Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Easton
Did I really just kiss her?
Did she really not pull away until I did?
That straight line between us is fading, and I’m the one responsible for messing it up.
I shouldn’t have kissed her, but no one has ever said anything like that about me before.
All my life I’ve been the one who jumps into everything with both feet, the one who takes nothing seriously.
Sure, people love to be around me. Half the time, I’m the life of the party.
Which sounds cocky, but I’ve purposely made myself that way.
It’s easier. But Hadley sees past that side of me, and I couldn’t let the moment pass without letting her know how much I love that she sees me.
“So, this is for our newest little one.” My mom pulls a stuffed puffin from the bag, placing it in front of Tanner. “It’s a puffin.”
“It’s an Alaskan thing,” I whisper to Hadley, who is tucked into my side. I’m not even sure if we’re trying to sell this marriage or if we both just want to be close to one another. I know my answer, but I’m not sure of hers.
“And Hadley, you’ll love this.” She pulls out a book. “This is all about Alaska.” She places the board book in front of Tanner. “Hopefully in November, you can come up and see us.” She kisses Tanner’s temple just like my dad did.
“Of course we’ll be there.” The idea of introducing Tanner, and Hadley, if I’m honest, to my entire family sounds like I won a Gold Glove.
My mom meets my eyes. I know it’s hard for her. Me playing ball down in the lower forty-eight. I used to spend the entire offseason in Alaska, but now I don’t because I’ve formed a life here too.
Most of my cousins have stayed up north, so those of us who didn’t are always asked when we’re returning home for good. Now with Tanner, I’m sure I’ll get that question more often, but they don’t have a professional baseball team there, so I don’t have a lot of choice in the matter.
“Hadley, you’ll love it. I can’t wait to show you Lake Starlight, but until you get there, I was sent here with a few things from the family.” She pulls out a giant basket filled with goodies.
“Mom, how did you manage to get that on the plane?” I ask.
“I almost got in a fight with someone over the overhead compartment.” My dad peeks his head closer to Tanner. “Grandpa was coming even with a broken nose.”
Tanner touches his face, and my dad stares at his grandson with stars in his eyes.
“Austin comes from a big family, and each of his siblings wanted to welcome you into the family with their own little thing…” She pushes the basket toward Hadley, then stands and comes over to sit on the chair on her other side.
Hadley shifts away from me, sitting straighter.
Thanks, Mom. I was enjoying having Hadley in my arms.
“Easton’s Aunt Brooklyn has an essential oil line in a lot of hotels. She gave you jasmine for enticing the libido.”
I make a sound, and Hadley looks at me over her shoulder, laughing.
“His Uncle Rome gave you a bottle of olive oil that he uses in his restaurant. Apparently, he says you shouldn’t use anything else.
His aunt Savannah gave you a coffee mug…
” My mom goes through the basket, pointing out every item that my aunts and uncles included as a welcome to the Bailey family for Hadley.
Hadley’s eyes widen in awe with each item my mom pulls out. “I really need to thank them. This is so sweet.”
My mom puts her arm around Hadley’s shoulders. I can tell that Hadley’s still trying to get comfortable with the kind of physical touch that is so common in my family, but not so much in hers.
“You can thank them when you come visit in November.” My mom looks at me. “They’re upset they missed the ceremony.”
“We’ve been over this, Mom. I don’t want a big wedding.”
I’ve put it on myself so they wouldn’t think poorly of Hadley about why we’d choose to get married without my entire huge-ass family there.
“What does Hadley want?” My mom turns back to Hadley. “It would just be a party, not a vow renewal or anything like that. We just want to celebrate you. But you say no, and that’s it—not another word from us.”
“Holly,” my dad sighs.
My parents would never put someone in a place they don’t want to be, but I also know it hurt my mom that she wasn’t here.
“I’ll think about it,” Hadley says.
I hate that she’s in this position.
“How about we go upstairs?” I ask to get us out of this room. “Tanner probably needs a nap.”
“Perfect.” My mom hops up. “Do you mind if I carry him up?”
“Where do you guys usually stay?” Hadley asks, probably assuming a hotel. She’s about to get another surprise.
“Just in the spare room. Is it still okay?” my mom asks. “It’s taken me so long to get here, I want to be with Tanner every minute I can.”
Hadley blinks a few times and plasters on a smile. All I had to do was have a dinner with her family, and here she has to sleep under the same roof as my parents.
“Tanner is in my room.” I stand and push in my chair.
“Our room,” my mom corrects me. She rolls her eyes at Hadley. “He’ll get there.
After I moved into Austin’s family home, it took him forever to use the word our.”
She takes Tanner out of the high chair. Hadley pulls off the placemat and grabs the diaper bag.
We all leave Peeper’s, Ruby giving my mom, dad, Hadley, and Tanner a wave and a nice goodbye while she completely ignores me.
Once we’re outside, I debate going upstairs with my parents or going out.
“We were going to go to the food truck festival. Tanner will probably fall asleep on the way. You guys want to join us?” If we’re going to sell this, we can’t be holed up in my condo. We need to be out in public, where my parents are distracted.
“Sure.”
Before we reach it, the security gate opens, and all of our friends file out. Decker, Penelope, and Hazel first, then Callie, Foster, and Ellis. They see my parents, and each give them a hug, telling them how good it is to see them again.
Perfect. Reinforcements who can help us navigate this.
“You guys want to go to the food truck festival?” Hadley asks.
We must be on the same page. More people means more distractions away from us.
Callie and Penelope glance at one another. “Sure,” they say at the same time.
“Babe, I thought—” Foster says.
“Ellis would love something sweet.” Callie loops her arm through Foster’s.
“Okay, we’ll put our stuff upstairs quickly and then be ready to go.” My dad looks at me.
I leave the stroller with Hadley, helping him take the gifts and their suitcases past the security gate.
Once we’re away from everyone and standing outside my condo, Dad places his hand on my shoulder. “I like her. She’s good for you.”
“Thanks.” I punch the security code into the lock, and we walk into my condo to put their bags in the spare room.
My dad goes into the second bedroom and walks right back out. “Are you sure it’s okay if we stay here?” He gestures toward the room.
Shit. He’s probably seen so much of Hadley’s things in there. I’m not even sure if she made the bed.
“Sometimes we stay in there if Tanner isn’t sleeping well and we want to… you know.”
My dad stares at me for a long beat. Just like the time I got caught stealing when I was thirteen. I want to confess my lie, but I don’t want to put them in a bad situation—or Hadley.
“Okay. We should get downstairs.” He walks past me and opens the door.
“I’ll be right behind you. I’m just going to grab a change of clothes for Tanner.”
The door shuts, and my head rocks back. I can do this.
I pull out my phone to text my sister.
Thanks for the heads up.
What? No congratulations?
Congratulations, but you couldn’t have told me they were coming?
I was busy pushing a baby out of my vagina, sorry.
I shut off my screen and pocket my phone.
I can do this. I’ve had to put on an act before. Like the time Kenzie told me she picked my cousin, Lance, over me. I’m used to acting like everything is okay, and this is no different.
Except this affects Hadley too, and I refuse to let her down.