we have a game in a few hours. I can’t settle her down, and I’m starting to panic. I can’t even think about running plays right now.
Like an avalanche, that’s when it hits me—I have no clue who the mother of my kid is. I vaguely remember that the girl who plied us with brownies was fair-haired, but as for a name or some other identifying feature? Nada. Nothing. Zilch. Even worse? She might not even be the mother. The guys know to quietly ask around, but isn’t that something I should know based on the fact she gestated my goddamn kid for nine months?
I’m truly the world’s biggest piece of shit, aren’t I?
Olly and Tank take turns trying to calm Poppy, but eventually hand her back to me. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ben make a phone call, but I can’t hear what he says because the cute demon spawn in my arms is trying to deafen me with her cries. It’s such a sorrowful wail, that black lump of coal in my body that used to resemble a heart actually aches.
When he gets off, he smirks. “You can thank me in the morning.” And stalks off.
Five minutes later, my favorite person in the whole damn world pauses in the doorway. I’m so relieved to see Gabby, I close my eyes and thank the powers that be for sending me this woman.
She juts out her lower lip in commiseration. “How long has she been like this?”
“I don’t know. Hours. It’s just getting worse.”
“Aww, little boo.” She unzips her hoodie and pulls it open to reveal a snug, thin white tank top. Despite my sleep-deprived state, my dick sits up and takes notice of her banging cleavage. One that is not sporting a bra, I note as I study her beautifully pert nipples.
My baby must approve as well, because the moment Gabby rests her on her chest, Poppy calms down. Gabby pulls the sides of the hoodie around my daughter, who snuffles and whimpers but is no longer crying.
Tank leans over and kisses Gabby on the head. “Dinner’s on us tonight. You’re a fucking angel.”
Gabby sends him a big smile as she snuggles Poppy closer and starts humming. Not ten minutes later, the kid is sound asleep.
“How’d you do that?” I whisper.
“It’s my special power.” Her amused eyes tilt to mine, and she’s such a vision with her messy long hair splayed over her shoulders, I could kiss her. “May I?” She points to my bed.
“Sure. Make yourself comfortable.”
She sits on the edge and bounces gently, and Poppy lets out a little shudder, but within a minute, her face relaxes and she breathes deeply.
It’s surreal to see Gabby on my bed, much less with a sleeping baby draped across her. When I’ve fantasized about this woman—and let’s be honest, I’ve had more than a few fantasies—this isn’t exactly the situation I envisioned.
“Do you want to put her down?” We both look at the square contraption Gabby calls a pack-and-play. “Fair warning, though, every time I placed her in there, she freaked out. I guess I need to get her a real bed.”
Gabby considers this for a moment. “How about you lie down? Take off your shirt first.”
I give her a playful look. “Why, Gabby Duran, I’m not sure that kind of activity is appropriate, given that we have a young audience.”
She chuckles. “Not for me, perv. For the baby. She likes the body heat. Babies like being skin-to-skin. I’m guessing with everyone shuffling her around all week and not being with her mama, she needs some extra TLC.”
Not being with her mama. Which reminds me that some chick left my baby in the middle of a damn party on Halloween. Who does that? How about giving a guy a heads up, for fuck’s sake? Like, Your kid is incoming. Make sure your friends aren’t getting head in your living room when I drop her off. Oh, and by the way, my name is…
My brain finally processes the rest of what Gabby said. Babies like skin-to-skin.
I strip off my tee. Much to my disappointment, she doesn’t look at me when I do it. I throw a few pillows against the headboard before I lie down.
Gabby comes to my side of the bed, and for some reason, the image of her all disheveled and staring down at me sends heat straight to my groin.
I yank the comforter over my hips so I don’t weird her out. She’s clearly