Page 40 of One Baby Daddy
I don’t make a move.
I barely bat an eyelash.
I can see he’s brewing something in his head, because he’s actingwaytoo cool right now.
“Are we finished?” I gesture toward the pile of wood we still have to frame out.
Racer picks up his car keys and jingles them in his hand. “Yeah, I’m good for the night, thanks for the help. Let’s get out of here.”
“Racer, man, you’re freaking me out a bit.”
“Why? You have a class to get to. I don’t want to hold you back from yourglow stickfun. Come on”—he nods toward the door—“let’s get out of here.”
Cautiously, I follow him out and wait for him to lock up the bridal shop he’s been remodeling for some extra cash.
We walk to our vehicles, and I can’t help but wonder what his game is. “Are you sure? I don’t mind staying a little later. I can skip the class tonight.”
“Hell no, there is no way I’m letting you skip your class, especially when I’m going with you.”
Fuck, I knew it. I knew he was hiding something.
“You don’t have a membership.”
He shrugs, “I’ll ask for a guest pass. I’m sure they’ll be more than accommodating for Hayden Holmes.”
“You don’t have a bathing suit.”
He shakes his finger at me. “Funny thing, I always have one in my truck in case I come across a lake I want to jump in.”
“Dinner. You can’t swim on an empty stomach.” Can you see I’m grasping here?
“Isn’t that reversed? You should never swim on a full stomach.”
I drag my hand down my face, exhausted. “Fine, I’m not going to a fucking glow-stick water class.”
Racer crosses his arms over his chest. “Then where are you going?”
There is no way of getting around this, not one I can think off the top of my head. Besides all my “lies” have been pitiful, so I might as well go with the truth so I can get out of here faster.
“I’m going to Adalyn’s house, okay?”
Pretty sure Racer wasn’t expecting that answer because his face falls in shock before turning brutally sharp with anger. His jaw ticks, his eyes narrow, and the veins in his neck start to twitch.
Okay, maybe the truth wasn’t a good idea, after all.
“Did I not tell you to stay the fuck away from her? What the hell are you doing?” He takes a step forward, but I stand my ground. I’m a few inches taller than he is and have about twenty more pounds of muscles wrapped around my body.
“I’m sorry, but I like her.” I run my hand through my hair. “I like her a lot.”
“For how long?”
“Since I met her at your house. I went to each hospital in town and looked for her. Once I found her, I didn’t let her out of my sight. I’ve taken her lunch, made her dinner, and treated her like a goddamn queen. And before you even ask, no, I haven’t slept with her, and I have no plan of doing so anytime soon. I haven’t even kissed her. I know she’s fragile, I know this is new to her, and I know she’s been hurt before. I have no intention of hurting her. When I say I like her, I mean it. I want to see where this goes.”
Studying me, Racer’s eyes bouncing back and forth, he grinds his teeth together, still not happy, but the crease in his brow lessens. “I don’t like it.”
“Didn’t ask you to like it, didn’t even ask for your approval, because either way, I’m still going to pursue her.”
“She’s my friend, Hayden, my good friend.”
