makes my heart hurt for Baker.
“Nope. He’d love it. I’m sure he didn’t mention it because it wasn’t Mrs. Ward’s thing. He’s never had him there, so it probably didn’t even dawn on him,” Bellamy says.
Or it could have been that he had me wrapped up in his arms and was distracted. “I’m in,” I say, because I can see an image in my mind of Baker’s face lighting up when he sees us. Well, sees his son, and I want to give him that. “What time are you leaving?”
“I’m going to leave here around ten. I’ll leave a few minutes early and swing by and pick you all up.”
“I’ll just meet you there. He’ll need his car seat.”
“We can just put his car seat in my car. Be ready at ten. This is going to be so much fun. Baker is going to be stoked. They both will be. See you soon,” she says and ends the call.
“Hey, Cam.”
He climbs to his feet and toddles over to me. “Swide?”
“How about we go watch Daddy play football?” I ask him.
“Daddy, ball!” He throws his little arms in the air and cheers.
“Let’s go get ready.” Scooping him up in my arms, I take him up to his room to get dressed.
I put him in his number 32 Sinclair jersey and a pair of athletic shorts.
He’s cute as hell, sporting his dad’s miniature jersey.
I pack the diaper bag with diapers, wipes, a thin blanket, toys, and extra clothes just in case, and then carry it all to my room, with Camden hot on my heels.
I change into a Rampage T-shirt and cutoff jean shorts, pull my hair up in a ponytail, as it’s going to be hot today, and call it good. “Now, we need snacks,” I tell Camden.
“Smacks.” He nods his agreement.
“Come on, you.” I lift him back into my arms, toss the diaper bag over my shoulder, and head back downstairs.
Camden plays while I pack some snacks and two insulated water bottles—one full of water and one with milk—into a separate pouch with ice packs in the diaper bag.
I grab another insulated water bottle for me and slide it into the side pocket, before grabbing a clean sippy cup and a few snack options for him while we’re there.
I’m probably overdoing it, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
I put his sandals on him and hear Bellamy’s car pull up. “Time to go, bud.”
“Bye-bye,” he says, and I can’t help but smile. He’s the cutest kid ever. With Camden on my hip, I make my way outside. Bellamy rolls down the passenger window and waves.
“Hey, you two.”
“Baby!” Camden shouts with glee.
“That’s right.” She smiles. “Put him in here with me, while you get the car seat.”
“Thank you.” Opening the passenger door, I place him in the seat, and he immediately turns to stand and looks in the back seat for Coral. “I need to run in and get his diaper bag and lock up the house.”
“I’ve got him,” Bellamy assures me.
After rushing back into the house, I grab my purse, making sure I have my phone, the house keys, and the diaper bag.
I lock the front door and leave through the garage.
I’m sweating by the time I open the back driver’s side door to Bellamy’s SUV to install Camden’s car seat. “Ugh, it’s so hot,” I complain.
“It’s going to be a hot one,” Bellamy agrees.
“All right, kiddo, let’s get you strapped in,” I tell Camden.
He reaches for me, and I help him climb into the back seat, much to his delight. He insists on giving Coral no less than three kisses before I can get him wrangled into his car seat and strapped in.
“Ready,” I say, sliding into the passenger seat, closing the door, and pointing the air conditioner vents in my direction.
“Kids take a lot,” Bellamy says. “I started getting ready an hour sooner than I normally would have just to get her ready and make sure I had everything packed up that I needed.”
“Right? And she’s still a baby, so she needs more than Cam, but it’s a lot. I know I overpacked, but I’d rather have what we need than not have it. Oh, wait. The stroller. Should I get that? Or the wagon?”
“I’d say the wagon. It has a cover over the top, right? And more room for him to move around if needed.”
“Agreed. Be right back.” Jumping back out of her SUV, I go to the garage door, enter the code, and grab the wagon.
It folds up, so it’s compact for travel, which is nice.
Bellamy already has the back hatch of her SUV open.
I place it next to the stroller, hit the button to close the hatch, and slide back into the passenger seat. “Now, I’m ready.” I laugh.
Bellamy chuckles and backs out of the driveway. “So, how was it yesterday?”
“Good. Sad.” I don’t tell her that Levi’s family didn’t know about Camden.
It feels wrong to offer that information without Baker’s consent.
I’m sure he’ll tell them, but it’s his story to share.
“Camden was a trooper. He ended up falling asleep against my chest, and then woke up as we were leaving.”
“That’s good. I know that’s not exactly an environment for a two-year-old.”
“Yeah, but it worked out. Then we went to a diner and had a late lunch, then just hung around the house the rest of the day. Baker and Cam played most of the afternoon, while I got caught up on my laundry and read a little.” Then we all went to bed together, and he held me all night long, and kissed me goodbye this morning, because in my mind, even a kiss on the cheek counts, so I’m taking the wins where I can.
“I hope he leans on us,” Bellamy says.
“I keep telling him the same thing. I think he will. It’s just a lot to process. His heart hurts for his son, because he’s never going to remember her.”
“Swoan, ball,” Camden says.
I turn in my seat and smile at him. “That’s right. We’re going to go watch Daddy play football.”