Unexpected Reality (29 page)

I relax in the chair Ridge and I shared earlier and stare at the screen. I’m not the least bit interested in what’s going on; instead, my mind wanders to what just happened. How I let myself go with him.

“Kendall,” Reagan says, grabbing my attention. “You not going to eat?”

“Yeah, I’ll just wait for Ridge.”

My answer causes her to grin, and I feel my face blush. I wonder if she can tell her brother just rocked my world in his backyard. Just as my mind starts to drift again, we hear the crackle of the baby monitor as Ridge enters Knox’s room. Looking around the living room, I see the receiving end sitting on a small table next to the TV.

“You doing better, little guy? You seem to be in a better mood,” Ridge says to Knox.

Reagan chuckles, as do the rest of us. He’s so good with him. I don’t think he even realizes it.

“Daddy’s doing better too, but you already know that, don’t you? I think Kendall has worked her charms on you just like she has your old man.”

I stare wide-eyed at the monitor. I should stand to turn it off—this is his private moment with his son—but I can’t move. Instead, I tune everything out except the sound of his voice.

“We’re lucky, Knox. She wants both of us. Oh, you like that idea, do you? I see your smile.” Knox coos at him. “You’re probably too young for this conversation, but my dad once told me to trust your gut and when you find the one to not let her go. In this case, she’s not just mine—she’s ours. We’ve found our one.”

We’re all listening to him, so I stand to turn it off. Just as I reach the monitor, he says something that has tears welling in my eyes.

“I think your mommy would approve. She just wanted the best for you, for you to feel loved and know you’re wanted. I love you, little man, and Kendall . . . Well, she’s important to me, and I hope that whatever this is grows. I think that would make your mom happy. I know it would me. What about you, huh?” Knox coos. “Good, glad we’re on the same page. Good talk.” He chuckles and I reach for the receiver, turning it off.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly release it before turning to face the room. I don’t make eye contact as I walk straight to the chair Ridge and I were sitting in and focus my gaze on the television.

“Kendall,” Dawn tries to get my attention. Of course, she would wake up to hear what happened.

I don’t look at her, just keep staring at the TV as if I didn’t hear her.

“He’s different with you,” Tyler says. His deep voice makes it impossible to ignore him.

I’m trying to work this out in my head—how I respond to him, how to act after what I just heard. My heart feels like it could beat out of my chest, and there are millions of butterflies in my stomach.

“Hey, did you eat?” Ridge asks, sitting on the arm of the chair.

I’m so zoned out I didn’t even know he was back. “No, I, uh . . . I waited for you.”

He grins a boyish grin. Standing, he holds his hand out for me and I take it, allowing him to lead me to the kitchen. Ridge grabs my hips and lifts me up to sit on the counter, settling between my legs.

“You okay?” He cups my face with one hand, keeping a tight grip on my hip with the other.

“Yeah, I uh . . . I heard you. We all did.” I can’t lie to him. I don’t want to start out that way.

“Heard me?” he asks, confused.

“The baby monitor. It was on, and we all heard you.”

He grins. “Good, now those fuckers who I call friends will keep their eyes off you.”

Wait, what?
“You’re not mad? And what do you mean ‘keep their eyes off me’?”

“No, babe, I’m not mad. I meant every word. I have nothing to hide. And those four knuckle heads in there, they watch you.”

I push on his shoulder, but he doesn’t budge. “Get real.”

“They do. They even forced my hand at calling dibs.” He kisses my neck.

“Dibs?”

“Yeah, we have this rule that if one of us calls dibs the rest back off regardless. They could tell I was interested, but hesitant with being a single dad and all that. One of them—and no, I won’t tell you who—said he was going to call you. I saw red and told them you were mine.” He shrugs.

“When?”

“Weeks ago, before I had even worked it out in my head that this is what I wanted. I knew I didn’t want anyone else to have you, it just took me time to realize I could be a dad and whatever it is you need, too.”

Butterflies—millions, trillions of butterflies take flight in my belly. Grabbing his shirt, I pull him to me and kiss him.

Someone clears their throat behind me.

Ridge pulls away and rests his forehead on my shoulder. “I need to get the monitor.”

“This one?” Reagan holds it up as she enters the kitchen. “Your girl turned it off, but since you’re back down here with us I thought it was safe to turn it back on.” She smirks.

He takes it from her and sets in on the counter beside me. “My girl didn’t have to do that,” he says, leaning in to me, facing them. He crosses his arms over his chest.

“You told him?” Mark asks.

“Yeah, I mean, I couldn’t lie about it.”

“Dude, you fuck up and I’m stepping in.” He punches Ridge in the arm.

“Not a fucking chance in Hell,” Ridge fires back.

Everyone laughs, and that sets the tone of the rest of the night. We laugh, talk, eat and then when the fights are finally over, Ridge walks me to Reagan’s car.

