Page 78 of Buckin' Around

“Leduc. You can still come, you know.”

“I can’t. I have a paper due, and I guess now I need to pack, too.”

“Fuck,” I say before sighing. “Sorry my life drama is screwing with your plans.”

I mean it.

The last months with Riley and Ivy have done one thing really well... Shown me how little I’ve lived my own life. How little effort I’ve put in up until now. If I now know one thing to be true, it’s that I want all the days ahead of me to be of my choosing. I want to build something of my own.

Does it suck balls that I’m out on my ass for a hot minute? Sure.

Is it fucked up that my own family disowned me over the best thing that’s ever happened to me? Absolutely.

But in comparison, getting to spend time with Riley and having Ivy in my life more than makes up for those shortcomings.

I’m finally starting to feel like my life is more than just easy money, keeping up appearances, and holding down a shallow existence.

Fuck, that’s deep.

Especially for me.

Something hits the back of my head, and I jump.

“Hey what?” I spin around to find Ivy smiling at me, her little fists hitting the high chair table. I spring from the sofa, lunging for her.

“Come here you little rascal,” I say with a playful growl.

Riley’s laugh from behind sinks into my chest as I lift Ives from the chair and pretend to eat her belly. Messy fists curl around my hair, tugging at it.

Ivy giggles, and I keep shaking my head, mouth open on her belly as I pretend to gobble her up until she’s shrieking with laughter.

I’m pretty sure there is chewed-up cracker all through my hair. And I don’t give a shit.

All I care about right now is the tiny girl in my arms and the woman behind me.

Whose laughter peters out.

I turn back to find Riley’s face scrunched up. A smile is tugging at her face, but I can see she’s tamping back emotion.

“Riles . . . what’s up?”

Her face breaks. “Fecking hell.” She’s swiping at her face, sniffing before she loses a huffy laugh. “Nothing, I swear. I just?—”

I put Ivy on the rug, and she rolls over instantly, her little head looking around as she pushes up onto all fours.

“Holy fuck,” I whisper.

Riley’s gaze snaps to Ivy. A smile splits her face. “Oh, you clever girl.”

“That’s early, right?” I ask.

“About on time, if I remember correctly. Someone is going to be crawling in no time.”

Ivy rocks back and forth on all fours, and Riley’s focus is stuck on me. I must look like an idiot, with the goofy grin that I can’t tamp back stretching my face.

I glance at Riley. “You wouldn’t think something so small like pushing up on her knees would make a grown man emotional.”

Riley laughs.