Chapter 24
Parked in the driveway of Chase’s beach house, I roll down the window and breathe in the salty breeze. The exhaustion of stress and worry over the past couple of weeks is still weighing on me.
Chase’s daughter was supposed to arrive in January, but she was born a month early in the most scary, dramatic circumstances. Kayla’s preeclampsia escalated to eclampsia, and the only solution was an emergency C-section with baby girl Ford arriving four weeks too soon.
I haven’t spent that much time in a hospital since the car accident from my childhood. I barely left the waiting room, feeling useless, but knowing all I could do to support Chase was just be there. Never have I ever seen my best friend so distraught.
The only person in the world who could comfort him rode in like the calvary, determined to save us all. Noa dropped everything she was doing to fly in from Denver and take care of us all. She comforted Chase, talked Kayla into the emergency C-section to save her life and the baby’s, and she even pulled the graveyard shift, holding the baby so Kayla and Chase could rest.
Cici, Mark, Jay, and I were all there, but we didn’t know what to do until Noa instructed us. She was moving us like chess pieces—sending us off to purchase Kayla comfortable robes and loose-fitting tops so the doctors had easy access to check her incision. Guarding the hospital doors and scouring for any brave paparazzi who dared to sneak onto the delivery floor. Personally, I was on water cup duty. I filled Kayla’s giant hospital jug with ice water at least eight times every day I was there. Apparently, breastfeeding women need to drink the equivalent of a swimming pool a day. I didn’t mind, though, not knowing how else to show my support.
Until today, that is.
I wish Amani were here. She’s a professional at making awkward situations far more tolerable, but she’s watching “Operation Chase Gets His Girl Back” from Denver live, at their annual girls’ trip to the lodge. After Chase saw Noa at the hospital, his fate was sealed. The minute Kayla and the baby were discharged from the hospital and comfortable at home, Chase packed a bag, booked a flight, and told me he was about to lay it all on the line. He had to at least try to get Noa back.
All he asked of his friends was that we check on Kayla and the baby while he was away. Cici popped by yesterday. Tonight, it’s my turn.
A little uncomfortable. I don’t think I’ve been alone with Kayla for at least two years, and I’m pretty sure that was the instance I told her to let the door slam on her lying, cheating ass on her way out of our lives. Sue me. She broke my best friend’s heart. I was allowed to be angry.
After rolling up my car window, I grab the box of Chinese food takeout from the passenger seat. I make my way to the front door and push the doorbell with my elbow. Kayla answers through the intercom, able to see me through the security camera.
“Adam? I thought Jay was coming over tonight.”
“Nope. Jay went out of town. I brought dinner.” I’m sure Kayla prefers Jay’s company. He’s a teddy bear—a muscular one—but he’s easygoing and gets along with everyone unless they physically threaten Chase. He doesn’t hold a grudge against Kayla the way I do.
“Oh,” she says.
I hold up the box of Chinese food. “I brought dinner and more diapers and wipes. I’m only here to help, I promise.”
The electronic door latch clicks and I’m able to push the front door open. After setting the food down on the kitchen island, I make my way back to the master bedroom. Chase moved back into his condo in Hollywood and let Kayla have free rein over his beach house. There’s pink shit everywhere, and I’m not sure if it’s mostly because of the baby or Kayla.
I knock on the door lightly. “Are you decent?”
“What?” Kayla calls out.
Chase warned me that Kayla breastfeeds around the clock, shamelessly. Good for her, but us alone is uncomfortable enough. I don’t need to live through a nip slip today. “Are you feeding the baby?”
“Oh,” she says. “My boobs are not out, Adam. You can come in.”
I laugh lightly as I open the door. Kayla’s sitting up in the bed, the baby bundled and sleeping in her arms. She looks a little worse for wear. Her long, dark hair looks a little greasy. There are giant dark circles around her eyes, and there’s a yellowish stain on her tan tank top I don’t want to ask about.
“I wouldn’t have been talking so loud if I knew she was sleeping,” I say, softening my tone.
Kayla scoffs. “She takes forever to fall asleep, but once she’s out, she sleeps like a rock. Look.” Kayla tickles the tip of the baby’s nose, and she doesn’t even flinch. “Presley,” she coos. “Uncle Adam’s here.”
Two surprising revelations in a row. Kayla’s calling me “Uncle Adam” and apparently the baby has a name. “Presley? You guys decided on a name?”
“Yep. Presley Leanne.” Kayla gives me a small smile. “Leanne was my grandma’s name. If she were alive, she would’ve loved to see me like this. Attempting to be maternal.” Kayla laughs.
“It’s a pretty name. I like it.” I take a seat at the foot of the bed and look around the cluttered room. There are diapers piled into a corner, dirty clothes everywhere, empty plastic water bottles, and open boxes of crackers, cereal, and other snacks sitting on all the furniture. All evidence of a mother trying to survive life with a newborn. “Kayla, have your parents been by?”
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “They don’t even know I had the baby. I doubt they’d care.” She clears her throat. “I don’t have anybody, so… I know you hate me, but I’m grateful for everything Chase and you guys have done. I know it’s just for Presley, but now we have a common goal, so that’s cool.”
I sigh, watching Kayla look everywhere but at me. It seems niceties between us are uncomfortable for her as well. “We’re not just doing this for Presley. I don’t hate you, Kayla. I hate the way you treated Chase and how reckless you were with his heart. But we’ve all grown up a lot. So maybe it’s time to let bygones be bygones.”
“Seriously?” she asks, her eyes fixed on me now.
I nod and gesture to the bundle in her arms. “That’s my best friend’s baby. I’m going to be around.”
