30. Baby Daddy To Be #2
Dean picks up the beer he’s been nursing since he got here and takes another sip. “He did it for you since you were always freaked out that you’d have to sing in front of an empty house.”
“I’ll have to thank him for that later.”
“I’m sure you will,” Dean mutters.
Blake winces. “I’m going to go pour bleach in my ears, thank you very much.”
Dean raises his bottle to him. “I’ve dealt with it my entire life, young man. I’m happy someone else feels my pain.”
Blake leaves and Dean lowers his voice. “Speaking of, have you heard from Payne?”
“Not for a couple of hours. He should be on his way back by now. He said he was going to stop at home to change before coming here so you don’t have to babysit me all night. I’m not sure how long this is going to go on.”
Dean waves me off. “I’m good. What else am I going to do on a Saturday night? The last time Payne texted, it wasn’t going well at the treatment center.”
“Tallie was a mess, but I guess that’s to be expected.
She changed her mind four times on the way there.
But Payne talked her into sticking with it.
Saying goodbye to her was harder than he expected.
No one can visit her for at least two weeks, then it depends on how she’s doing.
If nothing else, Owen won’t be able to find her. ”
“I’m on edge about what will happen when he finds Payne. Owen was well connected. He’s been out of prison for two days. If he didn’t know before he was freed that Payne pulled strings for the judge to throw the book at him, I’m sure he does now.”
I brush that thought off. “I have five minutes before we’re on again. I’m going to the bathroom to freshen up.”
Dean puts his beer down. “If I don’t come with you, Payne will kill me. What kind of bodyguard would I be if I let you go to the bathroom by yourself. That’s where all the heroines get taken out.”
I frown. “What kind of fairy tales are you watching?”
He gestures for me to go first. “I’m just making shit up. Guarding heroines isn’t my thing. Don’t let my good-natured charm fool you. I know you were gone during my Army days, but I did some scary shit before I took my cushy job as the Chief.”
“It’s hard to see you as the tough guy when my first memory of you is crying on the playground in kindergarten when you fell off the jungle gym.”
“What the fuck, Ruby? I was five, and I broke my arm. Give me a break.”
I swat him in that same arm. “You know I’m giving you shit. Still, I’ll never forget that you wouldn’t let me sign your cast.”
“No chicks were going to sign my cast in kindergarten. I made it a rule. Once I got to middle school, I was begging girls to sign anywhere on my body.”
I turn to him when we get to the bathroom. “I’ll only be a minute.”
He leans against the wall and scans the area like we’re in the middle of a war zone rather than the atrium of the manor. “I’m here to serve and protect.”
I do my thing and wash my hands before pulling my lipstick out of my dress pocket. I muss my hair with my fingers before giving myself one last look in the mirror.
Mrs. Payne Deacon.
As many times as I doodled that in notebooks when I was young, I should be used to it. It shouldn’t make my heart skip a beat or take my breath away. And our fuck it plan makes me think about everything I do.
I’ve never seen a pregnant piano bar singer. What in the world am I going to do for work if that happens? As much as the unknowns haunt me, I also pray it happens fast. The thought of carrying Payne’s baby is a dream.
I pull my cell from my other pocket when it vibrates.
Payne In My Ass – What a long fucking day. I just got home and changed. Tell Dean I’m on my way.
Damn. I immediately hit his contact to change the name.
Me – I’m so glad you’re back. It’s the first time I’ve been away from you in a week. I miss you.
Baby Daddy To Be – Miss you too, baby.
I smile at the name on the screen.
Me – I’ll sing whatever you request if you promise to tip me later in private.
Baby Daddy To Be – That’s a deal. See you soon.
I slide my phone into my pocket and head out of the bathroom, passing a group of ladies.
Dean is in the same place I left him. “See? The heroine is safe in the bathroom. And Payne just texted to let me know he’s leaving the house and will be here soon.
You can go about ... whatever it is you do in your time off these days. ”
“Damn, you’re more savage than you were in kindergarten. You don’t have to rub it in that I’m as depressing as Payne was before you came back.”
We make our way back to The Speakeasy. “I’m sure he wasn’t that depressing.”
Dean throws me a frown. “Do you not remember the asshole he was when he first saw you? He was only slightly more pleasant to the rest of us.”
I thread my arm through his as he walks me back to the bar and think about how far the three of us go back. “Well, my friend, just think how pleasant you’ll be when the love of your life runs you over. You’re not even starting out as an asshole. You’ll be nothing but sunshine and glitter.”
“If I’m ever glitter anything, put me out of my misery.”
We walk into the bar and Blake is already sitting at the keys waiting for me. Dean lets go of my arm and heads straight for his seat and orders a fresh beer. I walk to Blake who’s flipping through music on his notepad. He looks up at me and smiles. “Break a leg, sis.”
I pick up my mic from where I left it on the grand piano. “You too, bro.”