Page 147 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Luther

Me: Good night, Beautiful.

Baby Doll: Night, Handsome.

Setting my phone on the nightstand, I close my eyes and picture my Kendra wearing my flannel.

And the last thought I have before sleep takes me is, I should’ve taken a photo .

Baby Doll: Morning.

Baby Doll: *sends a video of Buddy bouncing around on three legs, scarfing pieces of chicken as Joe tosses them*

Me: He seems in good spirits.

Baby Doll: I’ll say. He greeted us this morning with his scratchy shouts.

Me: Maybe Joe will sleep in his room tonight…?

Baby Doll: The man has already told Buddy he’ll sleep on the couch all weekend.

Me: What an asshole.

Baby Doll: Knock it off. Dad just asked me what’s so funny, and I had to lie.

I grin to myself.

Me: What did you tell him?

Baby Doll: I said it was a funny video of a duck.

Me: Why a duck?

Baby Doll: I don’t know! I panicked.

Baby Doll: Then he wanted to see it, so I had to sneakily pull up Instagram and then pretend I lost the video.

Me: He’s so nosy.

Baby Doll: You’re telling me. Now he’s asking me who I’m texting.

Me: And what did you say?

I know she won’t tell him it’s me. But a part of me still hopes she does.

Baby Doll: Ashley.

I choke and slosh the coffee out of my mug.

Me: Dammit, woman. I just inhaled my coffee.

Baby Doll: Sorry!

Baby Doll: Promise I’m not laughing.

Baby Doll: Hope it wasn’t too hot.

Me: I’ll survive.

Me: Why Ashley?

Baby Doll: I. Don’t. Know. I. Panicked.

Baby Doll: I really don’t text with her. I’d tell you if I did.

Baby Doll: I don’t even have her number.

I think about my last conversation with Ashley.

I think about her knowing about me and Kendra.

I think about Kendra admitting that she loved me.

I close my eyes and beg the universe for that to still be true.

Baby Doll: Sorry. I didn’t mean to be weird.

Me: Don’t apologize. You didn’t make anything weird.

Me: I’d be fine with you two talking.

Me: She likes you.

I worry for a moment if I shouldn’t have said that.

Baby Doll: Aww, that makes me feel cool.

I hesitate. Then I hit send.

Me: I like you too.

I hold my breath.

Baby Doll: That makes me feel less cool.

I grin.