what’s wrong. I’m sorry. I wish you could tell me what you needed. I’m failing you, and I’m so fucking sorry.” Instead of soothing him, he cries harder. I begin pacing the floor again, surprised I have carpet left as many trips as we’ve made today.
“Anyone home?” Reagan calls out.
“Hey, bud. Aunt Reagan’s here. You want to say hi?”
He continues to cry.
“Hey,” she says, coming to stand next to me. She places her hand on his little back. “What’s up, sweet boy?” she coos, and he quiets a little. She looks up at me. “How long has he been like this?”
“He barely slept last night, and he’s been fussy all day. I was just getting ready to call and cancel.”
“Why the hell didn’t you call me or Mom? You know we would have come over to give you a hand.”
“Because he’s mine!” I yell at her, which causes Knox to cry harder. “Shhh, Daddy’s sorry, bud. Shhh,” I try to soothe him. “He’s my responsibility. I have to learn how to do this, Reagan. What will I do if you or Mom aren’t there to bail my ass out, huh? Then what do I do? This is my fucking life now. I have to learn how to do this, to deal with my son when he’s fussy.”
“Let me have him.” She holds her hands out.
I would love the break, just a minute to rest my arms, but I’m stubborn as hell. “No, I got this.”
“Ridge, let me have him.” She’s pissed off now.
“No, I got him. Just call the guys and tell them tonight is off.” I turn away from her and that’s when I see them. Kendall and Dawn are standing in the doorway, watching me unravel.
Perfect.
Knox is still crying. I bounce him, pat his butt, but it’s not helping. Kendall hands the bag she’s holding to Dawn and addresses Reagan. “Hey, can you two give us a minute?”
“Good fucking luck.” She stomps over to pick up a Crock-Pot, Dawn hot on her heels as they take everything to the kitchen.
“Hey,” Kendall says softly, her eyes on me. “Rough day, I see.”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
She pulls my hand from his back and replaces it with her own. Moving in close, she begins to run slow circles on his back. “He can tell you’re tense. He can feel it. Babies are smart, and he’s upset because you are,” she says in a low, soothing voice.
“I don’t know. He’s been fussy all day, and even last night. He didn’t sleep well.”
“Yeah,” she coos, and I feel myself relax just at the sound of her voice. “You’re exhausted, and he senses that.” She steps closer and places her other hand on my back, begins to gently rub there as well.
I can literally feel the tension melt away at her gentle touch. “I’ve missed you,” I whisper in her ear.
She laughs softly. “I was wondering why I didn’t hear from you, thought maybe you changed your mind.”
“Never. I just need to learn how to do this.”
“I agree,” she says, surprising me. “However, you need to remember that even two parents in one household need help and a break every now and then. You don’t have to do this alone, Ridge. You could have called Reagan, your mom . . . hell, you could have called me.”
“I almost did,” I confess. “I just didn’t want you to think that’s what this was. That I was only pursuing something with you so you could help me with my son. I’m doing it because I want you.”
“I know that. Can I hold him?” she asks.
I nod and slowly transfer him to her arms.
“Shhh, little man, it’s okay. Daddy’s just really tired. He needs some sleep, and I think you do too,” she coos to him.
Instantly, he starts to calm. She’s bewitched me too, son.
“My own kid hates me.”
“Hey,” she scolds me with a whispered voice. If I weren’t so tired, I’d tell her how fucking cute she is right now. “You’ve both had a rough twenty-four hours. How long since he ate?”
“He’s due anytime.” I should have tried to get him to eat. Maybe that was the issue, but I tried that several times today. Nothing worked for long, until she took over. Can’t say I blame him.
“Good. You need to go upstairs and take a shower. Take as much time as you need. I got this little guy.”
“Kendall, I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask me, Ridge. I want to. You need