Chapter 16 #2
“Ladies,” Knox says, entering the living room where we’ve all been sitting. The kids are playing, and we’re just enjoying our time together. A rain shower came through, so we haven’t been out on the beach yet today.
“Uh-oh.” Corie smiles. “You’re about to ask for something.”
“What?” Knox places his hand over his heart as if his wife has offended him. The other guys filter into the room behind him. “All I want is your love, Corie girl,” he says sweetly, bending over the back of the couch to kiss her.
“Dude, paws off my sister,” Landry teases. It’s a long-running joke with them, and we all know Landry holds no hatred toward Knox for marrying his little sister and making her happy.
“My wife loves it when I kiss her, right?” Knox asks Corie, and she just grins and nods.
“Suspicious,” Rowan teases Landry.
“Nope,” he says, popping the p. “We actually come bearing gifts.”
“What kind of gifts?” Bellamy asks.
“The good kind,” Reid answers.
“That’s not helpful at all.” Sloane laughs.
“Patience, my dear,” Baker tells her with a wink.
“There are kids present,” Eden teases.
“Mrs. Vaughn!” Foster gasps, and we all crack up laughing. Foster has changed so much since meeting Eden, and his smiles are always lighting up the rooms these days.
“As I was saying,” Knox says, “we have a surprise for you. We know you ladies planned this, and you do so much for us during the season, so we wanted to do something to show you how much we appreciate you.”
“So, today, the six of you will be going out to do, well, whatever it is you ladies want to do. We’re going to be here, taking care of the kiddos, building sandcastles, and whatever else, just relaxing, while you all go have some girl time,” Landry explains.
“Really?” Eden asks, her voice cracking. She’s pregnant and feeling those emotions, I’m sure.
“Yeah, we’ve got this. Go hang out, have fun, but be safe, and check in with us so we know you’re okay,” Foster tells his wife.
My heart melts. My friends have somehow managed to find five sexy-as-hell men with hearts of gold.
Each couple is a perfect pairing. I can feel Will’s gaze, but I don’t dare look.
I’m too wrapped up in my emotions to have a clear head.
One look from me to my very own sexy-as-hell man with his own heart of gold—well, not mine, but you know what I mean—and I fear I’d give our secret away.
“It’s a family vacation,” Bellamy speaks up.
“It is,” Reid agrees, “and we’re all family. You ladies bust your asses with the kids, keep the house running, and so much more. Our jobs require a lot from not only us but also you. Go have a day together. You earned it.”
“We really don’t need a day away,” Sloane counters, and all the ladies, minus me, murmur their agreement.
“And that means you, too,” Reid speaks up, pointing at me. “You’re there for support for all of them, and you’re raising that beautiful little girl of yours all on your own. You’ve earned this day, too, Amanda.”
“Oh, I can’t ask you to—” I start, but it’s Will who speaks up, stopping my protest.
“Go. We’ve got her, Momma,” he says, scooping Mia up in his arms. As soon as she heard his voice, she was on the move to reach him. “We’ll take good care of them.” He breaks eye contact with me, and his eyes find Bellamy’s.
I feel like I’m on the verge of tears. Not the sad kind. The overwhelming kind. The kind that sneaks up on you when you realize you’re not alone the way you thought you were.
Mia settles against Will as if she belongs there. Her tiny hand fists into the collar of his T-shirt, and she lays her head on his shoulder with a content little sigh.
Traitor.
Will’s thumb traces lazy circles on her back, instinctive and gentle. He murmurs something into her curls, and she giggles. That sound does something dangerous to my heart.
“See?” Foster nudges his wife with his hip. “We’re professionals.”
“What he said.” Baker nods.
“Oh, please.” Sloane laughs. “You called me last week because you couldn’t find the wipes.”
“The wipe drawer was empty,” Baker defends.
“There is no wipe drawer.” Sloane laughs.
“There should be,” Baker says, scooping Camden into his arms and tossing him over his shoulder.
The group bursts into laughter, and just like that, the tension eases. Reid wraps an arm around Bellamy’s shoulders and presses a kiss to her temple. “We’ve got this,” he repeats, softer now.
“I guess it’s just a few hours,” Bellamy adds, her eyes shining with gratitude. “Lunch. Maybe some shopping. Definitely margaritas.”
“At least two,” Corie confirms.
“Call us if you need a ride,” Knox tells us.
I finally risk looking at Will as each couple starts to talk among themselves.
That was a mistake, because his eyes are already on mine.
His gaze is steady, warm, and certain that he can handle Mia.
I have no doubt that he can, especially with the others there as backup, but we’re not his responsibility.
There’s no teasing smirk, no playful arrogance.
Just something quiet and solid. Something that says he means what he said.
Something that says, “Go, have fun. I’ve got your girl. ”
He shifts Mia higher on his hip like it’s second nature.
