Page 15 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

Chapter Eight

R owan

Stepping back, I take in the balloon arch I just assembled.

Not bad if I do say so myself. Corie, Sloane, and I are at Landry’s house setting up for the baby shower that we have planned for Baker.

The guys are out playing a round of golf while we set up.

Baker has no idea that he’s coming back to Landry’s for a baby shower.

His baby momma, Natasha, wanted the gender to be a surprise, so we’re decorating in a soft yellow and pale green.

“That looks amazing,” Corie gushes as she comes to stand next to me. “I’m so excited.”

“Do you think Baker’s going to be?” I ask.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. Regardless, he needs things, and we’re going to make sure he has everything he requires for the baby. It’s a very unusual situation, but he’s making the best of it.”

“I found the cutest book online,” I tell her. “It’s full of vouchers: babysitting, naps for the parents, and other similar services. I don’t know if he’ll actually call me and use them, but I hope he does. I wrote a little note inside letting him know that I’m happy to help out anytime that I can.”

“He’s going to need it. Sloane and I have told him the same thing. Especially once the season starts and the team begins to travel during the weeks when he has the baby. I think they’re doing week to week, but I know that can change.”

“Is that a court-mandated thing?”

“No, they’ve been able to work it out between them. Natasha has made a name for herself, and so has her boyfriend, so they don’t want child support from Baker, which is surprising. It’s all been very civil, actually. I’m glad because that’s what’s best for the baby.”

“It’s great that they’re able to do that. I wish more families took into consideration what was best for the kids.”

“Yeah, I mean, they weren’t dating, and Baker was pretty much a rebound for her, and then she got back with her on-again, off-again ex right after their night together.”

“And the boyfriend, he’s on board with raising another man’s baby?” I know that’s the case, but it’s hard for me to wrap my head around because that’s definitely not the norm.

“That’s what Baker said.” Corie shrugs.

“Okay, how long until the guys are back? I’m starving, and those green-and-yellow whipped icing cupcakes are calling my name,” Sloane says, joining us.

“They’re on their way here, and you have to eat your lunch first,” Corie says, pointing at Sloane, making us all laugh.

“Trust me, I plan to tear that pulled pork up. The house smells so good, but there’s a ton of food in your brother’s kitchen, Corie Beckett. We’re not feeding an army.”

“Um, Landry and Reid eat for three.” Corie laughs. “Besides, we can send leftovers home with everyone, and there will still be some for Landry too.”

“Look at you, taking care of all of us,” I tease.

“I mean, Knox and I get leftovers, too, so you could call me selfish.” Corie giggles.

“Not a selfish bone in your body, sis,” Sloane quips.

We’re all laughing, and that’s how the guys find us. “What’s going on?” Baker asks.

“Damn, I wanted to yell ‘surprise.’” Corie pouts as Knox pulls her into his arms and presses a kiss to her temple. “Surprise!” She grins.

“This is your baby shower,” Sloane explains.

“My what?” Baker asks, lifting his hat off his head and running his hands through his hair.

“It's your baby shower. Usually, it’s for the mom and often both parents. I’m sure Natasha will be having one. You’re going to need lots of items for baby Sinclair, and that’s what this is.”

“What smells so good?” Landry asks.

“That’s lunch.” Corie grins at her brother. “Baker, you go first. That’s the rules of the baby shower. Daddy first.”

“Daddy Sin.” Landry smiles. “Get your ass in there and make a plate. I’m starving.”

“Did you all know about that?”

The guys nod, and Baker just shakes his head. “Thank you. Really. I’m so out of my element, and I know the baby will be here in just a couple of months, and I have no idea where to start.”

“When you asked me to go shopping with you, I talked with the girls, and we thought this was a good idea to get you started. You and I will still need to go shopping for the nursery furniture, but—” Corie looks over at the pile of gifts “—we all might have gone a little wild with our purchases.”

“It’s all so cute,” I chime in. “The little outfits, the toys, the books, it’s fun to baby shop.”

“Right?” Corie agrees. “It’s so much fun.”

“I appreciate you ladies, really,” Baker says. He dips his head and swallows hard, trying to fight back his emotions.

“Hey,” Reid says, “I’ll have you know, I gave them my card and told them to buy you gifts too.”

“Me too,” Foster says.

“Yep.” Landry nods.

“And she’s my wife, so our gifts are from both of us,” Knox chimes in.

“What we’re trying to say is all this stuff you get to take home with you.” Foster points to the table full of gifts. “We’re about to be uncles. We take that shit seriously.”

