Page 5

CHAPTER 5

CAMDEN

I t was a fine line to walk between seeing my new niece and best friend every day and not annoying my brother. Down deep, I thought Brooks didn’t mind having me around, but he also had such limited time alone with his family before he had to go back to work tomorrow. It was a night game or I supposed it would be better to call them ‘evening games,’ but whatever. He’d be gone at night.

The worst would come when he left for the road trip Friday morning. He’d be gone six days, returning late Wednesday after the game. It was only from Milwaukee, so they’d come home that night then turn around and have a game the next day.

Their schedule was grueling and brutal sometimes.

“Hey, Camden!” a woman in my Public Relations Strategy and Ethics in a Digital World class called out as soon as I’d entered the room. Her name was Keri and we’d become friends since she had the same major as me and we’d ended up in the same classes for a couple of years. But we weren’t friends who hung out outside of class.

“Hey, Keri.” I slid into the seat next to her. Humans were creatures of habit, so we all tended to sit in the same place every class.

“Have a good weekend?” she asked before yawning widely. Her eyes sagged like maybe she’d had too good of a weekend. Her light brown hair was up in a bun and she was wearing what my grandma would’ve called leisure wear but my generation called pajamas.

Definitely a good weekend for her.

“The best, actually.” I sat up straighter. Having a niece was exciting for me. “My brother’s girlfriend had a baby on Saturday. She’s so cute.” I pulled my phone from my pocket to show her just how cute Kelsie was.

“Aww. She’s adorable,” she said in that sweet way people spoke around babies.

We didn’t talk much more before the professor came in and it was time to get down to business. We only had a few more weeks before we were done and he wasn’t going to let us slack.

On my way to my next class, my phone rang and I checked to make sure I wanted to answer it. Since it was Brooks, I would.

“Hello,” I greeted him.

“Hey, Cam, could you come by the house when you have a chance?”

I stopped walking. “Is something wrong? Kelsie? Harlowe?”

“No, they’re both great. I just want to talk to you.”

“Oh, then yeah. I was planning on coming over after class. Hello? New baby. I’m not missing that unless you tell me I can’t come over.”

He snorted. “I figured but wanted to make sure.”

“I’ll be there.”

Then we ended the call. That really could’ve been a text, but he must’ve wanted conformation now instead of waiting until whenever I replied. As if he had to ask me to come see the baby… I mean them .

My next professor did let us slack a bit. At least, we got out half an hour early. It was Consumer Psychology. I was also taking Integrated Public Relations Campaigns, and Advanced Social Media and Public Relations Techniques along with the Digital World class from earlier today. It’d been a tough semester, but I loved every minute of it.

OK. Maybe not every minute, but the classes were so interesting to me that I didn’t mind the time they ate up, though I was so ready to be done, I could almost taste the freedom.

As soon as class ended, I hurried straight to my car and drove to my brother’s house. When I got there, I sent him a text letting him know so I wouldn’t have to ring the bell or knock in case Harlowe was sleeping.

He was standing in the doorway in gray sweatpants and a blue T-shirt with his feet bare, holding the baby like he’d been doing it all his life when I climbed the steps.

“Hey,” I said as I slid past him. “I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to knock or whatever.”

“Yeah. Good thinking. Harlowe is sleeping. Normally, I’d say ring the bell or knock because we don’t want Kelsie needing complete silence to sleep.”

“Good plan. Mom did that and we can all sleep through anything, just about.”

He shook his head. “Not a baby crying. ”

I snorted and gave him a tap on his back as we walked farther into the house. “You’re not supposed to sleep through that.”

“Here.” He turned to me. “You take her and I’ll get you a drink.”

I gave him a wide grin. “Don’t mind if I do.” I would’ve asked in, like, point two seconds anyway so taking her from him wasn’t a hardship.

“You can have a seat.”

Which was what I was going to do, anyway.

As I sat on the couch holding Kelsie against my chest, she let out this tiny sigh like she’d fallen right back to sleep. When I looked down at her soft, round face, I saw that she had. The weight of her against me just made me happy. Like she was comfortable with me already. Though, yes, I realized that babies this new were mostly comfortable with whoever was holding them.

