Blair

“Good morning, yumminess.”

I peek through the hair that has fallen free from my ponytail to find Marcy and Whitney standing in the doorway of Isabelle’s hospital room.

“Hang on, don’t move.” Marcy starts to dig through her bag. “I need to capture this. One, because it is the sweetest thing ever and two, because I wanna know why Will never holds me like that.”

I feel Jake shift beneath me and look to my left to find him smiling even though his eyes are still closed.

“I probably shouldn’t say it’s because I love you more, should I?”

I nudge him in the stomach with my elbow and he lets out an umph sound followed by a deep chuckle. I won’t mention the fact that the way he is shifting beneath me is doing nothing to hide his morning excitement. It is currently poking me in the hip, making it really hard to focus on the two ladies in front of us who are still watching us close.

“I’d ask how last night went, but from the looks of it I’d say it went well.” Whitney chimes in, arching her brow and doing nothing to hide the amusement from her face.

“She slept really well once the medicine kicked in.”

“Not what I was talking about,” Whitney mumbles while walking past us to the crib. “But that is good to know, too.”

I don’t want to move; being snuggled against Jake feels nice. More than nice, actually. Though I slept with very little room to move or stretch out, I’d slept better than I had in a long time. His warmth is comforting and had we not just gotten company, I think I would have stayed just where I am. But it is time to get up.

I am trying to take Whitney’s advice and forgive the past. I want to believe more than anything that Jake and I have something even if it is surrounded by lies. I owe it to myself and to our daughter to give our little family a true shot.

Isabelle looks up at all of us as we look at her through the side of the crib. I laugh, remembering the comment Jake made about his daughter being caged like some wild animal. When I look to my left to see him smiling back at me, I know he’s thinking the same thing.

When Izzy starts kicking her legs and her lower lip puckers out, I feel an overwhelming urge to snatch her up and comfort her. Only I don’t get that chance. It’s Daddy to the rescue. He moves faster than I think any of us expect as he grips the edge of the railing, lowers it, and within seconds my little butterball is curled up in her daddy’s arms.

My heart is so full. Tears spring to my eyes and I place my palm to my chest, trying to contain the ache that now lies there.

“It’s okay, baby,” he consoles her, “shh.” Jake sways from side to side, patting her lower back softly just as I had directed him to once before.

“Wow,” Marcy sighs, and Whitney just stares at Jake like she’s seeing a unicorn in real life or something. Her look is one of shock and amazement.

When Isabelle lays her head on his shoulder and with her little hand fists his shirt, he kisses her head and a single tear falls over my cheek. This right there, this exchange has got to be most precious one I have ever seen before. Perfection, absolutely without a doubt in my mind, something that will be etched in my memory for the rest of my life.

Jake looks up at me through his lashes that are too gorgeous for any man to be blessed with and grins. Like he read my mind, he winks then closes his eyes, taking in every millisecond our daughter remains in his arms.

“It’s small,” Jake says as he runs his hand through his hair and turns in a complete circle in the middle of what is supposed to be a living room.

“No,” I correct him as I shift Isabelle on my hip, getting a more secure grasp of her wiggling body. “It’s super tiny.” Ten steps and I am across his living room, standing in his kitchen. “Can you even fit a couch in there?” I point toward the space where I’d just stood and see his eyebrows crinkle. A few seconds pass before he nods, moves his lips as if counting and then locks his eyes with mine.

“Nope,” he chuckles. “A chair, maybe, but definitely not a couch. I want to be close to you and Isabelle, though, and this is all I can find.”

I think it is sweet that he is willing to live in a tiny space just to be near us. But this is just ridiculous.

“What about Sadie?” She’s a topic neither of us have really discussed since the morning at Spencer’s but I have to ask.”

“Farris got a place across town and she’s moving in with him.” Again he looks around the small apartment letting the topic fade quickly. “I did measure the bedroom and I’ll be able to have a full size bed in there, so that’s a plus.” I have to laugh at him because he was really doing his very best to find the good in this dreadful situation.

“Can you fit a crib in there?”

He pauses, looking toward the bedroom before back to me once more. His hand goes up toward his hair once more, and this time he actually scratches his head like he is deep in thought.

“Is it weird to put a crib in the hallway?”

“You are not taking this place.” I shake my head, spinning around to walk toward the front door.

“Wait? What?” Before I can open it, he is blocking me as he leans against the front door with his back. “Why?”

“Because it’s no bigger than my closet and Whitney’s combined. It’s ridiculous.”

“You’re kind of cute when you get all worked up.” Isabelle squeals, but Jake still stares at me. “And besides, if things go the way I hope they will, one day the three of us will be looking for a bigger, more permanent place.”

When he cups the back of my neck with his palm and brings his face even closer I feel my heart rate spike.

Of course, Izzy has to be a part of it all too and picks that moment to tap at the side of Jake’s face and tug happily on my hair.

“I think she likes that idea.” He chooses to ignore her overly excited reaction and gently brushes his lips over mine. “Besides, having a smaller place means that the three of us have no other choice but to remain as close as we possibly can whenever we’re here.”

Smooth.

I smile against his lips and he decides at that moment to kiss me. I’ve never had a problem getting lost in Jake whenever he’s being all suave and sweet. When he kisses me, it’s kind of like my head feels as though it can’t comprehend a single thing but the way his lips feel against my own.

“I already signed the six-month lease anyway, so I’m stuck.” Of course he did, bringing us here had nothing to do with getting my opinion. “I say we order takeout and crash on an air mattress with our girl.” Oh, the simple things.

“What makes you think I want to spend the night?”

“A guy can hope.” This right here, this relaxed, playful tone, it’s what I loved most about the time we shared before. Jake gave me the best sense of security and being here with him reminds me that the guy I knew in the city is still the man with me now. The difference is we don’t have that dark cloud called his family hanging over our heads any longer. This time we are free.

“You gotta a pump for that air mattress?”

“I love when you talk dirty to me.” I push against his chest and he grips my hips. Izzy yanks my hair a little harder, and I do my best to untangle her fingers from the matted mess she’s created.

“I do think that we should get the Pack ’n Play from my house for Izzy, though.” I don’t look at him because I’m fearful I’ll lose my courage. “She’s a wiggler when she sleeps.”

“Is that the only reason?” My eyes flutter as he kisses over my cheek and moves toward my ear. “Or is it something else?”

“It is strictly for our safety.” I sigh when his lips close over my earlobe and gently suck. “I wouldn’t want her to keep you up all night kicking and—” The words fade away.

“I would much rather you keep me up all night.”

Yes, mmhmm, that sounds good to me too.