Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Hadley
I’m surprised that Easton kept today to just the three of us. That it’s not the entire friend group joining us at the zoo.
As we walk into Lincoln Park Zoo, Easton’s hand lands on the small of my back while he pushes the stroller with one hand. I’m not sure if it’s just because we haven’t gone many places together since the wedding announcement, but it feels as if everyone turns to look at us.
“I apologize in advance,” he whispers, seeing three kids with Colts shirts running toward us.
“Easton Bailey?” one of them asks, missing his front two teeth.
The other little boys stand next to him, their eyes looking as if they have hearts in them as they stare at Easton.
How does he not have a hero complex when he has kids coming up to him thinking he’s the best thing ever?
“How are you boys?” Easton asks, so casual.
The parents meander over, as if not wanting to intrude. Easton’s hand falls off my back, and he crouches next to the stroller and takes their pen and zoo map. He signs the maps, and one boy asks him to sign his shirt, which he does.
Then the parents peek their heads into the little circle. “Would you mind a picture?”
Easton stands and ushers the boys in around him.
“Here, I’ll take it,” I say, offering to take the phone so the mom and dad can get into the picture.
“Oh, thanks, Hadley,” the mom says.
I freeze for a moment. Then I remember, if they keep tabs on Easton, I’m on that feed now too. Of course she knows my name. I’m not used to being recognized.
I keep the stroller by me and take the picture for them. Easton smiles big and wide and doesn’t look the tiniest amount of pissed off that he’s being interrupted on his one day off with his son.
I hand the phone back to the mom, and they graciously thank Easton before moving on, but the boys continue to look over their shoulders.
As I think we’ll move ahead, more kids and adults come over.
It’s a half hour before we get away from the zoo entry area.
While we’re stuck there, I’ve taken so many pictures that one group of women asks me where they pick up their pictures after I take them.
I have to disappoint them and say I don’t work for Lincoln Park, but I’m happy to take a picture with their phone.
Eventually, Easton has no choice but to walk away. As I hand the phone back to the last person, his hand goes to my back, and he pushes the stroller again. Tanner’s being a trouper, mostly because kids kept kneeling down and talking to him the whole time.
“Let’s get to the Reptile House,” Easton says and turns us abruptly to the right.
“I don’t want to see the reptiles.”
His fingers flex on my back and he smiles. “No one wants to see the reptiles.”
My head tips back. “Oh, gotcha.”
We walk ahead, and a few more people glance and point, some taking out their phones to snap a picture, but thankfully no one stops us.
When we reach the fork in the path, I don’t see any signs to go to the Reptile House. I go to move right, but Easton tugs at my shirt and pulls me left.
“It’s this way to the Reptile House?” I ask.
“Nope.”
“Well, let me see the map. I didn’t see the sign.”
“You think I’m not going to take you two to see the giraffes?” Easton says.
“But—”
“Stop arguing and get excited to see giraffes eating off the trees.”
I stop for a second but then catch up. “You were eavesdropping on us.”
He chuckles. “It’s a small condo, but yes, I overheard you telling Tanner how much he was going to love it.”
“I would’ve gone to the Reptile House.” I fall in line with him.
“I know you would have.”
When the giraffes come into view, Tanner kicks his feet.
“How long have you been pushing this giraffe thing?” Easton asks.
“We’ve been reading Giraffes Can’t Dance every night.”
His eyes stay on me a little longer than they should and I shrug, moving to bend down to get Tanner out.
“We didn’t come all this way for us to be strapped in a stroller, right, Tanman?” I say.
Easton doesn’t move for a second but pushes the empty stroller as I carry Tanner toward the animals. He comes along my side at the exhibit fence.
“You’re really good with him.” Easton anchors us to his side, his arm extended along my back, his hand on the fence. “This okay?”
I nod, knowing we need to look like a loving family, but it’s intimate and nothing like I’m used to. Still, I don’t pull away.
“I’m surprised,” I say, changing the subject.
“I thought I was going to massively fail at this. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never been so tired in my life.
Up, down, up, down, crawl here, crawl there.
Lift, put down, lift again. For someone who has never stuck to a workout schedule, my muscles are crying out, wondering why I’m torturing them so much. ”
He laughs, and he’s so close to my ear, goose bumps sprinkle down my neck.
