Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Sloane
“How do you feel about me picking up a costume for Camden for Halloween today?” I ask Baker. We’ve just finished breakfast, and I’m getting ready to meet the girls for a day of shopping. It’s a bye week for the team, and we’re taking full advantage of some overdue girl time.
“Shit, is it that time already?” he asks.
“Close enough. It’s the first Saturday in October. We have a few weeks yet, but I thought while I was out, I could pick one up. I know that Bellamy is going to be looking for Coral’s.”
“Do you mind?”
“Not at all. Any preferences on what to dress him up as?”
“Not really. You know him as well as I do. I’m sure anything you pick will be perfect.”
“I’m going to grab him some new winter boots and some lounge wear. He’s growing like a weed these days.”
“He’s going to be big and strong like his daddy,” Baker says, puffing out his chest.
“I mean, tall, yes,” I joke.
He grumbles, and the next thing I know, he’s lifted me into his arms bridal-style, smirking down at me. “Strong, too,” he says, his voice husky as he kisses me.
“Cam, kiss.” Camden comes racing into the room.
Baker chuckles, kisses me one more time, then sets me back on my feet. I crouch down and open my arms for Camden, and he hugs me tightly, giving me a sloppy kiss. “Thank you. A big hug and a kiss. I feel so special,” I tell him, brushing his hair out of his eyes. “You need a haircut,” I tell him.
“I’ll take him today while you’re gone. That’s one less thing for you to worry about.”
“I don’t mind taking him.”
Baker waves me off. “We’re going to grab haircuts and then meet the guys for lunch. Probably at Landry’s, to avoid being photographed. It’s wild this time of year. You ladies need to be mindful of your surroundings.”
“Yes, dear,” I tease. “For the most part, the media leaves us alone. Sometimes during the season, they track us, especially if we’re all together.
It’s been forever since we’ve all been out, so that they might get a couple of shots of us today.
” I shrug. It’s not a big deal. It’s something we’ve all learned to deal with since the guys became a big part of our lives.
Not to mention that Corie and Rowan also both work for the team.
“I hate that. Just be careful, okay?” he asks.
“We will be,” I assure him.
“Swoan, cayful,” Camden repeats.
“You, little man, are the sweetest,” I say, placing kisses all over his cheeks, which makes him giggle.
“What about me? Can I get some of those kisses?”
“You be good for Daddy, and I’ll see you soon, okay?” I ask Camden.
“Bye-bye.” He waves and takes off running to the living room to play with his trucks.
I stand and walk toward Baker. “You feeling left out, Daddy Sin?” I tease.
“When my girl is giving all my kisses away, yes.”
“To your son.”
He shrugs, and I laugh.
“I’ll make it up to you,” I promise.
He pulls me into a hug. “I’m holding you to that,” he whispers huskily.
“All right, I'd better go before I let you boys derail my plans.”
“Have fun. Be safe.”
“We will. I’ll see you later. Bye, Cam!” I call out.
“Swoan, bye!” he yells, and my heart is so damn full I think it might burst.
“That’s adorable,” Amanda says, and we all turn to look. Bellamy is holding up a fairy costume.
“Aww, she’d be so cute in that,” I tell her.
“I know, but it’s always cold as hell on Halloween. I think I need to find something warmer.”
“Good point,” Corie says.
“Of course, Tennessee weather… it could be warm or cold, who knows?” Rowan shrugs.
“Right? I guess I need something that I can layer. Regardless, it’s going to be later in the day, so warm, and if snow is falling, we’ll just have to bundle her up and hide the costume.” We never know what kind of weather we’re going to get this time of year.
“This is it.” Corie grins as she lifts a cow costume. It looks like a Sherpa snowsuit. It’s white with different shades of brown spots.
“That’s… perfect!” Bellamy laughs. “My little cow. It’s roomy so she won’t feel all constricted, and warm.
Yep. This is the one. She needs twelve months,” she tells Corie.
Corie places it back on the rack and sifts through each one until she finds the right size, handing it to Bellamy.
“I love this so much.” She smiles, holding up the costume one more time, before placing it in her cart.
“All right, now we need one for Camden. What are you thinking?” Rowan asks me.
“Something warm, as well. I kind of think it would be cute for him to be a referee. Then I can have Baker be himself, and I can be a cheerleader,” I tell them.
“Wait. The entire family is going to dress up?” Corie asks. “Oh, hell yes, I’m so on board for this. We all need costumes.”
“Well, I guess Reid and I can both be cows, too.” Bellamy giggles. “Our little cow family.”
