Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Sloane
I just got Camden down for a nap when my phone alerts me to a text message. After jogging into the kitchen, I grab it from the counter, because I’ve been waiting for a message from Corie all afternoon. She and Knox were supposed to find out the gender of their baby at her appointment today.
Corie: It’s a… dinner party at our place Saturday night.
My mouth falls open in shock. No, she did not just tease us like that.
Me: What? That’s all you’re going to give us?
Bellamy: What she said.
Rowan: Please see above.
Amanda: Tease!
Corie: Sorry, ladies. My husband and I were talking on the way home, and we want to tell everyone at the same time. So, not a gender reveal, but kind of a gender reveal.
Me: Lies! You said you would tell us.
Corie: Sorry, toots. Nothing fancy. No cake or balloons for the big reveal. We just want everyone we love there to hear it together. Well, outside of Knox’s parents, of course. We called them.
Rowan: Rude.
Corie: Love you, ladies. See you Saturday at 6:00. Don’t be late.
I’m smiling down at my phone. I’m so happy for my best friend. It feels like I’m the one getting to announce the gender of my pregnancy. I’m so invested in her happily ever after. They deserve this and so much more.
I hit her contact, and she answers with a laugh. “Love you, Sloane,” she says, and even without the laugh, I can hear how happy she is.
“You can tell me. I can keep it a secret,” I tell her.
“Nope. Knox and I want to tell everyone together.”
“Corrriieeee,” I whine, and she laughs harder.
“It’s just a few more days.”
“It’s Tuesday.”
“You’ll be fine.” She giggles.
“I’m so happy for you, bestie. Truly. I love this for you. You’re gonna be a momma, Core.”
“I know,” she says, her voice cracking.
“Fine, I’ll give in to your demands,” I tease. “What can I do to help on Saturday?”
“Nothing. We have it all under control. I’m going to make pulled pork in the Crock-Pot, baked potatoes, and some other sides. All Crock-Pot stuff that doesn’t take much effort.”
“Fine, I’ll bring the dessert.”
“If you insist. Maybe some of the cookies that Knox said you made for the guys? He said they were delicious.”
I laugh. “Cam and I made cookies one afternoon. Well, Baker helped once he got home. Camden will be thrilled that we get to make another batch. He’s my little helper in the kitchen.”
“How’s that going?” Corie asks.
“He’s an angel,” I reply, knowing that’s not what she’s asking.
“And his daddy?” she prompts.
“He’s important.”
“Sloane, it’s me. You knew all my shit with Knox. Why are you holding back on me?”
“Because he makes me smile, Core. I’m happy here. I don’t miss teaching. I loved my students, but being here and taking care of Camden feels like what I am meant to be doing. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s the truth. It feels like this is where I was always meant to be.”
“I love this for you,” she says, emotion in her tone.
“I don’t know how I’ve been around him all these years and never fell for him, but here I am, and, Corie, it’s one of those situations that if this ends, I won’t recover. Losing both of them would shatter my heart.”
“You can’t think that way. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Baker is not someone to play games. He wasn’t before Camden, and he’s especially not now.”
“I know. He hasn’t been with anyone since Natasha,” I tell her, and immediately regret it. “I shouldn’t have told you that. Please don’t say anything.”
“Sloane, I’m your best friend. I’m not going to say anything, and that doesn’t surprise me.
He was never big on sleeping around. And when he found out he was going to be a dad, he was all in with that little guy.
Baker doesn’t do anything halfway. Trust that this is going to work.
Give it your all so if you ever have to look back, you can say with certainty that you gave it everything.
Sometimes things don’t work out, and life has other plans, but, babe, I feel good about this. ”
“Me, too,” I confess. “I do, and I care about both of them so much. Camden, he’s stolen my heart, and I think that’s why I’m still a little cautious, but I’m not letting it hold me back.
Baker and I have said that we’ll always be honest with each other, and we talked a lot about how it’s not just him, but Camden, too, and I’m in this.
I’m so in this, I don’t know where he ends and I begin. ”
“So, what you’re telling me is that we’ll have a wedding to plan soon. Just remember, your bestie is twenty weeks pregnant when you set a date,” she teases.
I chuckle. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Perfect. All right, I need to get back to work.”
“Have a good day. If there’s anything else I can bring for Saturday, let me know.”
“You got it. Thanks, Sloane,” she says, before ending the call.
After placing my phone back on the counter, I get started on dinner.
