Page 62 of One Baby Daddy
“Why on earth have you been holding out on me?”
I remove my fingers and sit up. “To hell if I can remember at this point.”
Laughing, she hurtles her body at mine, tackling me to the ground where she slams her lips against mine, knocking the wind right out of my lungs.
* * *
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Not even a little.” Adalyn cuddles into my side, holding on to the hand that’s draped over her shoulder. She’s still wearing that devil of a dress that made me lose my damn mind, but now she’s paired it with exponentially dangerous black heels, bringing her lips that much closer to mine.
Easy access, just what I like.
After we, uh . . . got off, we raced to get ready and hailed a taxi, making it to Hamilton just as the curtain began to rise. It was a close call but so worth it.
And so was scoring the tickets, because Adalyn was enamored during the entire musical. Eyes bright and a huge smile on her face, her hand never left mine.
I can barely recall what the musical was about or any of the songs, because my attention wasn’t center stage. It was to the right of me on the girl who is stealing my heart, one precious smile at a time.
The pub Calder picked to meet at is off Broadway, pretty close to the theater, but far enough away from the hustle and bustle . . . and picture-taking tourists, thankfully.
There are no windows to the front façade, just a giant neon-green four-leaf clover and a red awning covering the door. Opening the door for Adalyn, I press my hand to the small of the back and follow closely behind her. Inside, we’re greeted by floor-to-ceiling mahogany wood, neon beer signs, red-leather booths, and a bar that stretches the length of the tavern. In the back, there are some closed-off booths with high backs, hidden from patrons. I direct Adalyn to the far-right booth. When we turn the corner, we find Calder and Rachel . . . making out.
Calder’s hand is up Rachel’s shirt and Rachel’s hand is pressed against Calder’s lap. Adalyn turns her head into my shoulder and giggles as I clear my throat, loudly.
Startled, Rachel is the first to pull away while Calder is still puckered up, leaning into Rachel and feeling for her lips. Palming his face, she pushes him away and nods up at us. “Company has arrived.”
“What?” Confused for a second, Calder turns around, eyes lust-filled. “Oh shit, I forgot about you two.”
Lips thinly pressed together, I nod my head. “Good first impression, dude.”
“Shit.” He runs a hand down his shirt and clears his throat while glancing at his lap. Shamelessly looking back up at us, he says, “Uh, in normal circumstances, I would stand to introduce myself but, uh . . . kind of have a situation here, so I’m just going to wave.” He does that and says, “I’m Calder and this is my girl, Rachel.”
“It’s very nice to meet you.” Adalyn motions to Rachel’s shirt. “Um your bra is showing.”
“What?” Rachel checks out her shirt. Gasping, she whacks Calder in the chest. “You could have told me, you fool.”
Gesturing to his crotch, he says, “Kind of dealing with my own situation here. You’re the one who got handsy, not me.”
“Oh no, don’t you blame this on me, you’re the one who nibbled on my ear first and said how much you wish you could—”
“Hey-o, we have company.” I gesture toward Adalyn, wishing my friends could pull it together.
Realizing the error of their ways, they sit taller, put some distance between themselves, and wave once again, looking like one giant hot mess.
“Hi, we’re Rachel and Calder, and we’re here to make you uncomfortable with boners and bras,” Rachel says, gesturing to the other side of the booth.
Chuckling, Adalyn takes the seat closest to the wall and brings me down next to her, holding my hand. “Don’t worry about it. Before we went to the theater, Hayden came all over the hotel carpet.”
Rachel and Calder’s eyes both widen as they lock gazes with me, mirth written all over their faces right before they tilt their heads back and laugh.
Meanwhile, my face is bright red, embarrassed as hell, but oddly equally turned on and proud.
“Babe, that’s not the kind of things we talk about in public,” I say, with a light lilt.
“Oh, must have missed that memo.” Casually, she pulls a chip from Calder and Rachel’s nachos and pops it in her mouth, smiling and chewing at me.
“Oh fuck, man. You have met your match.” Calder claps his hands and laughs some more while Rachel leans over to shake Adalyn’s hand with pride, a silentthank youpassing between the two women.
