Two
Two
Hailey bit the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning when Wes actually crossed his arms over his chest, lines furrowing his forehead. She didn’t let the way the move accentuated his toned biceps distract her. He was more of a polo or dress shirt rather than t-shirt kind of guy but looked good in anything.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Wes said.
“It’s not an idea. It’s a favor and I already said yes. Piper’s sitter canceled and it’s Nick’s holiday party. I don’t want them to miss out. She needs this.”
Her cousin had four children, the youngest only eight months old.
“It’s still November. Why is his holiday party in November?” he asked like she had all the answers.
“Barely. Tomorrow is December first. And I don’t know. Wes, we’ve hung out with the kids before and spent time with all of them. What’s wrong?”
He started to pace back and forth in their kitchen, tapping his hand on the gleaming white island countertop as he did. “We’ve spent time with them but not as their primary caregivers. The last time I babysat was when my brothers were young enough to need it.”
Stirring the scrambled eggs, she added a bit of shredded cheese. “You know Piper and Nick will come back, right? We’ll watch movies, maybe play some games. Jason’s been working on coding at school. He wants to show you the game he made. You did say you’d do anything for me.” She didn’t try to hide the teasing in her voice.
Wes had come a long way from the commitment-shy, love-phobic, uptight bachelor he’d once been. They’d met under unique circumstances—a misunderstanding, really—and once it had been cleared up, became great friends. Of course, nothing ruined a friendship faster than one person falling in love with the other. Especially when the other person was… Wes—who, at the time, believed he was incapable of being in love. Now, he was a man who created wedding boards and made her grateful every single day that he’d approached her one random afternoon in a coffee shop.
He still had a few hang-ups though. Apparently one of them was babysitting her cousin’s kids. The times they’d hung out with the whole family, Wes seemed comfortable with the older kids, who were eight and ten. Baby Milo, however, made his eyebrow twitch if Hailey suggested he hold him. Even after years together, she and Wes continued to learn about each other. She hoped they would for the rest of their lives. It surprised her that as the oldest of four children, Wes was so nervous around babies. Nothing like some practice.
Hailey plated their breakfasts and brought them to the little corner nook that they both loved. Wes joined her, sliding into the bench seat.
“I’ll take care of Milo if it makes you feel better. You won’t have to do diapers. I don’t want you stressing about it.”
He lifted his fork and gave her a tight smile. “I’m not. It’s fine. Of course we’ll watch the kids.”
Scooping up a fork full of eggs, she took pity on him. “I’m fine to go by myself.” She didn’t want to and she’d certainly spent loads of time with his family—his brothers and their wives as well as the circle of friends who’d become family—but if he was truly uncomfortable, she’d be fine on her own.
Wes reached out and covered her hand with his. “It’s fine. I want to see Jason’s game and be with you. It’ll be fun.” After one more smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he dug in to his breakfast.
It’s fine. This doesn’t mean anything. He’s just scared of babies right now. That doesn’t mean he won’t want his own in the future.
Alyssa hadn’t stopped talking for a solid thirty-three minutes. Not that Hailey meant to watch the clock but she was trying to stay aware of the time so she followed Milo’s schedule. Piper had laid it all out. Dinner at 6:30, bath at 7:00, bed for him at 7:30. She hadn’t expected the schedule to be so… well, scheduled, but it was probably best to follow it.
Cassie, her twin, flopped back on the chaise lounge section of the couch, dramatically covering her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m starving.”
Hailey bit her lip to hide her smile, patting Milo on the back. He’d drank down his bottle with no issues. Jason was showing Wes his game in his room, and Alyssa was currently spilling all the fourth-grade tea, much to her sister’s chagrin.
Hailey lowered Milo to the carpeted floor and watched him crawl over to the chaise, where he pulled himself up.
“There’s snacks on the counter, Cassie.” Hailey stood up and smiled at both girls.
Sometimes she worried Cassie, the quieter one, had more to say but no room to say it. “Anything you want to share, cutie?”
Cassie shook her head. “I just like to draw.” Alyssa looked at her sister, then picked up her baby brother, tickling him and making him laugh. “She doesn’t play with our friends at recess. She just likes to read and draw anime characters.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” Hailey said. “Can you two watch your brother for a second? I need to rinse this out.”
She found Wes and Jason in the high-ceilinged, enviable kitchen. “Hey. How’s the game?”