“So tomorrow, you’re not going to stand us up, are you?” he asks.

“No, what time?”

“Now. Just stay with me. We can stop by your place tomorrow for you to change and get ready.”

“Not tonight, but you name the time and I’ll be here.”

“Seven.”

“Seven, okay. Dinner, then?”

“In the morning, sweet girl. I want all day with you.”

“Are you being serious?”

“This is you we’re talking about, so hell yes, I’m being serious. How about as soon as you wake up you get ready and come to me. I want the day with you.”

“Okay,” I concede.

“Text me when you get home, so I know you’re safe.”

“Ridge, I’ll be fine. Go inside and go to sleep. Knox will be up soon.”

“Not until I know you made it home.” He looks through the window of the car to Dawn. “Make her call or text when you get home, so I don’t worry.”

“Gotcha.” Dawn grins like the cat that ate the canary. She’s loving this.

He leans down and kisses me on the lips; it’s quick, but the meaning is still there. “Be safe. I’ll see you in a few hours,” he whispers.

I nod and climb into the back of Reagan’s car.

“He’s got it baaaddd,” she sings once we’re on the road.

“He’s not the only one,” Dawn adds.

Thankfully, they change the subject to their plans for the next day while I get lost in thoughts about mine. We’re spending the day together. I’m trying hard to tamp down my excitement. It took everything I had not to take him up on his offer and just stay the night. I’m sure his seven a.m. request will be fulfilled; I can’t see myself getting much sleep.

The drive from Reagan’s house to ours is filled with Dawn’s excited chatter about her day tomorrow with Mark. I’m happy for her. She’s not having the best of luck with guys, and he seems like one of the good ones.

As soon as I walk through the door, I text Ridge. He needs to get to bed.

Me: Just walked through the door.

Ridge: Make sure you lock it. See you soon.

Me: Already done. Night.

Ridge: Sweet dreams.

Maybe two hours. That’s the amount of sleep I got last night. It took me a while to finally close my eyes and when I did, it was the early morning hours. Two hours later, my little man decided it was time to eat. I’m not going to complain, because he slept for eight hours. That’s a record, and amazing, and I can only hope he continues to do so. He was up at five and after he got his belly full, he was ready to play—well, as much as a one-month-old can. He was talking up a storm, making all kinds of cute baby babble sounds. I admit I’m that dad, the one who records multiple videos of their kid. And I’ve taken hundreds of pictures. I need to invest in a good camera, not just my cell phone. Maybe that’s something we can do today.

I’m lying on the floor with Knox when my phone alerts me to a new message. Stretching, I reach up and snag it from the coffee table.

Kendall: I’m here.

Giddy. Those two fucking words make me giddy like a teenage boy. It’s seven o’clock on the dot and she’s here. “We have company, buddy. Kendall’s going to spend the day with us, and Daddy is really excited about that.”

Me: Be right there.

I gather Knox into my arms and—I will deny this—we run to the front door. Twisting the lock, I take a deep breath to calm my racing heart. Pulling the door open, she’s standing there in simple gym shorts and a hoodie, her hair is piled on top of her head and she’s a fucking beautiful sight for my tired eyes.

“Missed you, sweet girl,” I say, clamping my free hand around her waist and pulling her to me. I kiss her temple.

“I missed you guys too.” She grabs Knox’s little hand. “Morning, cutie. You feeling better today?”

He smiles at her because—like father like son—he’s enamored with her.

“Have you had breakfast?” I ask her.

“Actually . . .” She holds up a bag of takeout. “I swung through the drive-thru and picked us up a variety of breakfast sandwiches. I’m exhausted,” she admits.

“Me too. It took me a while to fall asleep and then this guy decided he was ready to jam this morning, so we’ve been up for a few hours,” I say, covering a yawn.

Reluctantly, I release my hold on her and allow her to step inside. I close the door and flip the lock back, my way of locking out the outside world—today is just our time. Something I’ve been craving with her for weeks. I find her in the kitchen unloading the bags.

“There’s milk and juice, I think, in the fridge. There’s also bottled water and a fresh pot of coffee. It’s what keeps me going these days.”

“Water’s fine with me. What about you?”

“Milk, but I can get it.” I walk toward the fridge.

“Ridge, sit down and let me do this.”

I don’t argue with her because I don’t want to ruin today. I don’t want her to leave when she just got here.

“Eat,” she says as she sets a tall glass of milk in front of me. She does the same, unwrapping a sandwich. “Looks like someone’s losing steam.”

Sure enough, I look down at Knox and his eyes start to fall shut, then pop back open. He’s fighting it, but he’s not fussing. Whatever was bothering him must have subsided. I hate that he can’t tell me what he needs.

She finishes her sandwich and holds her hands out for Knox. “You finish, I’ll take him.”