Page 11 of The Last Thing (Baker Girls #4)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

WILSON

I’m a fucking twat.

That’s the conclusion I’ve reached about fifty times today.

And a hundred more last night.

I almost stormed back into Hallie’s apartment multiple times after I left like the asshole I am.

She told me she was pregnant with my baby, and I walked out.

She mumbled those words while I stood there catatonic, then I just left.

Fucking moron.

It’s no surprise she didn’t want to talk to me this morning, but seeing her uber professional mode was jarring. And hot.

I grip the steering wheel tighter. Two more red lights and I’ll be home to face the dumpster fire anew.

Especially because this revelation changes everything.

Hallie’s no longer a woman I once hooked up with and still run hot for. She’s not Sophia’s nanny who I want but shouldn’t get involved with. She’s the mother of my child. And while I wasn’t willing to cross professional lines because Sophia needs someone like her, it’s all different now.

If there hadn’t been any continuing chemistry with Hallie—if she hadn’t made me feel alive the way she did—I wouldn’t even let my mind go where it’s going.

But fuck.

It’s Hallie. My hellion. Mine .

Now that I know exactly what’s at stake, I want her to be. I want a chance at being the man who takes care of her. Who supports her. Who cherishes her. And that’s fucked up because I haven’t wanted anything like that in a long, long time.

It was there, deep in my gut, the night we spent together. But I knew I couldn’t have it. Or I thought I couldn’t.

I keep going back to fate.

Did it throw us together for a reason?

I pull into the parking lot, at odds with the idealistic side of me I don’t let out often.

But damn it all if I don’t want Hallie to be mine, and I’m willing to grovel to prove to her how sorry I am for how I handled this.

I trudge up the stairs to the apartment, cursing the fact that we have to wait to talk until Sophia is asleep. I haven’t even let my mind wander to what we’re going to tell her or when, but we’ll have to figure it out eventually.

The second I open the door, Hallie spins around and starts moving quickly through the apartment.

“Hey, your dad’s here.”

“Daddy.”

“So, I’m going to head home.”

I kiss Sophia’s cheek and set her down.

“Hallie.”

“I’ll be back in a couple of hours with my special tools to help curl your hair.”

“You’re not going to stay for dinner?” Sophia asks, eyes big.

Hallie looks from her to me. Then her eyes shift and her gaze narrows. I follow her line of sight to my hand. Where my keys are. Where the half heart she gave me is. For some stupid reason, I kept the damn thing and put it on my keychain.

My eyes meet hers.

Maybe it wasn’t stupid at all.

“We’d love for you to stay,” I say gently. Then I lean in and whisper, “If you think you can stomach it.”

She lets out a sigh. “I’ll stay.”

I’ll consider that a win. Especially since she hasn’t slapped me or told me to go fuck myself. Both of which I deserve.

“I’ll get changed, then we can eat.”

“We’ll dish it up,” Hallie says, and before I can say anything else, she and Sophia start plating things up.

After changing, I head back to the kitchen, but I pause at the edge of it, staring at the set table and two girls waiting for me.

My heart quakes.

I want this.

I asked Hallie to stay because that’s what I was always planning on. It’s stupid for her to cook for us, then go home and cook for herself. And maybe it was me letting my professionalism slip because I was hoping we’d feel a bit like a family.

It’s completely stupid, but… fuck. As much as my mother harped on me about finding a partner, I always shut it down. Looking at it now, though, I realize it wasn’t because I was against the idea. I was afraid to admit I wanted it.

Now fate threw it in my lap.

The possibility of it, at least.

I make my way over to the table and sit down. It all looks amazing.

As we eat, Sophia tells me all about her day and how she helped Hallie cook everything. Then she eats the whole meal without a hint of coercion or leveraging dessert.

I can’t remember the last time that happened with something other than chicken nuggets and fries.

In case I wasn’t sure before, it’s clear now. Hallie is magic.

Once we’ve finished, Hallie heads home, promising to come back and bring whatever hair accessories she has planned.

I get to work on dishes, and the evening goes by quickly.

When Hallie returns, wearing a tank top and sweats, I have to force my eyes off her. She’s so gorgeous it hurts.

Sophia settles on the couch with her, and I try to distract myself with a book while Hallie twirls Sophia’s hair around some silky things that she’ll leave in all night.

“Thanks, Miss Hallie,” Sophia chirps, throwing her arms around Hallie. “Goodnight.”

“Night.” She smiles and gives a little wave as Sophia scampers down the hallway to get ready.

I turn back and look at Hallie, unsure of what to say, but hoping my eyes convince her how badly I want her to stay.

Sophia is asleep when I walk by her room after taking a shower, and when I get to the living room, I’m shocked to find Hallie sitting on the couch, reading.

She puts her book down when she sees me.