“She fell asleep,” he said as he set a glass of pop close to me. It’d be diet because that was what Harlowe drank, but also he knew it was what I would want.

“She did. Sorry. I have to stay here for a few hours until she wakes up.”

He chuckled and drained part of his water. “I was kind of hoping you’d say that.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why is that? You need some sleep?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I’m good right now. I meant more for the future.”

“You know, it was really weird to see you holding a baby when I go here,” I told him. Though it seemed like he wanted to talk about something else, I had to get it out. “Like you’re hands-on. Changing diapers. It’s weird.”

He furrowed his brows. “What are you talking about? I held you and changed your diapers when I was seven. Not often, but sometimes Mom would be breaking something up between Urban and Cobb and needed a hand. And the nanny wasn’t twenty-four hours a day.”

I pinched up my face. “Can we not talk about you changing my diapers?”

He chuckled quietly, like he didn’t want to wake the baby. “Yeah. OK.”

“So what’s up?” I asked as I slowly moved Kelsie into a position that taxed my arm less. She wasn’t heavy, by any means, but this way, she was more against my chest and less against my arm. “You said something about the future?”

“Yeah.” He scratched the back of his head. “I’ve go back to work tomorrow.”

“Which is kind of bullshit. You guys should get more than three days.”

He shrugged. “It’s the contract.”

“Yeah, I know. Still…”

“Then Friday we leave on our first road trip and she won’t even be a week old.” He took another quick drink then held the glass tightly in his hand. Brooks didn’t ask for much in general. He was usually the one doing things for us, so if he needed something, I’d do it “I was wondering how often you could come over the next couple weeks. Especially when I’m gone. ”

I snorted, which shook Kelsie, but it didn’t bother her. “Please. There’s a baby here. I’ll move in.”

He chuckled as he shook his head. “I don’t think we need to go that far, but we’ll ask Harlowe.”

“Well, either way, other than classes, which are during the day, I can be here as much as either of you want. But why are you asking? Is everything OK with Harlowe?” I glanced up the stairs, where I knew my best friend would be sleeping.

“Yeah. She’s great. It’s just…” He blew out his breath. “I have to be back to work tomorrow. Then we leave on Friday. Kelsie’s not even a week old and Harlowe has some healing still to do.” I cringed at the horror stories I’d heard about why women had to heal after childbirth. One included a tear that went to places I didn’t want to think about. Hopefully, hers wasn’t as bad. “I just hate to leave her alone so soon. She’s comfortable with babies—”

“She babysat a lot.”

“Right. It’s not that I don’t think she can handle it because she can. But it’d be nice if she had some help.”

“Brooks,” I said more seriously. “Harlowe is my best friend. I already planned on being here until she kicks me out. Even if Kelsie here weren’t my actual niece, she’d be my niece, anyway.”

“Perfect.” His shoulders slumped like that had taken a load of worry off him. “I just want her to be able to rest some and get a break. Take a shower. All that shit and if I’m in fucking Milwaukee, I won’t be here to make sure it happens. And you know she doesn’t have a mom who will come and help. ”

I rolled my eyes. “Mrs. Chandler being here would make things worse. Harlowe would be so stressed out and her mom absolutely wouldn’t know how to handle a baby. I’m convinced she never even held Harlowe when she was a baby.”

“No shit.” He shook his head then pushed to his feet. “Mind watching her so I can run to the store? If not, I’ll take her with me, but I’d rather not, given that she’s two days old.”

“I absolutely don’t mind. Kelsie and I will hang out right here.” I brought my legs out to lie on the couch as I moved my back to the arm so that I could arrange pillows and lean further back. All to get comfortable.

“You can also put her in her bassinette.” He pointed to the pack and play that had a bassinet on the top. They had a regular one upstairs in their room where the baby was sleeping at night until they were ready to put her in her crib.

“Pft. Get the fuck out of here with that.” I waved my hand like I was sweeping him away. “She’s perfectly comfortable right here.”

He chuckled but headed for the door, where his shoes would be. “She just ate like forty-five minutes ago, so she should be good for another hour or more. Harlowe doesn’t nap that long, so you’ll be fine.”