It’s a taco recipe that I saw online. You’re supposed to use beef, but I’m using chicken to make it healthier for Baker.
It’s basically shredded hashbrowns, chicken, and cheese with taco seasoning.
It's not the most nutritious meal, but it’s yummy, and Baker has assured me that a few cheat meals won’t hurt him.
I check the chicken that’s been in the Crock-Pot for a couple of hours. It’s almost ready to be shredded. Then I’ll combine all the ingredients, cook for two hours on high, and dinner is served.
“Something smells good,” Baker says, walking into the kitchen from the garage.
“Dinner, but it’s going to be a while before it’s ready. Are you hungry now?”
“Not for food,” he says, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. He kisses my neck, and I tilt my head, giving him access. “Where’s Cam?”
“He’s napping. He’s been down for about half an hour,” I reply, turning to face him. “Welcome home.”
“You make this place feel like home. Have I ever told you that?”
“You might have hinted at that a time or two.”
“Come on. I need my fix before I have to share you with Cam.” He bends, lifts me over his shoulder, and carries me into the living room, where he tosses me onto the couch. Immediately, he falls to his knees, leaning between my spread thighs.
“How was practice?” I ask, running my fingers through his hair.
“Good. We’re ready for the game this week. Have I ever told you how much I love these leggings you’ve been wearing lately?”
“Well, it’s getting colder, and they’re comfortable for when I chase after Camden all day. Besides, you know what these gray sweats do to me.” I waggle my eyebrows.
He chuckles. “Babe, I’m a fan,” he assures me. “In fact, they’re going to look even better on the bedroom floor later tonight.”
“Tonight? We have at least another forty minutes or so before Cam wakes up.”
He grins. “I like the way you think,” he says, just as his phone rings.
Groaning, he keeps one hand on my thigh while digging his phone out of the pocket of his sweats.
“Hello?” He listens and then says, “Now? Yeah, okay. I’ll see you soon.
” He ends the call, tossing his phone beside us on the couch, and groans.
“Everything okay?”
“My parents are almost here. They’re back from their cruise around the world and flew into Nashville to see Cam and me before flying back to Philly tomorrow.”
“Oh, well, I’ll go home and can come back tomorrow before you leave.”
“What? Why in the hell would you leave? You live here.”
“I mean, I stay here, but technically, I still live above my parents’ garage.”
“Yeah, well, we’re going to fix that. This is your home, Sloane. You’re a part of my life, a huge part of my life. I want you to meet them.”
I can hear it in his voice and see it in his eyes, he really does want me here. “What will we tell them?”
“That you’re my girlfriend. You’ve met them before.”
“But I work for you.”
Baker rolls his eyes. “And you love my kid. He’s thriving in your care, Sloane. My parents want to see me happy. That’s you. My happiness, my son’s happiness, is wrapped up in you. This is where you belong.”
“Okay.” I smile. “I’m sorry. I just have these moments that I think this is too good to be true.”
“We’re real life, baby. This isn’t a fairy tale, although I admit it feels like one. All these years you were right under my nose,” he says, leaning in to kiss the tip of my nose, just as Camden cries out over the baby monitor.
“I’ll go get him. There’s plenty of dinner for all of us. You stay down here to greet your parents.”
He nods and stands before helping me to my feet. His hand slides behind my neck, and he guides me into a kiss. “Thank you.”
“I have a feeling I’ll never be able to say no to you.” I laugh.
“Funny, I’ve thought that same thing about you. Just another reason we’re meant to be.” He kisses me once more as the front door opens.
I push at his chest and take off running upstairs. I’m a hot mess, but I’m not going to bother changing. I’m me, and that’s how Baker wants me, so that’s what his parents are going to get. Okay, fine, I’m going to try to tame the crazy knot on my head a little, but what you see is what you get.
I hope what they see is a woman who loves their son and grandson with all her heart.
“Swoan,” Camden whimpers as I step into his room.
“Hey, buddy. What’s wrong?” I ask, bending to lift him into my arms. He doesn’t answer, but he snuggles into my chest. And damn, every single time he does that, he steals another piece of my heart. “Guess what?” He doesn’t answer, so I keep going. “Daddy’s home from practice.”
“Daddy home.”
“That’s right. And you know what else? Grandma and Grandpa are here to see you. That’s exciting, right?” I ask him, as I lay him on the changing table to change his diaper.
“Citing,” he repeats, making me smile.
“That’s right. They’ve been on a very long vacation, and they’re so excited to see you,” I tell him.
