Page 92 of Better Daddy

“They came for you a few hours ago. Along with a card.” Lo plucks it out of the bouquet. “I swear, even I swooned.”

I scowl. I didn’t mean for her to see it.

“I don’t know whether these will be blue or pink yet,” she reads, “but I know he or she will be perfect because they are ours. I hope you enjoyed our special day. A thousand todays would never be enough. Love Sully.”

Sloane takes the card out of Lo’s hand and tucks it against her chest. Maybe today didn’t turn out the way I wanted, but seeing the smile on Sloane’s face makes it feel perfect anyway.

Chapter 32

Sloane

Cal: I really think you should rethink the name…Cally has a beautiful ring to it.

Sully: We’re not naming our little girl after you.

Lo: I think Tia is a perfect name. T.J. and Tia. Gah, I’m so excited!

Me: Cal, don’t you want to save Cally for your little girl?

Lo: SLOANE! You traitor!

Giggling, I lean back in my office chair. Cal has already been dropping hints about knocking Lo up, and she doesn’t find them amusing. My smile falters when I spot Will in my doorway, watching me.

Unease washes over me as I set my phone on my desk. “Hey.” I try keeping my tone casual. “What can I do for you?”

He doesn’t make a move to enter. “I thought maybe we could grab lunch. Go over what we talked about two weeks ago.”

It’s wild how quickly time has passed since he laid out hisintentions. It’s even more odd that I’ve been able to mostly forget about that dinner since karaoke night.

Ignorance has been bliss.

Sully and his many dates have kept me busy. Last night, we took T.J. and Murphy to a diner so Cal and Lo could have a kid-free evening. Sully and I shared a vanilla milkshake and French fries while the boys played Pac-Man. It was oddly reminiscent of the night we made our baby girl. Though this time I didn’t shoot daggers at him. Instead, we discussed plans for a vacation he’d been thinking we should take before the baby arrives. Our last one as a family of three.

He suggested Disney, and I almost walloped him. After making sure T.J. was nowhere in sight, I agreed to Florida. Warm weather and my husband in swim trunks? Sign me up.

Just thinking of the water sluicing down his hard chest has me licking my lips.

“Sloane?”

I blink, and Will’s frame materializes in front of me again—not my very hot, very naked husband. I jolt forward as realization dawns, banging my knee against my desk. “Sorry, yes. What were you saying?”

He chuckles, like my forgetfulness is adorable and finally steps inside. “I was saying I’d like to take you to lunch.” He dips his head a little, and his tone goes raspy. “On a date.”

I shake my head immediately, like Sully is standing beside me, palms pressed to my cheeks, moving my head from side to side. Then, in solidarity with my husband’s spirit, I grasp my stomach, reminding the man that I’m not only married, but I’m pregnant.

“I’m happy to meet with you to go over cases, but I’d prefer to do that in the office.”

He raises his brows, almost like he’s surprised that I’d say no. “That’s how you want to play this?”

“I’m married, Will. And I intend to stay that way.”

With a shake of his head, he slips his hands into his pockets. “He’s going to disappoint you again.”

My chest pinches with a sense of fear that he might be right, but I close my eyes, fighting against the sensation. I’m choosing to trust my husband, but that doesn’t mean I’m doing it blindly. What we’re doing requires making choices daily, and I’m aware that it won’t always be as easy as today is. “If you have nothing else to discuss…” I say through gritted teeth.

With a disappointed sigh, he turns and stalks toward the door. “There’s a mediation statement due on the Simpson case first thing tomorrow,” he says over his shoulder. “I’d like it on my desk by six p.m.”

As he disappears, I’m left with my jaw hanging open. I’ve never even heard of the Simpson case.That dick. It’s one thing to expect me to get my own work done in a timely manner, but by doing this, he’s going out of his way to set me up for failure.