Page 117 of Better Daddy

I glance at thebest aunt,best uncle,andbest cousinshirts that the three of them are wearing and then glare at my brother. “Really, I don’t get best daddy?”

Cal shrugs. “We all knowI’mthe best daddy. Don’t worry though, we know you’re trying.”

A half scoff, half laugh breaks through my lips. My brother, the king of humility. Motioning to T.J., I say, “Take off the helmet and come see your sister.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot about the helmet,” T.J. mutters as he pulls itoff his head. “We took a horse ride through the park to come meet the princess.”

“It was an adventure,” Cal explains as he wraps an arm around Lo’s shoulders. “The king and queen and their best knights took a horse drawn carriage just like in the old days.”

Murphy glances up at his father. “It was awesome until the horse pooped and it smelled.”

Sloane perks up. “Wait there were horses in the park?” She glances at me and my face settles into a frown.

“Yeah.” Lo leans into my brother, a ghost of a smile on her lips. “We were planning to walk and fight some trees along the way. Ya know get some energy out. But, this guy—” she points over her shoulder—“took one look at the line of horses and changed plans.”

Murphy shrugs. “So we didn’t get energy out.”

“But we had fun.” Cal and T.J. say almost simultaneously.

“That’s odd. I heard they didn’t do those horse rides anymore,” I mutter, standing up and offering my seat to T.J.

Lo giggles. “Oh, some companies say that to gullible schmucks to get them to ride the bikes instead.”

Sloane snorts and her eyes find mine. “Schmucks, huh?”

For a second I think about apologizing but then I stop. “Ya know what? I think those bikes can make for a perfect date.”

My wife’s smile softens and I know without a doubt she’s remembering our second first date. The pride of knowing my wife well enough to read her thoughts again warms my heart. We’ve come so far. And although I hate the pain we went through I can’t say I’d change where we are now.

“Dad! I want to hold her!” T.J. whines, drawing my attention back to him.

I bend down, and help T.J. adjust his arms before gently placing a swaddled Tia into his arms. The second she settles against his chest, my heart explodes. I blink hard. Across from me my wife’s eyes fill with tears.

A perfect moment.

T.J. blinks down at her. “Why doesn’t she have arms?”

Lo snorts and I huff out a breath. “There inside the blanket buddy.”

He shrugs. “Weird.” Then he shifts closer. “I guess she’s kind of cute,” he says, and I think he’s about to press his lips to her nose when she lets out a miniscule burp. T.J. rears back. “Ewwww. What was that?” He looks on horrified as she burps again and this time she spits up too. “Get it away from me,” he cries.

I grab Tia back as gently as I can before T.J. throws her, but hardly have her settled in my arms before Lo swoops in with a burp cloth. “You have to share, Sully,” she teases before taking my daughter and settling beside Sloane on the bed. The two women whisper back and forth as they stare down at our girl.

I catch my brother staring at Lo, a look of longing in his eyes. “Ready to add to the family, huh?” I tease.

He licks his lips nervously. “She wouldn’t even marry me.”

“After two weeks of dating. Like a reasonable person she said no. I bet now she might feel different.”

He swallows but before he can say more the door behind us opens again and Brian appears wearing a pink shirt that labels him thesecond best uncle.Clearly, a Cal special. “I heard we have a cute addition for our awful apartment!” Brian jokes.

“No she pukes, that’s not cute.” T.J grumps before he sees the beverage carrier in Brian’s hand. “Slushies!”

“Yup. One for the big brother. And the big cousin.” He hands them out. “And one for the funny man.” He passes one to Cal and my brother completely lights up, all thoughts of Lola’s rejection to his ridiculous proposal months ago long gone.

Brian heads for Sloane, a tray of coffee in his other hand. “And for mommy,” he says, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “A tray full of caffeine as requested.”

“You’re the best,” Sloane mutters as she grabs one of the cups from the tray.