“Okay. Wow. So I’m an aunt again? Does this mean you two are going to try to make this thing work between you?”

“That’s the thing—she freaked out last night and told me to leave.”

Stevie narrows her eyes. “Why? What did you do?”

“Why do you automatically think it’s something I did?”

“Because you’re a guy, and you’ve never incubated a human life inside your body.”

“Neither have you.”

“Yeah, but I have the ability to, unlike you with your silly dangly parts. So, what happened to make her freak out on you?”

“I don’t really know. She let me see Kody—”

“His name is Kody?”

“Yeah.”

“I love it. Okay, continue.” She crosses her legs and motions for me to go on.

I’m thinking I probably should’ve waited to call my brother for advice, but I continue anyway. “So, she let me come up to her apartment to meet Kody, and when I realized that he’s really mine, I told her I would set up a nursery in my house and that I would take care of them.”

Stevie arches a brow. “I’m sorry, you said what?”

“That I would take care of them. He’s mine as much as he is hers. I’ve already missed out on the first four months of his life. I’m not going to miss out on any more of it.”

“Did you happen to say that to her as well?”

“Yeah, of course. I have every right to be part of his life. I have all the resources to take care of him. Of both of them.”

Stevie gives me her you’re an idiot face.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

She sighs and shakes her head. It’s annoying that I can’t force her to explain faster. “Listen to what you’re saying, RJ. This woman has gone through an entire pregnancy on her own. She’s spent the last four months raising a baby—on her own. You come swooping back into her life, she finds out that you lied about who you are and also finds out that you have ass loads of money. The second you find out that you made a baby with her, you essentially try to take over her entire world.”

“I’m not trying to take over anything. I know I fucked up. I shouldn’t have lied, and it’s my fault that I’ve missed out, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable for me to want to be part of their lives.”

“It’s not unreasonable at all, but what you’re saying and what she’s hearing are probably two very different things.”

“I don’t get it.”

Stevie nods, like she expected as much. “So, you know how after Max was born no one could hold him for more than like five seconds before Joy wanted him back?”

“Uh, yeah, but I don’t see what—”

“The mothering instinct is strong. She barely put him down for the first week, and even Kyle could only hold him for a few minutes. I’m guessing—and this is just a guess, but I think it’s a pretty solid one—that Lainey’s terrified that you’re going to try to take her baby away from her.”

“Why would she think that?”

“Because you have an insane amount of money and you’re planning to put a nursery in your house. It’s all in the delivery, RJ.”

“But I want to take care of both of them.”

Stevie props her chin on her fist. “Does she know that?”

“Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.” I run a hand through my hair. “What am I supposed to do? Yesterday I was trying to get back into her life, and now I’m a dad with no rights to my own kid. I don’t know how to handle any of this.”

“Now you have to woo them. Show her that you want them both.”

“How do I do that?”

“The same way you went about softening her up after you lied about being a millionaire NHL player—do nice things for them. She’s a single mother living on a single income. Don’t you remember how tired Joy and Kyle were at the beginning? Even now, it’s a miracle if they’re still up after ten. From what I’ve seen, being a parent is freaking exhausting, so I can only imagine that being a single parent is like signing on to be a zombie for a good three years.”

She definitely has a point, one I hadn’t really had time to consider. “This is why I want to help take care of them.”

“Yeah, but Lainey needs help without feeling like she’s being railroaded. Get her groceries delivered so she doesn’t have to waste time shopping, get her a housekeeper, send her to the spa so she can get a freaking pedicure. Joy loved it when Mom and I did that for her. She couldn’t see her damn feet for the better part of half a year, and I’m betting now she doesn’t have the time, energy, or money to indulge in things like that. Give her a reason to trust that you’re going to be there for both of them and that you’re not just a playboy and a liar.”

“It was one lie.”

“Unfortunately, it was a pretty damn big one. She needs to know she can rely on you, so be reliable.”

“Okay. I can do that. I can be reliable.”

Less than twenty-four hours ago I was thinking about all the ways I wanted to get back into Lainey’s pants and her bed, and now all I can think about is how I’m going to find a way to cement myself back in her life so I don’t miss out on any more time with my son—because I sure don’t want him to grow up without a dad.

CHAPTER 20

SHOW ME YOU MEAN IT

Lainey

I glance at Walter’s closed door as I back out of the elevator. I don’t want to hurt him, but I need to give RJ a chance with Kody—and possibly give us a chance too, depending on what he wants out of this. It isn’t until I spin Kody’s stroller around that I notice the pile of boxes stacked beside my apartment door. “What the heck is all this?” I ask Kody, who babbles and shakes his teddy bear rattle.

The door across the hall opens, and Walter appears, arms crossed over his chest. “Most of them have been here since I got home from work. Except the two on the top—they arrived a few minutes ago.” He’s still dressed in his work wear, a pair of khaki pants and a white short-sleeved button-down complete with pocket protector and striped tie.

“Oh, hi, Walter.” I slip my key into the lock, aware we need to have a conversation, one I’m not excited about.

Walter is right there to help me, rushing over to hold open the door while I get Kody inside. He assists with all the boxes—some of which are heavy, based on the way the veins in his neck bulge and his face goes red with exertion.

Once we’re done bringing everything in, he stuffs his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t realize you were seeing other people.”

I unbuckle Kody from his stroller and pick him up, half using him as a shield for this conversation. “It’s not like that, Walter.”

“Really? Because last night you went on a date while Eden watched Kody, and then you brought him back here and flaunted him right under my nose.”

I realize how it all must look to him—and how I would feel if I were in his shoes. “I wasn’t flaunting him. He’s Kody’s father.”

The anger shifts to confusion. “I thought you said his father wasn’t interested in being part of his life.”