Page 50 of Who’s Your Daddy (Dadcoms #1)

Cal

“ W ant to take these wine glasses?” I call over my shoulder.

It’s official. She’s moving in with us.

But how the hell has she accumulated so much shite in the three months she’s lived here?

“Um—” Her tone is measured, unsure. She’s trying not to be difficult. She’s been so good about this move.

“I think you should,” I say, taking pity on her. She can bring whatever the bloody hell she wants. “Ours are rubbish. We can toss them.” I wrap the first and ease it into the box, humming as I work.

It’s hard to believe that Lola is truly mine. It feels like a dream. The best kind. And I never want to wake up.

When my mobile buzzes on the counter, I flip it over to check the incoming message and almost drop the glass I’m wrapping when the sender’s name registers.

Brandy: Hi Cal! Thanks for the updates! Looks like Murphy is loving New York. That makes this a bit easier…

Brandy: I got another gig. It’s in L.A. Let’s work out a plan for Murphy to visit me soon.

My stomach rolls. This can’t be real. For three bloody months, we haven’t heard a word from her, and now she thinks she can have Murphy back just like that? She didn’t respond to a single one of the messages I sent. Fuck. Did she even read them? Unlikely, since she thinks we still live in New York.

How is it possible that this woman could care so little for her own child?

I stomp into Lola’s room.

“Okay, you’re walking very hard. I can live without the glasses. But I do need a place to put all my shoes.”

Lola is in her closet, staring at the dozens of shoes that I’ve obviously already set a place for in my bedroom.

“You can have whatever you want, but she”—I thrust my mobile out to her—“can’t have Murphy.”

Lola eyes me over her shoulder, her movements jerky. “What?”

I wiggle the mobile in front of me, too fucking brassed off to speak.

She jumps to her feet and snatches the device from me. As her eyes dart back and forth, her lips move, forming the words of each text silently, her face reddening. “She’s got to be kidding,” she growls.

I squeeze my eyes closed to stave off tears. “Can she do this? Can she just take him back?”

Lola shakes her head, shoulders pulled back. “No. We’ll fight it. She abandoned her child. They won’t just hand him back over to her. But it’s likely that the court will order some type of visitation eventually.”

Heart cracking in two, I pound out a response.

Me: He’s not a zoo animal. You don’t get to drop him off and then come back into his life when it’s convenient for you.

You’re either in or out. If you’re in, we can work together to find a solution that’s best for Murphy, but think long and hard about what you really want because this is the only time I’ll grant you that kindness.

I shove it toward Lola, hand shaking, and let her review it. She’s better at this than I am. More levelheaded. And I trust her to know what’s best for Murphy.

“I would have called her quite a few names and probably blocked her,” she mutters, still glaring at my mobile. “Make her make an effort to find him.”

Though devastation threatens to pull me under, there’s a modicum of comfort in knowing that Lola is so fiercely protective of my son.

With a succinct nod, she jabs the Send icon. Then, eyes closed, she lets out a long, loud sigh.

Her eyes fly open when the mobile beeps a moment later and Brandy’s name appears on the screen again.

My heart sinks. Fucking hell. She’s going to fight.

Brandy: I understand. Honestly, I don’t have the resources like you do to help him. The kid is smart. He knows I’m not good at this. He’ll understand. Please tell him I love him.

I’m tempted to offer her money to even the playing field. To set her up so she has access to the same types of resources I do.

If I did, would she try?

I don’t know.

Murphy deserves two parents who put him first.

Then again, I also truly believe this is the right call.

I can’t make her choose him. If she’s pressured into it, she’ll only continue to disappoint him .

Because, resources or not, a parent should put their child first. If I lost everything tomorrow, I’d still do everything I could to take care of Murphy. And so would Lola.

That’s true, unselfish love. Love shows up, no matter what. A good parent does too, even when all they have to offer is themselves.

Teeth gritted, I lace my fingers on the top of my head. “What do I do?”

Fuck, I’m at a loss. I don’t bloody know what’s right here.

Lola presses her hand to my cheek, stroking softly.

