bitch you just met? You really think she’s gonna want to play second fiddle to a newborn baby, especially one you don’t know for sure that’s yours?”
“Well, no probably not, now that you mention it, but that’s not the only reason I need her number. She’s in Devil Springs looking for Heidi, and I wanted to let her know we may have found her.”
“Bronze,” Copper said slowly, placatingly. “I know you’ve been put through hell today, and there’s more waiting for you tomorrow, but have you lost your damn mind? Some girl shows up looking for Heidi, who’s been gone for months, two days before her alleged daughter was shoved into your arms. Fuck, no, you’re not telling her shit.”
“What? No, she wasn’t like that. She’s writing a book and wanted to interview Heidi to help her write the character correctly.”
The more I tried to explain Sloane’s innocence, the more I saw it from his point of view. “Okay, I get it. It does seem a bit too coincidental when you lay it all out like that. But on the off chance that she’s telling the truth, can you swing by The Winchester and let her know I’ll be tied up with something for a few days?” It was obvious he didn’t want to, so I took it a step further to ensure he would. “And if it turns out she was lying and had something to do with all of this, telling her I’ll be busy might keep her in town for a little longer.”
“Glad to see a maybe baby hasn’t affected your self-esteem.” With that, he tagged me on the shoulder. “Get some rest, Bro. Tomorrow’s gonna be a big day.”
10
I was sitting in the recliner with Blue, who was sound asleep in my arms after finishing her bottle when there was a knock at the door. Before I could get to my feet, Copper entered the room, followed by Judge and Batta.
“What’re y’all doing here?” I whispered and got up to place Blue in the tiny plastic box the hospital staff referred to as an open crib.
“You’re getting the paternity test results this morning,” Copper murmured simply as if no further explanation was needed. And it wasn’t. Honestly, I was expecting Copper to be there when I received the results, and I should’ve been expecting Judge and Batta. The four of us had been by each other’s sides since we were able to stand on two feet, literally.
Judge handed me a coffee as he entered the room. “Thanks, man,” I said quietly and clapped him on the shoulder.
“If you don’t give him the other thing, I’m telling,” Batta whisper-yelled across the room from beside Blue’s crib—where he was smiling down at her like the big teddy bear he was.
Judge huffed and held out the brown paper bag he was attempting to hide behind his back. “Mom sent these.”
I snatched the bag from him, and damn near burned my hand when I spilled my coffee trying to tear into the bag. The sweet smell of my favorite cookies filled my nose as soon as the bag opened, and I groaned loudly in delight, completely forgetting about the sleeping baby a few feet away.
“Shit,” I hissed and shoved an entire cookie into my mouth. “Mmm! Oh, sweet mother of all that is holy. They’re warm!” I groaned once again.
Blue made a noise that could only be described as a cross between a snort and a snore before she let out a mighty wail, letting our room and everyone around us know she was pissed the hell off about being woken up.
Batta jumped back with his hands in the air. “I didn’t touch it!”
I glared at him and held a finger over my lips. “Shh! It’s your voice, not your hands,” I explained, keeping my tone low as I scooped Blue into my arms and tried to soothe her back to sleep.
Batta’s forehead wrinkled as he quietly pretended to be confused. “But chicks love my voice.”
“Not this one,” I murmured flatly.
“We’ll see about that,” he muttered and crossed his arms over his chest—just like he did when he pouted as a child.
The sound of a knock had the four of us turning toward the door. A man dressed in scrubs and a white coat stepped inside. “Good morning,” he said, thankfully keeping his voice low. “I’m Dr. Long, and I have some test results to go over with you. Would you like to step into the hallway for some privacy?”
“No,”