“See Cam.”
“They love you very much,” I tell him.
“Cam love.”
“I love you, too,” I tell him. “You are a very special little boy. You’re so lucky to have your daddy and your grandparents and all of your aunts and uncles who love you.” I just keep rambling on, and he hangs on every word.
“Swoan, pway?”
“Sure, buddy, we can play. But you know who else I think wants to play? Grandma and Grandpa.”
“Cam pway.”
“Yes. Come on, let’s go say hi.” With Cam on my hip, I scoop up his favorite blanket, as well as his stuffed Rowdy the Rhino, and hand them to him. He snuggles them close, placing his head back on my shoulder as we make our way downstairs.
My steps are slow as I make my way into the living room. “Look who’s here to see you,” I tell Camden.
Jenny, Baker’s mom, stands and walks toward us. She has tears in her eyes. I assume she’s coming to take Camden, but she surprises me when she pulls us both into a hug. She holds us for a long time. However, when Camden starts to squirm, she steps back.
“Hey, sweetie,” Jenny coos to Camden.
He looks at me, and I smile and nod. “Do you want to go say hi to Grandma?” I ask him. He turns his head, burying it into my shoulder. “I’m sorry,” I tell Jenny. “He just woke up from a nap that was shorter than what he usually takes.”
“Oh, dear, it’s been too long, and I know how kids can be. He doesn’t know us well, and I was telling Jared the other day that we need to move closer. It breaks my heart that he’s shying away from me, but I understand.”
“Hey, bud.” Baker steps up behind me, placing one hand on the small of my back and the other on Camden’s back. “Why don’t we play with your trucks?” he suggests, trying to bring him out of his shell.
“Swoan, truck?” His hazel eyes, the same color as his daddy’s, peer up at me.
“Absolutely,” I tell him, placing a kiss on his temple, as Baker leans in and does the same, kissing mine.
I move to the center of the room, where he has a rug racetrack laid out for his cars and trucks, and carefully lower to the floor with him in my arms. Baker sits next to me, and his parents sit on the opposite side.
It only takes a few minutes of playing before he loosens his hold on me, crawls out of my lap, and starts interacting with his grandparents.
“I’m going to go get the rest of dinner started,” I tell Baker.
“Do you need help?”
“No, it’s quick and easy. I’ll be right back.” I turn to look at his parents. “Would either of you like something to drink?”
“Oh, no, we’re good for now,” Jenny says, looking at Jared for confirmation, and he also shakes his head.
Climbing to my feet, I head toward the kitchen, and Camden calls out, “Swoan!” He toddles to his feet and comes running, smashing into my legs.
“Hey, bud. I’m going to work on dinner. I’ll be right back.” He’s not having any of it, so I lift him into my arms and face them. “I’m sorry. Let me get this going, and I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll help. You can tell me what needs to be done,” Jenny says, climbing to her feet and following me into the kitchen.
I try to put Camden in his booster seat, but he clings to me with all he’s got.
“He loves you,” Jenny says, smiling.
“I love him, too.” Both of them.
“We heard you, you know. When you were upstairs. The baby monitor was still on down here.”
My mind races through everything I said while upstairs with Camden.
“I’m so glad they have you, Sloane. It’s plain as day, not only in how much both my boys look at you, but in your actions. You’re good for them, and I’m so happy for both of you.”
“Thank you,” I tell her, as Baker and his dad join us.
“Come see Daddy,” Baker says, and this time, Camden goes to him.
“Mom, Dad, I know I told you while she was upstairs, but I’d officially like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Sloane,” he says, leaning over to kiss my cheek, which Camden also insists on doing.
“Don’t embarrass the girl, Baker,” Jenny says, winking at me. “Now, what can I do?”
“Nothing. Just sit and tell us about your trip. I just have to shred this chicken and toss in a few more ingredients, and dinner will be ready in two hours.”
“Oh, well, she’ll need at least that long to tell you all about the trip,” Jared teases.
They both launch into telling us all about their three-month-long adventure while I get the rest of dinner in the Crock-Pot and make a snack of peanut butter toast for Camden.
I was worried how they would take me working for him, and us being together, but they didn’t even bat an eye. They welcomed me into their life as an important part of their son’s and grandson’s lives, which has me feeling all warm and gooey inside.
We have a great visit, and Camden eventually warms up to them, laughing and playing with no reservation. It’s a great night, and a glimpse of what our future together could be.