The Curve Ball - Samantha Lind Page 0,38
the side pocket of the pack-n-play so I can easily find it in the middle of the night if needed.
I dig through the little bit of paperwork that Erica left and, thankfully, found the doctor’s information that saw her when she was first born, and again for the necessary checkups she’s already had. I leave the papers out so that it is easily accessible first thing in the morning for me to call. I pull the clinic up on my phone and realize that it is a clinic not far away and might just be the same one that Jillian takes the girls to.
I quickly brush my teeth and use the bathroom before I’m sliding between the crisp sheets. I hardly get a couple of pages of my book read before I can’t keep my eyes open and allow sleep to claim me.
I startle awake, feeling like I fell asleep just a few minutes ago, but realize that it’s the alarm on my phone waking me up. I look around and see Evie sleeping right where I left her last night. I’m shocked that she’s still asleep and jump from the bed to make sure that she’s still breathing. Upon closer inspection, she’s perfectly fine, breathing like usual. I gently touch the back of my fingers against her cheek and then forehead to check on her fever, and unfortunately, she’s once again warm to the touch. I snag the thermometer out of the side pocket the pack-n-play and scan it across her forehead. She’s a half-degree or so higher than she was last night, so I go ahead and ready another dose to give her once she’s awake.
Since she’s still asleep, I grab the paperwork I set out last night, taking it back over to my bed. I pull my cell out and dial the number. I take both the paper and my phone out of my room as I don’t want to wake Evie up while talking on the phone. I pad out to the kitchen, my phone to my ear as it starts ringing.
Thankfully, it doesn’t take long to reach a receptionist, and they’re able to get us in to see the doctor in just over an hour. Once I’m off the phone, I flip the coffee pot on, turning to head back to my room. Except, when I turn around, my ovaries about explode as I find a shirtless JJ holding Evie in his arms. Her cheeks are all rosy from the fever. She just looks miserable and like she doesn’t feel right. “Morning,” I say just above a whisper.
“Morning,” JJ replies, his voice still deep, gravely, and sleep-filled. My mind quickly dips into the gutter with thoughts of what his voice would sound like if woken up with some morning sex. I promptly shake that thought from my mind. I need to concentrate on Evie and not JJ and sex.
“I’ve already talked to the doctor's office, and we have an appointment at nine fifteen.”
“Sounds good,” he says, his eyes flicking over to the clock. “It looks like we’ve got to get ready then.”
“Yep,” I tell him. “Want me to take her so you can go do just that?”
“I can keep her while you get ready,” he says, walking over to start a bottle for her.
“Are you sure? I just need to toss on some clean clothes.”
“Yep, I’m good. Go get ready. I’ll drink some coffee and give Evie, here, her bottle,” he assures me as he starts shaking the bottle up to mix it.
I take two more seconds to observe him with his daughter before I run down the hall and into my bedroom. It should be illegal how good the man looks with a baby in his arms. He might not have ever thought of himself as a family man, but that guy is a natural. Before he knows it, he’ll be a full-fledged, proud card-carrying member of the girl dad tribe.
I head for the bathroom and take care of business, then run a brush through my hair before I pull it up into a ponytail. I pull out a pair of shorts, a tank top, and sandals. Within ten minutes, I’m fully dressed and ready for the day, so I head back out to the kitchen, where I find JJ sitting at the table with Evie sucking down her bottle.
“Want me to take her so you can go get ready now?” I offer as I grab a mug and fill it with coffee, adding