Like he’s done this his whole life. Like he was made to do it.
And that quiet confidence is what undoes me.
I’ve spent so long convincing myself that I don’t need anyone.
That Mia and I are a complete unit. That wanting more is reckless.
But standing here, watching him hold my daughter like she’s precious, like she’s his, it has me feeling things I’m not allowed to feel.
Not for him.
“Amanda,” he says softly. He starts toward me, with my daughter in his arms, and stops when he’s standing next to me.
The way he says my name feels intimate, like a caress of my skin. His eyes lock on mine, and we have an entire conversation without words.
“You deserve a break.” His voice drops lower, meant only for me. “Let me do this.”
Let me do this.
Not we.
Not them.
Him.
My throat tightens. “She can be a handful,” I tell him, not bothering to lower my voice so the others don’t wonder why we’re whispering.
A corner of his mouth lifts. “I’ve handled tougher. Right, Bellamy?” he asks his daughter, and everyone laughs.
“I was a perfect angel, thank you very much,” Bellamy jokes.
I huff out a laugh. “She hasn’t spent much time around men. In fact, those in this room are it. She might get scared.”
“Then I’ll comfort her,” Will counters.
“And we’ll help,” Foster chimes in. “I need the practice,” he says, smiling at his wife.
“I mean, she seems to like the old man,” Reid jokes.
“Old Dad’s still got it. Don’t you worry.” Will chuckles.
“Coach Daddy,” Landry says. “I dig it.”
“He’s always been a coach and a dad.” Bellamy laughs.
“Yeah, but you’re all grown up, and look at him with Mia. She loves him, and he’s a natural. She brings out those daddy vibes in him. You have Reid for that now.”
“Okay, that’s too far.” Will chokes on his laughter, which makes Mia toss her head back and laugh, too.
She really seems to be enamored with him.
Despite myself, I step closer. Close enough to adjust Mia’s little sandal strap that doesn’t need adjusting. Close enough to catch the faint scent of his cologne. Close enough that if I lean an inch forward, I’d feel the heat of him.
“She likes her blanket for naps,” I murmur.
“You can show me which one before you leave,” he replies quietly. “But it’s the pink one, right? With the little daisies on it?”
I blink. “How did you—”
“In the diaper bag. Left pocket.” He nods toward the diaper bag that sits at my feet. It was easier to leave it downstairs for the essentials than it was to keep running back up to our room.
My heart does something ridiculous and inconvenient. It races for him. Too often, I forget he’s my best friend’s dad. To me, more often than not these days, he’s just Will, a man who’s kind, compassionate, and kisses me as if I’m the air he needs to breathe.
Sloane claps her hands. “Okay, ladies, our men have spoken. Let’s do this.”
Bellamy laughs. “She’s right. Grab your bags, ladies. We all know they’re capable. Besides, we won’t go far, and we can be back here in a flash if they need us.”
“I’ll be the designated driver.” Eden holds up her hand. “I’m drinking with you ladies in spirit.”
“You’re sure?” I ask, making eye contact with each of the guys, before finally landing on Will.
“Yes,” they chorus, and I chuckle.
“Thank you. You always include me, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me, that Mia and I have all of you in our corner.”
Leaning over, I press a kiss to Mia’s cheek. She barely notices, too busy babbling at Will and patting his jaw like she’s already claimed him.
“Be good,” I tell her.
“She’ll be fine, Momma. Tell Momma bye, Mia,” Will prompts her. He lifts her hand to wave to me, and she waves, laughing, thinking it’s a game.
The truth is, she’s going to be doted on, and all of her friends are here, so she probably won’t even notice that I’m gone.
Will reaches over and gives my shoulder a soft squeeze.
For a second, the world narrows. The chatter fades.
The laughter, the chaos of kids, and my friends gathering their things to leave—it all disappears.
It’s just us, and the secret hanging between us like a fragile thread. If anyone looks too closely, they’ll see it. The way he looks at me. The way I look at him.
I give Mia one more hug and one last quick glance at Will before the girls herd me outside toward Baker and Sloane’s SUV, with Eden behind the wheel.
As we back out of the driveway, I glance back to see all the guys and the kids standing on the porch, waving us off.
Will’s there with Mia on his hip. He lifts his hand and waves, and I don’t know why, but this moment feels like it’s important.
Hell, every moment with Will has felt important and meaningful.
I wait for panic to hit me, that I’ve left my daughter with six men to care for her, but it never comes.
Instead, all I feel is a certainty of trust that she will be safe and well cared for.
I know with everything inside me that Will has her covered, as do the others, and that eases my guilt.
While it also terrifies me, because while I know that they all love her and offered to take care of her, I know it’s Will she’ll cling to.
We’re both growing more and more attached to him every day.