“I thought you hated babies.”
“Why does everyone think that?”
“Because you’re in your thirties, have never had a serious relationship, and don’t want a family.”
I give her a deadpan stare and consider a snarky response. But out of respect for our newfound friendship, I politely correct her by saying, “I am in my thirties. But the rest is incorrect. I was married once, got screwed over, and I’m still working through it.”
Kayla drops her jaw and gawks at me. “Chase never told me you were married.”
“I got divorced the first year we started working together. I asked him not to bring it up.”
She nods. “Well, okay then. I, um… Sorry. I guess I made a lot of assumptions about you.”
“Well, how about we start fresh as friends?”
All I’ve been doing this year is forgiving people and mending bridges with women who hurt me and my loved ones. Liv, my mom, now Kayla. Every time I do this, somehow, I feel closer to Amani. Like I’m getting unstuck.
“I’d like that,” Kayla says and smiles. She cuddles Presley a little closer to her chest, then asks, “Have you heard from Chase? Did he hunt down Noa?”
“Not yet.” I grimace. “How are you doing with all that?”
Kayla reaches for her phone, lying on the bed just out of her reach. I grab it and hand it to her so she doesn’t have to strain with Presley still in her arms. “What do you mean?” she asks after checking the time.
“You just had Chase’s baby, and now he’s in another state trying to win back the woman he loves. I wasn’t your biggest fan, but I’m not a monster. That has to sting a bit.”
Kayla raises her brows. “Are you asking if I’m jealous?”
I shrug. “I guess.”
She rolls her eyes. “Who do you think convinced him to go get her?”
“You?” I ask in disbelief.
“I kept running back to Chase all these years because in an industry filled with dickheads, Chase is actually a good guy. He’s always had a genuine heart. But deep down, I knew he wasn’t my destiny. But she is.” Kayla smiles at Presley, looking at her like she’s the last light left in the world. “No other man would’ve helped me through all this like Chase did. I’m grateful, and I wanted to help him get his happily ever after, too.”
“Wow, Kayla. You’re making it pretty easy not to hate you at the moment.”
“Thank you?” she asks.
I laugh. “You’re welcome. Okay, well, do you want me to go make you a plate of food? I got a variety of everything and extra dumplings.” I look around the room. “Then I can help you clean this place up a little. Maybe we can crack a window? It smells like a monkey cage in here.”
Kayla laughs. “Actually, can you hold her so I can take a shower? My back is killing me, but she’ll only sleep in someone’s arms.”
I hesitate. I didn’t touch Presley at the hospital because she was so damn tiny. The fear of breaking her or dropping her outweighed any desire to hold her. She’s barely any bigger now. I’m not sure what to do. I learned a lot about the pregnancy part during my marriage, but I didn’t make it to the baby part with Liv.
“Maybe we can put her in the bassinet? I’ll watch her while you do whatever.”
Kayla scowls. “See? You’re giving ‘I hate babies’ vibes right now.”
“It’s not that. She’s so small. I’m nervous.”
“Oh, don’t be. Here, I’ll help you.” She gestures with her head to the space next to her on the bed. “Get comfy.”
I crawl up the still made side of the bed. Sitting upright, I rest my back against the cloth headboard. “Okay. I’m good.”
Kayla stands, Presley still secured in her arms. She winces a little as she walks around the bed to my side.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah, they literally cut me open and removed a human from my body. I’m going to be sore for a while.” She grimaces as she takes another step. “Which arm for her head?”
I pat my left shoulder, trying to make a comfortable nook with the inside of my elbow.
“Adam, just relax. She’s not a particularly wiggly baby yet, so you should be fine. If you get too nervous, just lay her flat on her back on the bed and sit with her.”
I nod. “Okay.” I’m not sure why I’m so intimidated. I’ve held Carson about a million times. Then again, I can’t remember picking him up until he had decent trunk control. But I don’t think Carson was ever this tiny.
Kayla places a swaddled Presley in my arms, and she lets out a sweet little sigh.
“Look at that,” Kayla says. “She already likes you, and thank God I’m free for a moment.” Kayla stretches her arms overhead. “Strap in, buddy, I’m going to take the world’s longest shower.”
The moment Kayla closes the bathroom door, Presley’s little green eyes pop open. I freeze, bracing for the loud wail that I’m sure is about to follow. I feel bad for Kayla. She needs to shower, eat, and probably sleep a bit. That’s why I’m here, but now her baby is about to scream for her to come right back.
To my surprise, Presley doesn’t make a sound. Instead, she smiles at me as she pokes her little tongue out. She turns her head, trying to bury her face in my chest. It takes me a moment to realize she’s searching for my nipple.
I chuckle. “There’s no milk in there, sweetie. I’m sorry. Can we let your mommy at least take a shower first? Then we’ll get you some dinner.”
She’s still trying to latch onto me, but I gently rock her the best I can in this position to distract her. Loosening her swaddle a little, I free her arm and she entertains herself by swinging her tiny fist around. This is much easier than I thought it’d be. Some sort of primal confidence replaces my timidness. My whole life’s purpose at the moment is protecting this little human.
This strange feeling Chase and Kayla must have right now. The one I know Tara and Alex developed with Carson. It’s the total and complete satisfaction of knowing every hard thing in life is worth overcoming for this little person you created. This is what Liv robbed me of. After all this time, the desire is still there. Maybe I want Amani to become pregnant so I can be more than an uncle. I desperately want her to need me the way I need her, too.
I hear the shower running and Kayla calls through the door. “Are you okay out there?”
“I’m good, Kayla,” I call back, watching Presley’s tiny pink lips curl into a smile. “Take your time.”