Better Daddy, page 29
“I think we can make it happen,” Cal sings.
I glare at him. “Butt out.”
Cal laughs and shakes his head. He’s totally not going to listen.
Our women glance over, wondering what Cal and I are arguing about. Meanwhile, Brian ignores us completely and the boys play quietly in the corner. I smile, loving this moment with our little family. It might not always be perfect, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
Chapter 44
Sloane
“Aw, love. Don’t cry.”
I blink away the sleep from my eyes and take in the scene before me. God, this man is delicious. My husband is shirtless as he bounces around our tiny bedroom with the most beautiful little girl in his arms. Our daughter.
It’s been a week since Tia entered our lives. Since then, Sully has handled every diaper, including a few blowouts, talking our little one through them with the gentlest tone.
Calling her love each and every time.
God, do I love him.
And our three best friends have been keeping T.J. occupied so he doesn’t feel like he’s being held captive in this room with us.
Terrance Murphy might have been on to something when he created that trust.
Tia lets out one of those cries that is too adorable not to smile over. Unfortunately, the sound triggers my boobs to swell, and a moment later, moisture leaks from them. “Bring her to me,” I say, taking Sully by surprise.
“Morning, sweetheart. I was hoping you could get a few more minutes of sleep, but I think she’s too hungry to wait.”
I laugh lightly. “I got that.”
Sully settles on the bed beside me and helps me adjust Tia. As soon as she gets comfortable, she latches on and quiets down quickly. The girl loves to eat.
Sully presses a kiss to my shoulder. “Did you get any sleep?”
I catalog the precious details of our gorgeous girl like I do every time she’s in my arms. She’s got a head of dark hair and creamy skin, with big blue eyes that are just like mine. Her nostrils are heart-shaped, which might be one of her most adorable attributes. Or maybe it’s her little toes, which she curls up and twists when she gets hungry. Or her teeny, tiny hands that ball into fists.
I can’t stop staring at her.
I bring my nose to her head and inhale, soaking up that newborn scent. If only someone could figure out how to bottle it, the world would be a happier place.
“I got a few hours,” I tell him.
Sully’s good about waking up with me when Tia cries, but he often dozes while I feed her, so I try to let him sleep until she cries again.
He’s been involved in every moment for the last week, determined to prove to me that this isn’t just a phase. He’s a better daddy this time around. A better partner. And he’s intent on staying that way.
“T.J. was asking if we could take him to the park today,” Sully says, his eyes full of uncertainty.
Honestly, the fresh air sounds like a great idea. It would feel good to stretch out my legs and act like a human again.
I smile. “Sounds perfect. After I feed her, I’ll put her down for a nap and take a shower. Then I can feed her again before we get in the car. With any luck, she won’t fuss too much.”
Sully presses a kiss to Tia’s head. “My love would never.”
I laugh. Right. The girl already has her daddy wrapped around her finger.
Three feedings—and diaper changes—later, we’ve finally unloaded the carriage from the back of our new SUV, and T. J. is bouncing with unrestrained energy, ready to rush to the swings.
“Let’s have lunch first,” Sully tells him, carrying a cooler that he must have packed during one of Tia’s many feedings. Thank God for that too, because now that I think about it, I’m starving.
“But I want to take a swan ride after lunch,” T.J. says. It’s something I’ve always wanted to try, but T.J. used to scream if we brought him anywhere near them, so I’m shocked that he’s asking to go on one.
“Hey, bud. Let’s eat first. Then you can pick what you want to do.”
T.J. huffs like a bull and stomps his foot, but with one look from Sully, he straightens.
That reaction is just as shocking. Our strong-willed boy rarely listens that quickly.
Sully guides us to an area surrounded by large sycamore trees with enough shade to lay out a blanket. Once I’m seated, he scoops Tia out of her stroller and sets her in my lap. “I’ll get the food set up, and then I’ll take her so you can eat.”
I keep my eyes on T.J. as he runs between trees, chasing after a chipmunk, so I don’t notice that Sully’s returned with our food until he clears his throat.
He’s kneeling beside me, a little closer than I expect, when I turn toward the sound.
Kneeling… on one knee.
And between two fingers, he holds a gorgeous diamond ring.
My throat grows tight at the expression on his face. So hopeful and loving.
“Sully.” His name is a breath on my lips. An answered prayer.
He smiles. “Sweetheart, I have loved you for nearly two decades. We’ve been through it these past few years, and I can’t begin to explain how grateful I am that you’re giving me this second chance. You’ve given me two beautiful children and more love and happiness than I deserve.”
Tears quickly form and flow down my cheeks. “You deserve all the happiness.”
Angling in, he swipes at the tears.
I don’t mind them one bit. These are tears of joy. We’ve earned them.
“The last time I did this, I was full of ideas. I thought I knew precisely what I was signing up for. Promising to love you for the rest of my life was as easy as promising to breathe.”
Tia squirms, her face scrunching up, and lets out the tiniest wail.
Sully rubs her head softly, and when she settles, he takes a deep breath. “But the truth is, I didn’t understand that loving you is only part of this promise. Because love is an action, not just a feeling.”