Harlowe was breastfeeding, so that wasn’t something I could do for her. After a couple of weeks, she wanted to start pumping and using a bottle because straight from the tap wasn’t going to work long-term. She knew she could do it, but to her, the milk was the important thing. Not being the only one to feed her.

“Wait. You can’t be out of diapers yet,” I said as he reached for the door. “Are you really going to the store or are you going to the field?”

He shook his head as he looked over his shoulder. “I’m going to the store. I want to get some more groceries. Things Harlowe likes. I want to make sure she’s set before I have to go back tomorrow.”

Damn. Brooks really was the most responsible of us all. “All right.” I furrowed my brows and eyed him suspiciously. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe him. He just didn’t need to know I did. “Then I wouldn’t mind some licorice.”

He laughed. “All right.” Then he was gone.

It was just Kelsie and me on the couch watching TV.

Originally, Harlowe had insisted that she was going to keep her own apartment. But then she realized it’d be kind of wasteful to have the two places. She and Brooks were together and he wasn’t going to be letting her go anytime soon. Ever, probably. So, they were together, having a baby, and Brooks wanted to be there for every moment he could be and that included the sleeping ones, given that his job kept him away from home a lot. Plus, he didn’t want Harlowe to struggle.

When it came to money, Brooks had more than they’d ever need. Not just his baseball salary, but the trust fund that our grandma had left each of us. I’d just gotten control of mine when I’d turned twenty-two at the end of last year, but I hadn’t gone on any spending sprees with it. I didn’t need to and I know that was a privilege, though. But my parents provided most things, so I didn’t need to tap into it. I could get my own place. I just didn’t want the hassle until after graduation.

Night would be the toughest for Harlowe, whether he was here or not. Brooks couldn’t get up with Kelsie as much as he would’ve liked because rest was part of his job. He’d still be getting up, but with Harlowe breastfeeding, there wasn’t much he could do, anyway. If he wasn’t rested, he could get hurt.

I thought leaving so much of this to her was probably going to kill him a little on the inside.

There on the couch was where I stayed for the next hour until Brooks was back. This time, he came in through the kitchen door, carrying bags of groceries. Kelsie was starting to stir anyway, so I carefully got up and carried her to the kitchen. At the same time that I got out there, Harlowe came carefully down the stairs and joined us.

“Hey,” she said. “I didn’t know you were coming over.”

“Brooks demanded it,” I told her, causing him to scoff.

“I asked. Not demanded.” Then he turned his attention to Harlowe. “Did you sleep?”

She nodded. “I kind of feel like I slept for five hours. I feel good.” Kelsie made a little grunt then began squirming. “Oh, looks like someone is going to need a diaper. ”

“I can change her,” I told her, but she shook her head and reached for the baby.

“I am going to have to feed her again soon, anyway.” Then she took her baby and headed up the stairs.

“Have you thought about getting a night nurse?” I asked once she was out of earshot.

“I suggested it,” he said as he put things in the fridge. “Harlowe vetoed it. She wants to do it herself. I just feel bad because I’ll be gone so fucking much.”

“Don’t worry, brother. I’ll be here. I’ll stay the night.”

“I appreciate that.” He snapped his fingers. “Also, convince her it’s OK to order things to the house if she doesn’t want to go out.”

I snickered. “‘Convince’ her?”

“She thinks the delivery fee is a waste of money.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help laughing. That absolutely was Harlowe.

After putting things away, Brooks started making some food that had to be for Harlowe. It was healthy enough, but not what he’d normally eat.

“What was the weirdness with you and Jenner at the hospital?” he asked as he made a sandwich.

My heart stilled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I countered, but I refused to look at him. He’d see the truth in my eyes if I did.

“You were pissed. Why is that? You always seem angry at him when he’s around.” Then he stopped and turned to me and I could feel those big-brother eyes on me. “Is there something I should know about? ”

I snorted. “Of course not. Besides, don’t you have your own baby to worry about now?”

“I do.” He moved closer. “That doesn’t mean I’ll stop worry about you.”

“Nothing to worry about.” Because there wasn’t. There never had been where Jenner was concerned, no matter what I thought possible before.