“It’s the best. Do you want to see it?” Jason asked on his way to the fridge.
Wes smiled at her, sending little flurries of excitement swirling in her chest. Every. Time. Being together for more than two years hadn’t lessened the impact.
“It’s really fun. And challenging. He did a great job,” Wes said.
Hailey washed the bottle and set it on the drying rack.
“Come see, Hailey,” Jason said, setting the juice he’d poured himself on the counter.
Hailey dried her hands and glanced at Wes. “The girls are with Milo. I’ll just be a minute.”
The flash of worry in his gaze was likely her imagination. Wes nodded. “Want me to make some popcorn and set out some snacks for the movie?”
They’d watch it after she got Milo down for the night.
She pushed aside her worry that Wes didn’t like babies—she hadn’t given it much thought before. They’d talked about having a family in the broadest of ways over the last couple of years but, for Hailey, she’d been so content having the man she loved love her back, she’d dove in heart first.
“Sure. Thanks.”
Jason took her hand and pulled her to his room to show her “the coolest game ever.”
Once she’d played a few rounds of the game and complimented Jason on his hard work, she went back to the kitchen and found Wes pouring popcorn into bowls.
“Cool, right?” he asked Hailey.
“Definitely,” she replied. “I’m going to get Milo ready for bed.”
Back in the living room, Cassie and Alyssa stacked blocks, pretending to blow them over, making Milo laugh. It was impossible not to smile at his adorable laughter.
“You two are such good big sisters,” she said, lowering herself to the ground with them. “Aren’t they, Milo?”
He made a few excited sounds in response and knocked more of the blocks over. Jason and Wes came into the living room. Wes carried a tray of snacks. There was something sweet and homey about the moment.
Her cousin said they were putting up the tree the next day, but she’d already started decorating with lights along the mantel, her collection of Santas placed throughout the house, and huge wreath on her front door. Hailey loved Christmas. She loved Wes. They were getting married and though they both adored their town house, her mind sometimes wandered down the path of a bigger house with a yard and a family. Maybe even a dog.
“You okay?” Wes asked, setting the tray down on the large ottoman that doubled as a coffee table. Milo spotted the popcorn and, like the rest of them, smelled it and pushed himself off his little bottom, making a beeline for the bowl.
Hailey laughed and scooped him up, standing as she did. “Sorry, little guy. No popcorn for you. Time to get you into bed.”
When she looked back, Wes was still looking at her, a strange look in his eyes. Hailey smiled at him as Milo squirmed and began protesting in her arms.
“We’ll get the movie set up,” Wes said, holding her gaze.
Taking Milo, she went through the routine Piper had reviewed with her more than needed. He didn’t like to be put down without being rocked and sang to, but clearly, she wasn’t as good as Piper or Nick.
Milo alternated between fussing and crying as she rocked him, singing Taylor Swift songs because those were the lyrics she knew by heart. Eventually, he settled his head on her shoulder and snuggled in, still making the sweetest little murmuring noises. Closing her eyes, Hailey continued to sing and rock.
By the time Wes came in to check on them, Milo was asleep but she was afraid to move him.
“All good?” Wes whispered.
“Yeah,” she whispered back.
“He was pretty fussy.” There was no tone in his voice, merely observation.
“I’m afraid to get up and I forgot to lower the crib rail. Do you want to take him and lay him down?” It was a lot easier for Wes to ease him down onto the mattress than it would be for Hailey.
Wes stayed by the door for a few seconds before walking to the crib. “Here, I’ll do the crib.”
She managed to get up, get him into bed, and raise the side back up without Milo waking. Wes was waiting for her in the hallway when she came out, pulling the door almost closed.
“You’re really good with him,” he said, taking her hand. Again, he had that strange expression in his gaze.
Part of Hailey wanted to push, ask him outright if he was scared to have children; if he wanted them as much as she did. But now wasn’t the time. Not just tonight but at this point; Christmas was coming, they were whiteboard-deep in wedding plans, and both of them loved their work. It would all work out. They wanted the same things. When it was time, everything would be fine.
“Let’s go watch the Grinch,” she said with a smile.
He stared at her another minute, leaned down to kiss her sweetly. “I love you.”
For some reason, the tone in his voice made tears threaten. She hugged him. “I know you do.”
And knowing that, she had to believe everything else would work itself out exactly as it had so far. She and Wes were meant to be.