Chapter 36
Cori
Instead of whatever Dax was going to make, I made us breakfast for dinner. He has Ruby on his lap, and every few seconds, she lets out a belly laugh. My husband either bounces her on his lap or tickles her belly. The latter makes her laugh uncontrollably.
Dax leans over and stares at my plate. I give him some of my eggs, but he keeps staring at my pancakes. I put one of mine on his empty plate.
“This is not what I had in mind for dinner, so tomorrow better be epic. And that needs to include me watching you beat the shit out of Devin.”
My loser brother still hasn’t answered his phone, and when I called my dad to tell him what happened, all he said was that he didn’t know where my brother was, and at least Ruby was with family.
He didn’t offer for us to bring her to him, and when I suggested it to Dax, he said he liked having Ruby around.
“After dinner, let's go to the store and get her some toys.” I give him the side-eye and flare my nostrils.
“You don’t want to open that door with Devin. Trust me,” I warn. “He’s always looking for someone to dump his responsibilities on, and it’s not going to happen this time. No one told him to have a baby. He should have kept it in his pants or chosen a woman who isn’t a complete loser.”
“Cori, none of that matters now. Ruby is already here.”
“That’s what everyone says when a woman has a baby with a loser, so I figure—"
“Those people are idiots. Babies need toys. We’ll give them to Devin, but if she’s going to be here with us, she needs things.
” He puts Ruby on his other leg. “Listen, sweetheart, I understand how you feel about Devin, but Ruby is an innocent baby. Her mom is not in her life, and with her father’s issues, she will need us. ”
Dax puts a hand on my knee and squeezes it.
“Daxton, do not get attached.” I raise my eyebrows to show that I mean business, but all he does is sigh.
“But she’s so cute.” He strokes Ruby’s cheek. “She looks just like you.”
“If you give him an inch, he’ll take a mile.
He will put all the responsibility on me, and our parents will expect me to help.
” I put help in air quotes. “Which means he’ll be allowed to do whatever he wants while they dump this baby on me.
When he first got back, my parents suggested that I help watch her so he could find a job.
” I scoff at that. “Only an idiot would hire him.”
“Well, they won’t dump her on you. You’re not alone.
And I’m the idiot. I gave him a job. I did it as a favor to your father.
” My eyes widen in total horror at the admission.
My nostrils flare, and I stand abruptly and bring my plate to the kitchen.
Finch follows, so I throw a piece of bacon to the floor.
Dax follows me, but I turn my back on him. When his hand lands on my shoulder, I try and shrug it away, but I’m unsuccessful.
“Was that part of the deal?”