Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,127

like to at least look. I’ve never even been in the baby section. I’ve bought all my books online.”

“Sure. Let me run in and freshen up a little. Give me ten minutes?”

Evan nods, and I turn and rush down the stairs. I don’t want to keep him waiting.

Chapter 7

Evan

McKinley sprints out the door like her ass is on fire. Why wouldn’t she? I don’t know what the hell came over me? She’s fucking gorgeous, but she’s Aaron’s little sister. Not to mention, I’m about to be a single father. She doesn’t need my drama. I’m just grateful she’s helping me out. I’m overwhelmed by all this.

I can’t fuck that up.

Surveying the small studio, I can see her here. She’s put a lot of effort into it to make it her own. After listening to her talk about photography with fire and passion in her eyes, I wanted to make sure she did that for me, captured my baby’s moments. I won’t deny there was an undertone to my request, something I have no business feeling or even wanting.

I lock up and decide to wait for her in my truck. As I hit the bottom step, I see her come bouncing out of the house. She’s always been that way, full of life, taking each day as it comes. I used to chalk it up to her being young, but she’s still that same girl. Only she’s not a girl, she’s all woman now.

“Ready?” she asks as she pulls open the passenger door. Her enthusiasm is contagious and I can’t help but smile.

“So, where should we go?” I ask her.

“There’s a Babies “R” Us in town. Let’s go there first,” she suggests.

“Sounds as good a place to start as any.”

“So…have you thought about the possibility of getting rid of this old thing?” she asks as she pats her hand affectionately on the dashboard.

“What? What’s wrong with my truck? This baby has been with me from day one.”

Laughter escapes her lips. “Yes, I’m well aware. You and Aaron are both attached to your trucks. However, you are going to be hauling precious cargo in just a few months. It’s safer for babies to be in the backseat.”

Shit! I let her words sink in. “Okay, so it looks like I have something to add to the list.” I hand her my phone.

“Don’t look so sad,” she teases, handing the phone back to me.

“It’s not sadness as much as…apprehension. I’m doing this on my own, Kinley. That’s not how I imagined this would play out.”

“Maybe not, but this is your reality, Evan. Life is messy and unplanned. Very rarely do things work out exactly as we wanted them to.”

“I know that. Trust me, I do, but I feel like I’m spinning out of control here. I have no idea how to take care of a baby. Gran and Gramps are not in good health. Dad is…not well. Besides, he and Mom need to stay in Alabama to be near his doctors. I’m fucking scared to death I can’t do this.” The words leave me in a rush. I feel ashamed for admitting it out loud, but it is what it is.

Reaching over, she places her hand on my arm. “Evan, from the minute you found out Misty was pregnant, you wanted this baby, right?”

With a quick glance at her, then moving my eyes back on the road, I answer, “Yes.”

“That’s all you need to remember. This baby is a part of you. You will love him or her unconditionally and do your best. Do you think our parents had it all figured out? Not hardly. You take each day as it comes. You face the challenges life throws at you. You make sure your child knows how much you love them. Everything else will fall into place.”

“I hope you’re right,” I mumble the words. The rest of the drive is spent in silence. It’s not awkward or uncomfortable. McKinley gives me the space I need to process what she said. Space to work through this fear I have of ruining my kid’s life.

I pull into the parking lot of Babies “R” Us and kill the engine. It’s full of SUV’s and minivans. I can’t see myself driving a minivan.

“What’s wrong?”

I point to the silver van parked in front of us. “I don’t think I’m a minivan dad.”

Kinley throws her head back and laughs. “Of course not. You’ll be the cool dad with a big four-door truck. That’s the most practical for your job, you