Chapter fourteen Scottie #2
“I did with Chase, but not for long. I didn’t have any idea what I was doing, so it didn’t go well. But with this one,” I say, rubbing my stomach again, “I think I might want to try again.”
Astrid sighs. “I loved nursing, but when I was done, I was so glad.”
“I’m looking forward to getting my body back, but I’m also trying to soak up each of these moments for as long as I can,” Shauna says from the couch, peeking at her son under her nursing cover.
“How old is he?” I ask, moving closer to her.
“Almost nine months. He’s definitely more interested in solid food now, but he still likes to nurse, especially when he’s tired.”
I take a seat on the cushioned chair beside her. “My first son is fourteen, so it’s been a long time since I’ve done the baby stage.”
Shauna nods in understanding. “Well, Hudson is our first, so I’m still learning. But if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here. I can give you my phone number before I leave.”
Gratitude rushes through me. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
“Of course. We moms have to stick together, you know? I didn’t realize how much my identity would change just by having my son.”
“Oh, I understand that more than you know.”
Shauna lifts the cover up, staring down at Hudson nursing as his eyes drift close. “But having Forrest by my side has made it easier. I seriously don’t know what I would do without him.” She looks back up at me and says, “Is your husband excited about the baby?”
Her question makes my stomach drop because Grady isn’t my husband. I don’t have one of those this time around.
As I fumble for a response, a voice behind me says, “He is, although he’s not her husband yet.” I turn and lock eyes with Grady as he makes his way to my side.
I stare up at him from my seat on the chair, my pulse thrumming in my body as I process the words he just spoke. “Uh, you came out of nowhere.”
He tucks one of my curls behind my ear. “I came in here to check on you. You okay?”
“Um, yeah. Just talking about babies with Shauna.”
Grady nods, smiling at Shauna. “Forrest was showing this little guy off outside,” he says, gesturing to the baby who is now fast asleep in a milk coma.
Shauna readjusts her nursing cover, clasps her bra back in place, and then situates Hudson over her shoulder to burp him.
Jesus, this is going to be me again before I know it.
“Do you mind if I hold him?” Grady asks, startling us both.
“Sure. He needs to burp still, but who knows if he will since he’s passed out.” She hands him a receiving blanket. “Just use this to cover your shirt in case he spits up.
“I’ve held babies before, so I know the risks. It’s just been a while.”
“When have you burped a baby?” I ask as Shauna passes Hudson to Grady, his big arms supporting the baby on his shoulder.
And my clit starts to throb.
Good lord, this man holding a baby should be my new screensaver.
Yup, this image is going in my diddle bank for later.
“I have a niece and a nephew, remember?” he says to me, patting Hudson’s back as his hips start to sway. “I wasn’t around much when they were babies because of baseball, so I need the practice, you know?”
Shauna smiles at me knowingly. “Well, he’s a natural, so at least you won’t have to worry about him freaking out on you. Forrest was very cautious at first.”
Her husband walks over to the couch now, taking a seat beside her. “Forgive me, but I didn’t want to be the one to drop him first, all right?”
I snort. “God, I’ll never forget the time that Chase rolled off the bed right in front of me. I cried on and off for an hour, thinking I’d wrecked him for the rest of his life.”
Grady furrows his brow. “How the hell did that happen?”
I look up at him. “Don’t act like it couldn’t happen to you, all right? I looked away for one second and…boom. He was on the ground.”
Shauna nods in understanding. “That’s how it works. Hudson rolled off the couch because I was watching television and trying to fold laundry at the same time.”
“She called me at work, crying hysterically,” Forrest says. “But babies are a lot tougher than you think. At least that’s what my mom told me, and he’s fine.” He stares up at his son, smiling proudly.
I inhale deeply and blow it out. “Just remembering all of this is starting to make me feel overwhelmed.”
Shauna leans forward in her seat. “Don’t be. You’re already a mom and you’ll slip right back into a rhythm the second time around. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.” She glances over at Forrest and then back to me. “We haven’t really told many people, but I’m expecting again.”
“Aw, congratulations,” I say, reaching out for her hand.
“Thank you.”
Forrest clears his throat as he stands from the couch, leaning down to kiss the top of Shauna’s head. “I’m gonna take Grady back outside, but just holler if you need anything.”
She peers up at him and nods. “Okay. I love you.”
“Love you too, baby.” He presses a soft kiss to her lips and then motions for Grady to follow him outside, still holding a sleeping Hudson.