“I love seeing his reactions, and when I can make him stop crying or make him smile, it’s like a little golden star. I can’t explain it.”
Easton’s arm tightens and he leans in close. “I get it.”
A giraffe comes closer to us—it’s a baby following its mother.
“Oh, look!” I point, and Tanner turns in my arms, burying his head into my chest.
“He’s scared.” Easton places his hand on Tanner’s back.
I try to rock him a little and tell him it’s okay, the giraffe won’t get us.
“Every time things are going good, something else happens.” I hand him to Easton. I wouldn’t mind being the one to soothe Tanner, but if Easton is here, he should do it since he’s his father. I’m still trying to figure out where I fit in this equation.
“That’s the truth. This is foreign territory for both of us.” He holds Tanner, and Tanner yawns, putting his head on Easton’s shoulder.
Seriously, ovaries just burst because I’ll never get tired of looking at this.
“Let’s see if he passes out.” He starts walking, and I take over pushing the stroller.
We walk a little more, see a few exhibits, and Tanner is still awake, although his eyes are drowsy. We point out the elephants, the gorillas, and a lot of the larger mammals before we head into the Nocturnal House with the hopes that the darkness will allow Tanner to fall asleep.
“Gonna be honest, this isn’t my favorite.” I peek at Tanner and see he’s finally succumbed to sleep. “But it worked, he’s out.”
“Then let’s get out of here,” Easton says.
“Is Easton Bailey scared?”
“No.” But his footsteps are a little faster as we walk out the doors.
I giggle as he puts Tanner in the stroller, and we use the shade to block as much of the sun as we can with the hopes he stays asleep.
Easton tickles me, and I jump.
“Jesus!” I shout, giving him a death glare.
He only laughs, pushing the stroller away.
“Not funny.”
“It was a little funny.” He still can’t stop laughing.
As I watch him walk ahead, I’m reminded that this is us. We’re good together as friends and teammates.
“I’m starved. What do you want?” he asks.
After we grab a pretzel with cheese, my choice, and a hot dog and nachos, his choice, we find a spot away from everyone on a bench by the Lily Pool.
“I have to tell you something.” The tone of his voice makes me pause mid-bite into my pretzel. “I’ve decided to try to find Tanner’s mom.”
“Oh.” I put my pretzel back in the plastic tray. This ping in my chest shouldn’t be there. This is good. Good for Easton and definitely good for Tanner. I want him to have his mom in his life, of course. “I’ll help.”
I repeat my words in my head a second time, wondering where the hell they came from. He probably doesn’t want my help.
“You don’t have to.” He dips a nacho chip into the cheese and tosses it into his mouth.
“I want to.” I put my hand on his thigh. “For Tanner.”
“Well, I started a list without names—just places and vague details. I’m trying to put out feelers with the guys I was hanging with when I was with these women.”
He looks almost ashamed that he can’t point out one woman and that he doesn’t know her name.
Something twists in my chest. I never gave much thought to what or who Easton might have been doing when I wasn’t around, back when we were just hooking up. Now, picturing him with other women just makes me feel… well, I’d rather not think about it.
“Well, I’m happy to do whatever I can.” I plaster on a smile.
He nods. “It might be for nothing, but I want to try.”
I pick up my pretzel and dip it in the cheese. “I don’t blame you. I’d do the same.”
We eat for a few minutes, silence descending on us. He checks in on Tanner, who is still out cold.
“Are you gonna share that pretzel?” he asks, as if a switch has been flipped.
I tear off a piece and dip it in the cheese before handing it to him. He opens his mouth and I lift it, but a little bit of cheese falls on his chin right as I place the pretzel in his mouth.
“Whoops.” I swipe the spot of cheese and lick it off my finger.
He freezes, staring at me, and our eyes hold as they’ve been doing too often lately. I don’t want to turn away. I want to lose myself in his gaze because the way he looks at me sometimes is so nice, as though he doesn’t see the same Hadley my family does.
“I need a wipe.” I get up and dig into the diaper bag, trying to push away whatever that was.
We’re friends, and I’m going to help him find Tanner’s mom.
Stay in your lane, Hadley.