“Right? I’m sure you can find those online, if not here. This place is massive,” I say, glancing around the Halloween store we’re in. It’s a temporary thing that pops up every year around this time, and they have so many options to choose from.
“I love the football idea. Do you have a cheerleader costume?” she asks.
“No, but if I could find something close, I could put Rampage on them with Mom’s embroidery machine, and if any of you need me to do that for you, let me know.”
“I’ve got this little one to work around,” Corie says, rubbing her pregnant belly. She’s just over the halfway mark by a few weeks, and she’s glowing. She looks like she swallowed a basketball; otherwise, there’s no signs of pregnancy.
“Let’s look around,” Amanda suggests.
“What about you and Ethan?” Bellamy asks her.
“Yeah, I’m not going to be able to convince him to dress up.” She bites down on her bottom lip before saying, “We met with an adoption agency last week.”
“What?” Bellamy asks, and we all stop looking at the racks to face her.
“Yeah. We’ve been struggling, and so many kids need a family, so we’re going to adopt. We’re open to any age, but a teenage mom chose us. She wants a closed adoption. We’re meeting with the agency again next week to discuss. The baby is due in a few months.
“I’m so happy for you,” Bellamy says, with tears in her eyes. She moves to hug her friend, and well, we all take a turn because that’s our girl squad, and we cry, laugh, and celebrate together. That’s who we are, and that will never change.
“I’m excited,” Amanda says, blinking back tears. “Ethan is close to making partner, and he’ll be home more, and it’s just the right time for us. It feels right,” she says.
“Let us know what we can do for you,” Rowan tells her.
“What she said,” Corie and I say at the same time, making everyone laugh. I guess that’s what years of friendship will do for you.
“Okay, back to Camden,” Amanda says, waving her hand in the air.
“Right, so… a referee.”
“On it,” Rowan says, stepping out of the aisle and going in search of what we’ll need.
It’s not two minutes later, and Bellamy is calling my name. “Sloane, this is perfect.”
I rush over to where she is, and sure enough, it’s a ref costume.
She’s right; it’s perfect. “It’s thin, but I could get him some thermals to put underneath, and if it’s really cold, use black sweats instead of these pants.
He needs some new lounge clothes anyway because the kid is growing so fast. I’ll grab a pair of those and some thermals today just in case. ”
We spend the majority of the day laughing, shopping, eating an incredible lunch, and spending way more money than any of us intended. By the time I pull into the garage, I’m wearing a tired smile, and I can’t wait to show Baker and Camden everything I bought today.
My car is barely in Park before Baker, who has Camden in his arms, opens my door for me. “Aww, my boys came to help me carry in all my bags.” I chuckle.
“Swoan, no bye-bye,” Camden says, furrowing his brow.
“What he said.” Baker laughs. “We missed you,” he says, as I step out of the car.
“I missed you guys, too,” I tell them. Camden reaches for me, and I take him. “Look at your haircut. You look so handsome, just like your daddy,” I tell him.
“Hair’s gone,” he says, reaching up and touching his head.
“How did he do?” I ask Baker.
“Good. He sat still like a big boy and got a sucker.”
“What? You got a sucker? I’m so proud of you,” I praise, kissing his cheek.
“What’s this? I sat still, too.” Baker pretends to pout, pushing out his bottom lip.
“Come here.” I motion for him to come closer and kiss his lips, but Camden’s not having it, and pushes his dad away.
“When I say we missed you, I mean we really missed you,” he says, his eyes soft. “Go on in. I’ll grab the bags,” he says, opening up the back door and hauling out bags.
“I got you a costume today, and some new clothes,” I tell Camden. He doesn’t comment as he rests his head on my shoulder.
“He wouldn’t nap,” Baker says. “He was living his best life, being spoiled by his uncles. We got haircuts, then went to Landry’s and ordered pizza.
He had our full attention, and he was soaking it up.
I was sure he’d fall asleep on the way home, but he fought it.
He’s been asking for you for the last hour,” he explains.
“I’m back, sweetie,” I say, rubbing his back gently.
Carrying him into the house, I move to the living room and sit down in the rocking recliner.
Camden doesn’t try to get down. Instead, he’s content to let me hold him.
It’s after seven, so with no nap, if he goes down now, he’ll be down for the night.
“Should we try to keep him up a little longer?” I ask Baker.
“Nah, we might have an early morning tomorrow, but that’s okay.” He smiles softly at us. “His eyes are already drooping.”
“I’m exhausted, too,” I whisper. “I forgot how tiring a full day of shopping can be.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Maybe a little. We had a late lunch, and then we all got pretzels at the mall.”
“Cam had chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. I had a grilled chicken salad. I made extra chicken. Want me to make you one?”