I nod. God, he’s got it all right.
“So today I’m not just promising to love you for the rest of our lives. I promise to show up. I promise to be present. I promise to hold you and talk to you and have fun with you.” He smiles, and then, in a low whisper, like he’s nervous Tia will understand, he adds, “And find random closets where I can fuck you.”
I cough out a laugh. “Yes. Yes, to all of that.”
He grins. “I haven’t finished.”
With a roll of my eyes, I huff, but I nod for him to continue.
“And I promise to be there for our children. I promise to make time for all of us. To put us first, always.”
I give it a few beats before saying, “Are you finished now?”
Lips twitching, he shrugs. “Yes, sweetheart, I think I am. So, what do you say? Will you be my wife again?”
My answer is simple and truer than I could have imagined a few months ago. “A thousand todays would never be enough. Yes, Sully. Of course I’ll be your wife again.”
With a small whoop, he hovers close and presses his lips to mine. With this kiss, we promise to keep showing up. To keep trying. To keep loving one another. Knowing full well that it won’t be easy, that life will get in the way, and that we’ll have to work to keep our marriage going.
That marriage is a daily commitment. An action. A choice.
And I’ll choose him every single day.
When he pulls back, he’s smiling. “You hear that, love? Your mommy agreed to marry me again.” He brushes his lips over her head. “Teej,” he calls, turning around. “She said yes.”
Excitement rushes through me. T.J. was in on the surprise? No wonder he listened to Sully so easily when he gave him that look.
When T. J. doesn’t appear from behind the tree he was just running circles around, a niggle of worry works its way through me.
“T.J.” Sully stands and scans our surroundings. “Did you see which way he went?”
I shake my head. “He was right behind that tree.”
With a nod, he steps off the blanket. “I’ll go look for him.”
“Here, take the baby. I’ll help.”
He’s back in a heartbeat, putting Tia in the stroller. Once he’s helped me to my feet, we wander, calling for our son. As seconds bleed into minutes, panic grips me and my stomach twists more painfully. Each time we yell his name, more bystanders join in our search. I’m pulling my phone from my pocket to find a photo to show the people offering to help, on the verge of hyperventilating, when Sully grabs my arm and mutters, “Oh fuck.”
He points to the middle of the lake, where our precocious son is sitting in a damn white swan boat. Crying.
“How the hell?”
Sully grasps my hand and puts it on the stroller handle, ensuring I’ve got it, and takes off. “Stay right there, bud. Dad’s coming.”
“I wanted the swan,” T. J. cries, “but I don’t like the water.”
Right. The kid doesn’t like heights, yet he scaled a building last fall. And he’s afraid of water, so naturally, he’d jump into a swan boat. It’d be comical if it wasn’t so scary.
My husband rushes toward the dock, and without hesitation, jumps in. He surfaces quickly, covered in mud, and stands, the water hitting him below his waist.
Only once he’s dragged the damn swan boat to the dock and pulled T. J. out of it—T. J. completely dry and my husband covered in muck—do I finally breathe.
My little guy launches himself into my arms, and I squeeze him tight. Unable to let him go, I eye Sully, trying not to laugh as he pulls mud leaves from his shoe.
“You better say thank you to your daddy.”
T. J. turns around in my arms and faces him. “He’s Super Daddy.”
Sully smiles easily. “Better than the firefighters who rescued you?”
“The best,” T. J. agrees.
He’s right. Sully’s not just a better daddy. He’s the best daddy around. And he’s mine.
Epilogue
Sully
There’s nothing more beautiful than my wife nursing my daughter, her lips puffy from the kiss I just gave her, a hickey on her neck, and my ring on her finger.
“Stop staring at me,” she grumbles without looking up. While I stare at her, she stares at the adorable seven-pound, eight-ounce bundle in her arms. I know her precise weight because we’ve been to the pediatrician every other day this week to weigh her since her reflux has made it difficult for her to gain weight.
“Impossible.” I drop a kiss to her forehead and head for the door so I can stop by the bathroom to fix my tie in front of the mirror. “I’ll take Tia down to the office before court so you can shower.”
I’ve got a hearing I can’t avoid, and Sloane swears she doesn’t need me staring at the two of them all day. She insists she’ll be fine, and if she’s not, she’s got the walkie-talkie, so she can contact the rest of the crew in the office.
In the living room, Lo and Brian are drinking coffee. Cal has already left to take the boys to school.
“Make sure you have those walkie-talkies on,” I remind them.
With a sigh, Brian pulls one from his pocket and waves it in my direction.
“Test it out,” I tell him.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” he grumbles. “You sound like Cal.”
“Oh, sorry for being a caring father who wants to make sure his wife and baby have help should they need it.”
Lo flattens her lips, trying not to laugh at me.
I motion to her. “You too. Where’s yours?”
“Right here.” She swipes it off the counter. “They’re all set to the loudest setting, per your request, and I’ll keep mine on the charger at my desk so there’s no risk of it dying.”
I nod. That’s good. Very good. But…
Shit. “I should just stay here. Cal can handle it.” I drop my tie onto the couch.
“No.” This comes from the open door to the bedroom.