“Hey.” I do my best to keep my voice even.

“Hi.”

Slowly, I walk over and drop down on the couch, leaving a little space between us. “I’m surprised you’re still here. I figured I’d have to hunt you down tonight. Rightfully so.”

She clears her throat. “Part of me wanted to make you do that. But I saw the keychain. It reminded me of that night. Who you were with me. Not the guy I saw last night.” She’s quiet for a moment. “Why’d you keep it?”

“That night was one of the best of my life because of you. I wanted to keep that connection to you alive. Did you keep yours?”

She stares at me for a beat. “It’s hanging from my mirror. I kept the bunny too. Named it after you.” She smiles when I arch a brow. “Veranda.”

I chuckle and shake my head.

“I really did name it that.”

I move closer, splaying my palm over her thigh. “Hallie, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for how I reacted last night. That’s not who I am, and that’s not the man I ever want to be. I panicked and handled it very poorly.”

“You think?”

“You have every right to be pissed, but I promise you, that moment is not who I am.”

She stares at me. “That’s why it surprised me. You’re grumpy, but I didn’t think you were an asshole. I’m still a little pissed, but I haven’t handled it perfectly either. I should’ve told you before we talked about the job or signed the contract.”

“I understand why you didn’t.”

“I appreciate you apologizing. But I get it. This is messy. After I found out, I laid around and avoided life for three days.”

“When did you find out?”

“Last week. My period was late, and I kept trying to ignore it, but when I started getting really nauseous, I finally went to the doctor.”

She leans over and grabs her bag on the coffee table, pulling it closer, then takes something out. Slowly, she hands it to me.

An ultrasound picture.

My breath sticks in my throat as I stare at it. It barely looks like more than a grain of rice, but it’s the beginning. The beginning of us.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, completely overwhelmed.

I did this once before, and while it was emotional, I was a nervous wreck. When they put Sophia in my arms, I melted, but there were still so many logistics. Just like there are now.

But this time they don’t worry me. Everything is upturned and twisted, but it all feels right to me. This is where I’m supposed to be.

Hallie runs her hand down my arm, drawing my gaze back to her.

“You okay?”

I nod and wipe my eyes. “Yeah. God, I can’t believe I get to do this again.” Then I remember the hard parts about the first time. How unsure Sophia’s mom was. “Is this what you want?”

Tears well in her eyes. “I’ve never wanted anything more than to be a mom.”

The way her vulnerability unlocks something feral in me is slightly terrifying.

“I will be here for every step. I will take care of you. I’ll be at every doctor’s appointment.

I’ll make middle of the night food runs.

Every bill will be taken care of, and I’ll make sure you have everything you need.

When you’re with Sophia, if you need to rest, that’s okay.

I can cook when I get home. Just know I will be by your side, fulfilling every need the whole time. ”

She leans back slightly, a mix of surprised and frustrated.

“I’m not incapacitated. I can still take care of Sophia and cook. Obviously, I’ll rest if I need to.” She shakes her head. “I appreciate that little speech, but all I need is a supportive co-parent who pulls their weight.”

I sweep some hair behind her ear. “No. That’s the bare minimum of what you deserve. I want you to have everything you could possibly need. I want you taken care of in every way. And I want to be the man to do it.”

“Why?”

One simple word that tells me everything.

She doesn’t trust what I’m saying. And I don’t think it’s because of how I walked out.

She was wild and free the night we met. When there were no strings.

I’m here for fun, and that’s all .

Now that it’s serious, it’s something else. She’s guarded, and that means I have some walls to dismantle.

Luckily, I can take a wall down just as well as I can build one.

“Because I felt something for you the moment I saw you. I said one night because I thought that’s all I could have.

I said I wouldn’t cross professional boundaries because that’s what Sophia needed.

But all the while, my insides have been screaming at me to find you again.

Stay close to you. If I’d known then what I know now, I’d have chained you to my bed and made you mine for good. ”

“Deck…” Her breath is shuddery, and her eyes are half closed. Then she snaps them open and shakes her head. “I don’t do love. That’s not what I’m looking for. We can be co-parents and maybe friends eventually. And with Sophia, we’ll keep things professional.” She stands quickly. “I should go.”

I watch her as she hurries across the room and out the door.

Fuck me. I’m down bad.

She can say she doesn’t do love, but that’s not how love works .

Love finds us.

It may not be love yet, but there’s no denying the connection between us, as much as she might like to try. My mind is reeling, but my heart’s never been more sure.

When I looked into Hallie’s eyes, I didn’t see locks and chains. I saw intense vulnerability. I saw a girl who wants to be loved, but is terrified to accept it.

Guess that means I have my work cut out for me.

But if I was a quitter, I wouldn’t be here. Sophia wouldn’t be who she is.

Hallie Baker is mine. She just doesn’t know it yet.