“You gonna be okay?” Grady asks me before trailing after Forrest.
“Yes, I’m good.”
“Okay.” He takes a few steps away, but then turns back, stopping right next to my chair, holding the baby to his chest as he leans down and plants a kiss to the top of my head. “Just let me know if you need anything, all right?”
Shauna folds in her lips to hide her smile as I reply, “I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine.”
“Don’t argue with me, Scottie. You’ll lose every time. When are you going to accept that?” he says, flashing me a wink before finishing his trek outside, leaving Shauna and me alone again.
Willow, Hazel, and Astrid scurry over with their wine in their hands just as Shauna speaks.
“Okay, so what the hell is going on with you two? Because he said he’s not your husband yet, but you don’t seem to want him to cater to you, which I’m telling you, is a lot better than it sounds.
” She places her hand on her chest. “And that’s coming from a type A control freak who never thought I’d let a man take care of me like Forrest does, but God, it’s so hot. ”
Willow laughs as Astrid raises her brows at me.
“Well, uh… we’re just friends who are having a kid together,” I say, shrugging. But I feel uneasy the second the words leave my lips. “You know, kind of like a Ross and Rachel type of situation?”
“Uh, that man wants to be more than just your friend,” Shauna says. “He wants to be your baby daddy and your lover. Jesus, woman, I say just let him!”
Willow snorts. “I second that! My God, Scottie…I don’t know how you resist that.”
Sighing, I close my eyes and Astrid clears her throat. “I’m kind of in an awkward position right now because I know you’re all lusting after my older brother, but putting that aside, I really want things to work out with you and Grady, Scottie. So, I’m going to join in on the peer pressure.”
Hazel chimes in, and I peer up at her now. “I take pictures for a living, and the way that man looks at you? Totally camera-worthy, just saying.” I roll my eyes, but inside, my pulse is hammering. “I can only hope to find a man that looks at me like that one day,” she adds.
I look around the group of women. “Y’all just don’t get it,” I murmur.
“Then explain it to us,” Astrid urges.
Before I get a chance to respond, the door flies open, and Dallas comes barreling inside. Scanning the room, his eyes quickly land on Willow.
“There’s the birthday girl.” His deep voice sounds like gravel as he walks over to her, pulls her into his chest, and covers her mouth with his, drawing whistles and cheers from everyone in the house.
“Here I am. Are you okay?” Willow asks, brushing his hair from his eyes.
He swallows roughly and then says, “I’m more than okay, Goose. In fact, it’s time for me to give you your gift, but I need everyone to come outside for that.” He motions for us to follow him. “Come on. The sun is about to set anyway, and you don’t want to miss it.”
Shauna and I both stand from the couch and follow everyone down the porch and across the sand to the white tent that covers a wide square of space, chairs and tables stationed underneath, covered in white linen tablecloths and vases full of yellow flowers.
The sun is inching toward the horizon in the distance, lighting up the sky in oranges and yellows that are breathtaking.
God, I missed this place. Carrington Cove was once home and it’s starting to feel that way again.
Clutching my water bottle to my chest, I watch intently, eager to see what Dallas has planned for the woman he so clearly adores. Suddenly, two strong arms wrap around me from behind, pulling me into an unexpected embrace.
“Jesus, Grady.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to scare you, but…”
“You have to stop touching me like this,” I whisper as Dallas leads Willow to the front of the tent, a group of people gathering around them.
“I can’t,” he whispers in my ear, pressing a kiss to the skin just under my earlobe, sending a shiver down my spine as his hands move over my bump. “And I don’t want to.”
I tell myself it’s just from the breeze wafting off the ocean, but he and I both know the truth. “Grady…”
“Shhhh…Dallas has something big planned—I just know it.”
I don’t bother arguing with him because Dallas calls everyone’s attention to where he and Willow are standing, his hand holding hers.
“I want to take a moment to thank everyone for gathering here today to celebrate the life of this amazing woman standing next to me.” Cheers and applause ring out.
“Many of you know how Willow and I got our start, and it wasn’t an easy one.
” Laughter fills the space, leading me to believe there is much more to their story than I know.
“But I didn’t realize what I was missing in my life until she waltzed into it.
” He turns to her and murmurs echo through the crowd.
“Oh my God. He’s going to propose, isn’t he?” I whisper.
Grady squeezes me tighter. “He’s in love.”