“If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

He moved back to continue the sandwich. “I always thought I didn’t have to worry about Jenner. You fucking hate baseball players and he’s been around so long, he’s like one of us.” Now that was absolutely not true, but I wasn’t going to correct him. “But the way you act…” He shook his head. “I don’t know. Makes me think there’s something you haven’t told me and might result in me having to push his teeth down his throat.”

“Whose teeth?” Harlowe asked as she came back in with the baby.

“Jenner’s.”

“Why?” Her gaze moved to me. “What’d he do?”

“Nothing,” I said at the same time Brooks said, “Something.”

“ Brooks ,” I chastised.

He just shrugged. “Seems like it’d have to be something. You hate baseball players, yet you don’t hate us.”

“You’re her brother,” Harlowe explained. “She’s not going to hate you. ”

I ground my teeth together to keep from snapping at her. They were getting too close to the truth.

“Right.” He popped a baby carrot into his mouth. “And until recently, I thought Jenner was in that category too, but your attitude toward him… it’s like something happened. Something personal.”

I just shrugged and threw up my hands. “Stop worrying. There’s no need.”

After eyeing me suspiciously, he brought the plate over to Harlowe then came around the island to take the baby so she could eat.

“If you say so.” He kissed the side of Harlowe’s head and walked away.

“That was weird,” she said.

“Yeah. It was.” But now I was going to change this subject. “Brooks went to the store to get things to make your life easier. He sure loves you.”

Harlowe rolled her eyes. “I know he does. I have to show you the push present he gave me last night.” She held up her hand to show me a ring. It was an oval halo with a diamond platinum band.

It was breathtaking. And it was absolutely not just any ring.

“Are you saying…?”

She nodded as she bit back a smile. “He asked me to marry him and of course I said yes .”

I squealed then pulled her into my arms a little too roughly. “Sorry. I was excited.”

She laughed. “That’s all right. I understand. I told him he couldn’t say anything to anyone until I told you today. It was late last night. ”

“You should’ve called me, anyway.”

“It was late.”

I scowled. “I thought the restaurant was your push present.”

“That’s what I said.” She took a bite of her sandwich.

“Well, whatever. I’m so excited you’re going to finally be my sister legally. You can’t get rid of me after that.”

“I wouldn’t be able to now.” She was still chewing. “This ring is ridiculous.”

“It’s beautiful,” I countered. “He has great taste.”

She shook her head. “It’s way too expensive.”

I had to scoff. “You know what he makes a year. It’s public information. You’re lucky it’s not bigger.” If I had to guess, it was just under two carats, which was large, but he could’ve gone bigger if he’d wanted to. He was smart enough to know this was probably the most she would’ve allowed on her finger, though.

“That’s true.”

“You’re excited right?” Because she was acting kind of mater of fact about the whole thing and Brooks had been the most nonchalant I’d ever seen him.

Her eyes widened. “Of course I am. It’s just… We’ve lived together for a while. We have a baby for crying out loud. This kind of feels like the cherry on top but not the whole cupcake.”

I could see where that would be the case. “So almost like it was already a foregone conclusion?”

She nodded. “I mean, did anyone think we wouldn’t get married? ”

“Not a single person.”

“So I’m excited and I can’t wait to be his wife and all that gross romantic stuff, but it’s still not as exciting as already being a family. If that makes any sense at all.”

“It does,” I assured her. “Speaking of the restaurant … do you need any help there? I’m almost done with school.”

“You’re my friend,” she countered. “Not my indentured servant. The restaurant is fine.”

I shrugged. “You’d do it for me, so if you need me to stop there, check on things, knock some heads together, let me know.”

She giggled. “I will.” She took a drink of water then asked, “What was Brooks talking about with you and Jenner? I didn’t notice anything at the hospital.”

“There was nothing to notice,” I lied.

She grunted, but it sounded like she didn’t believe me. “You two don’t really get along and I don’t understand that. He was there when you had your accident. You’d think you’d get along better.”

Yeah. He’d been there when I’d had my accident.

None of them knew that I’d been running from him.

And if I had my way, they never would.