“And aunts,” Corie adds.

“What she said.” Sloane points to Corie.

“We’re all here for you, Baker,” I say softly.

“I’m not a parent, but as a child growing up in foster care, I know the kind of person it takes to be a great one.

You are one of those people.” It’s true.

I’ve been in enough foster homes to know that not everyone is cut out for parenting.

I’m sure it’s a hard job, having a tiny human’s life in your hands, but cruelty is not something that should be associated with kids.

I learned that at a young age, and I know for certain Baker’s baby will never know what that feels like.

“Careful,” Landry says, tossing his arm over my shoulder, making my heart skip a beat at his nearness.

“You’ll make him think we care about him or something.

” He winks at me, then turns his gaze to Baker.

“We do. You know we do, and this shit you’re going through, man, it’s tough as hell, but we’ve got you.

I’m not sure how I’ll do with diapers, but I’ll do my best.”

That makes everyone laugh, including Baker.

“Come on, let’s eat,” I tell them. Landry turns us, with his arm still wrapped around my shoulder, and leads us into the kitchen.

“Run that past me again,” Baker says, brow furrowed.

“It’s a nose sucker. When babies get congested, you use that to clean their nose since they can’t blow their own.”

“What?” Reid asks, shock written all over his face.

“That’s a torture device.” Reid taps at the screen of his phone and pulls up a video.

He scrunches up his nose and shakes his head vehemently as Foster takes the phone out of his hands to watch.

He, too, looks thoroughly disgusted at the thought of sucking snot from a baby’s nose.

“Bro, you can’t do that to your kid. They’ll be traumatized.” Foster shudders, tossing the phone back to Reid.

“Snot and shit, that’s what babies do,” Sloane says calmly.

“I’m not cut out for that,” Reid says.

“You better learn,” Corie tells him. I watch as she bites down on her cheek to keep from laughing, but when she sees the horrified look on Reid’s face, she loses it as laughter bubbles out of her.

I’m laughing so hard, I have tears coming out of my eyes. Soon, everyone is laughing, even Baker, and we’re all wiping at our eyes.

“Okay, more gifts,” Sloane says, getting us back on track.

With a shy smile, Baker continues to open each gift with care and a heartfelt thank-you after each one. There are more items we have to explain to him, and instead of fear written all over his face, I see nothing but determination.

He’s going to be a good dad.

“He will,” Landry says, startling me.

“I didn’t know that I said that out loud.”

“You did, and you’re right. Daddy Sinclair is going to be just fine. We’ll make sure of it.”

“That sounds familiar,” I say, tearing my eyes from his to watch Baker open the bouncing seat I got him.

“A bouncing seat?” Baker asks.

“They soothe the baby so you can do things like clean or cook. The bouncing motion helps settle them.”

Baker nods slowly. “I think I’m going to need that.”

“You will,” Corie assures him. She leans forward from where she’s sitting on the floor, passing him gifts. “This one says up to forty pounds, so you’ll be able to use it for a while.”

Baker nods as the corner of his mouth tilts up in a smile. “Thank you. Truly, I didn’t know where to start, and this—” Baker looks around at all the gifts littering the floor around him “—is so much. I don’t know how I would be making it through this without all of you.”

After we all take turns hugging him, we get to work cleaning up. Corie and Sloane are packing up gifts while Reid, Foster, and Baker start packing them outside.

“I think we’re going to need my truck too,” Knox says. He grabs two handfuls of gift bags and heads out the door.

I begin by picking up glasses and plates and taking them to the kitchen to start cleaning up. I’m standing at the sink, running dishwater, instead of using Landry’s dishwasher when I feel a presence behind me.

“You know the dishwasher works,” Landry says. His hands land on my hips as he reaches around me and flips on the light over the sink.

I’m holding my breath, waiting for him to step back, but he never does. “Yeah,” I say with a heavy exhale.

He leans in close, his lips just a breath away from my ear. “Want me to show you how to use it?”

“Do you know how?” I ask.

His deep laughter surrounds me and warms me like a blanket on a cold winter’s night. “Yes, I know how. I’m a big boy. I can even wipe my own ass.”

I hold up my hand, which is dripping with water. “No, I don’t want to see that. And as for the dishwasher, I know how to operate it, but we mostly used paper plates. There are only a few dishes. I don’t mind washing them by hand.”

“Then move over,” he says, his hands finally leaving my hips for him to step up next to me. “I’ll rinse and dry.”

“You don’t have to.”