“For now, we continue packing. Tonight, we go home and show Murphy just how much we love him. We make sure he knows just how important he is, how thankful we are for the chance to know him. We show him every day that we want him in our lives and that we’ll always put his needs first.”

“And if Brandy does come back?”

She hums, giving me a sad smile. “Then we deal with it. From now until Murphy turns eighteen, there’s a chance we’ll have to battle it out in court.

I wish I could package it up in a pretty bow and promise you that everything will be okay, but the reality is that she could come back at any moment and prove that she’s willing to do the work. ”

Teeth grinding, I tuck my chin to my chest. It fucking hurts, but she’s right.

Arms looped around my waist, she holds me tight. “The court won’t close the door completely on a parent who is trying.”

The ache in my chest morphs into a sharp pain. God fucking dammit. We really might have to battle.

If Brandy never returns, it’ll be heartbreaking for Murphy. And if she does, it’ll hurt in a completely different way.

But we’ll deal with it if the time comes.

“We have the best family law attorneys,” she says into my chest. “And they love your son. Every single one of us will help you through it. All we can do is take it day by day. ”

I blow out a breath, burying my nose in her hair. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

Pulling back, she cups my cheeks. “We’re amazing. Now”—she presses her lips to mine, then releases me—“let’s get this apartment packed up and start our new life with Murphy, together.”

I tug her into my chest again. “I love you, you know that? You and Murphy are the greatest things that have ever happened to me.”

I don’t think I’ll ever get over how lucky I am.

When Murphy came into my life, I was forced to grow up.

Without him, I wouldn't have her and without her, I don’t know that I could have figured out how to be the parent he needs.

We’re a family. Lola may not be Murphy’s mum, but she loves him like he’s always belonged to her.

Love and affection for this woman consume me, but there’s a hint of uncertainty there too. Swallowing thickly, I hold her at arm’s length. “We don’t have to get rid of the flat, you know? I’d understand if you wanted to hold on to it for a bit. Just in case.”

Sloane’s warning to her was legitimate, no matter how badly I want to deny it. Engaging in a relationship with a coworker can’t be easy. I’d walk away from the firm before I’d let her get away. But she should have options. She deserves to feel safe. No matter what.

“Already worried that I’ll hog the covers?” she teases as she slides a perfectly folded set of sheets into what looks like the original packaging. Fucking hell. The woman is ridiculously organized.

I yank the parcel out of her hand and toss it onto the bed, then take a step closer. “No, but I want you to be comfortable. So if holding on to this place would ease your mind, then we should do it.”

Fingers creeping up my chest, Lola shakes her head. “I’m all in, Mr. Murphy.”

Fuck . That sexy tone alone makes my trousers feel a tad too tight. But I don’t want to give in just yet. So with a hand on her waist, I pull her body to mine. “Are you sure?”

Her smile is exquisite. It’s beautiful and breathtaking, overtaking her entire face, showing her true joy. “No emergency plan needed. I trust you and even more than that, I trust us. We’re it. ”

Ducking low, I bring my mouth to hers and kiss the ever loving shite out of her. “We are,” I murmur, fingers threading through her loose hair. “But”—I nip at her lip—“this is actually a convenient little place to escape to from time to time.”

With my hands on her hips, I turn her and drop kiss after kiss against her neck.

She leans back against my chest, head tipped to one side, giving me better access. “Are you trying to convince me to keep this apartment as some sort of love shack?”

I hum against the soft skin behind her ear. “If that would make you happy, then yes.”

“I’m trying to make a grand gesture by giving up my apartment for you. Let me be grand gesturey.” She tilts her head up and gives me a mock glare.

I press a kiss to her chin. “If you insist. But your willingness to sleep beside me in a twin-size bed every night was grand gesturey enough?—”

Her eyes widen. “Shit, I forgot about the bed.”

A chuckle rumbles up my throat. “I’ve got movers lined up to bring this bed over this afternoon.”

She whirls around and smacks me. “You must stop teasing me.”

“Though I could cancel and have a heart-shaped bed delivered instead. What do you think?”

“ Cal .”

I lick my lips and lean in close. “Yes, Lola?

“Shut up and kiss me.”

Lips slanted over hers, I do just that. And when we come up for air, I whisper, “Whatever Lola wants.”