Sloane.
In her robe, with the sash cinched tight, no baby in sight, she glares at me. “I’m fine. I love you and I love how overprotective and caring you are, but…” She gives me a smile like she knows I won’t like what she says next, so she’s softening me up. “You’re smothering me.”
I walk toward her. With her dark hair messy, her eyes still a little swollen from lack of sleep, and her face flushed with annoyance, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
Settling my hands on her hips, I murmur, “I just love you so much.”
Smiling, she presses a kiss to my jaw. “I love you too, baby, but you have to work.”
I frown. She’s not exactly wrong, Cal could never handle this divorce.
It’s the two women who were insistent that they should cheat with the same person. Apparently, they found a willing participant.
Cal would find that way too fascinating, and though the basis isn’t a lie, it’s not exactly playing fully with the truth either.
“Oh, and don’t forget you’re meeting with Jess today,” Sloane tilts to one side, eyeing Brian.
Lo claps. “Yes. This is going to be brilliant.”
Her excitement throws me for a loop. Lo is typically all business. No-nonsense. She must really like her yoga instructor.
I swipe my tie from the couch and leave them to talk about the case while I head to the bathroom to finish getting ready. Then, while Sloane takes a shower, I take Tia down to the office so I can look over the divorce file before court. I don’t even make it through one email before a familiar warmth coats my shoulder.
“Ah, my little love. Is your belly bothering you again?” I pat her back and grab one of the handful of burp cloths I brought with me. I dab at her mouth first, adjusting her so she’s not resting in spit-up, then head toward the stairway so I can change.
Before I can make my way up, Madame E appears out of nowhere, and I go rigid. The woman still creeps me out, even if she’s helped me a time or two.
“Things are about to get messy,” she singsongs, her bracelets jangling along like a warning.
I scowl, motioning toward the spit-up on my shoulder. “That was an easy one, Madame E. You aren’t even trying with your predictions today.”
“I wasn’t talking about you. I was talking about that.” She points to the front of the office, where Cal and Lo are greeting a client.
I frown. Shit, did Cal pick up a slushie on his way back to the office? If he spills it on a client, I’ll kill him.
Cal shifts, giving me a glimpse of the woman he and Lo are chatting with.
Stomach bottoming out, I grab the walkie-talkie out of my pocket. “Uh, Sloane, I’m gonna need you to get down here.”
The speaker crackles to life. “Did she throw up again? Dammit. I’m sorry. I know you have court. I’ll come get her.”
“That’s not the issue,” I grumble, my eyes still on the blonde I’d recognize anywhere. Brian used her photo as a bookmark in every one of his textbooks during our first year of law school.
I press down on the speaker. “What’s the name of the client Cal and Lo were trying to get you to work with? The one Brian is meeting today?”
“Um, Yoga Jess?” Sloane says, her tone tinged with confusion. “Why?”
“Because the woman I’m looking at isn’t just Yoga Jess, sweetheart. It’s Brian’s Jess.”
“Oh shit,” my wife mutters.
Oh shit is right
Nodding, Madame E singsongs, “I told you things were about to get messy.”
Want to find out what happens when Brian’s ex-girlfriend hires him? Read Bonus Daddy now!
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I (Jenni) need to say a huge thank you to Brittanée Nicole, who took over this book when it was only three quarters of the way finished and brought it home for us. Without complaint she jumped in when I needed her and made Better Daddy the best book it could be. You are the best friend a girl could ask for.
Now we also have a ton of other people to thank.
Thank you Sara, for making the Dad Com release happen. Without you we could not do what we do. You also come through no matter what we throw at you. And lately you have had more than any other one person could do. But you are literally the best. We love you so much and appreciate you more than we could ever express.
This book would not have come together without the help of some truly amazing people. Thank you Daphne Elliot for taking on this group project again with us. We keep throwing these ideas at you and you jump in full swing with us. Thank you Tiffany, Sara,and Jess, who helped us make this happen. More importantly though, the sincerest of thanks to Tiffany for helping us navigate this multi-cast audio production. To our beta readers, this book would not be what it is without your help and feedback!
To our lovely editor Beth, thank you for loving these guys and their girls as much as us and making the book better as you always do. Thank you for being flexible with us and we know we really made you jump around with this one. But you didn’t hesitate to step us and be there for us. We are so lucky to have you as part of out team.
To our incredible street teams who help promote our books day in and day out, every release gets better because of you! We are in awe of your friendship and support. A huge thank you to Elen for the gorgeous cover image and the drawings brought Sully and Sloane to life. And to Melissa for creating the gorgeous covers. Especially thank you for not giving up when we ask for another option and another. You are the best.
Thank you Alyssa and Jeff for making sure the book was polished with your amazing proofing.
Finally, none of this would be possible without you, our amazing readers. Thank you for all of your messages, your Tiktoks, your dms, your posts and your rants. There is nothing we love more than hearing from each of you how a character affected you, or how a storyline made you laugh. We love your reviews, your anecdotes, and the notes you send. Make sure you follow us on facebook, instagram, and Tiktok (and join our Patreon) to keep up to date with the rest of this hilarious bunch.
