Ruthie hums to herself moving through my apartment, changing things around, and making notes on a pad of paper she got from the junk drawer in the kitchen. I close my eyes and sleep sucks me under.
**
“Shh. They’re still asleep. Try to be a little quieter will you.”
I blink.
“Where should I put this?” a guy’s voice sounds close by.
“Take it to the bedroom,” Ruthie tells him.
“Got it.”
I open my eyes in time to see Tanner packing a big box toward my bedroom.
Holy shit. Why is he here? This is bad. Real bad. He can blow my secret out the water. I’m torn between trying to get rid of both of them or pretending I’m asleep a bit longer. Wylla Mae wakes up with a startled cry, and I instantly jump up. So much for faking my sleep.
“You want me to get her?” Ruthie offers, and I shake my head.
I glance around the room while I get Wylla from the carrier. “Ruthie...it’s too much.” There’s so much stuff.
“Nonsense. I only bought the essentials. I have a little surprise for you.” She motions toward the hall. “Figured you need a nudge in the right direction.”
I look over to see Tanner smiling sheepishly at me. Shit. “Hey, Alexa.” His cheeks redden when he says my name.
“Hi. Can you hold on a second? I just gotta.” I point to my baby’s stinky butt and move past him.
“I gotta get going, Alexa. I think you and Tanner have some talking to do. I’ll check back in on you, but if you need anything give me a call.”
“Okay. Thanks.” This is all too much and too damn strange.
“I’ll see myself out.” She waves and slips out the door.
I lay Wylla down on my bed realizing I forgot to bring her diapers and wipes with me. I can sense Tanner hovering over my shoulder. I can’t believe Ruthie did this. She had no business dragging him here. This has nothing to do with him.
“I don’t want to sound rude but what are you doing here? No hold that thought. First can you um grab me a pack of wipes and a diaper out of the living room?”
He scratches at the back of his neck. “Yeah. Sure.”
“Great. Thank you.”
I get her onesie unbuttoned by the time he returns. “Here you are.” He places the items next to her on the bed. “What the heck is that?” his face screws up, deep blue eyes widening.
“What?”
“Her bellybutton.”
“Oh. That’s from her umbilical cord. Um one more favor. I need an alcohol swab from my bag. It’s in the chair in the living room.”
“How about I just bring you the bag?”
“Good idea.” I still have no idea what he’s doing here. I change my baby’s diaper while he’s fetching the bag for me. “So what are you doing here?”
“Um. I don’t know for sure, but Rochelle’s mom called my mom and said she needed my help with something. She made me go shopping for baby stuff and had this weird conversation with me about responsibility and being a man. It made me super uncomfortable. I got the impression she thinks I’m the father of your baby, but I know that’s not possible so you wanna tell me what the hell is going on?”
“I’m so sorry for dragging you into my mess. It’s my fault. I hope she didn’t say anything to your mom.” I clean the umbilical cord and snap the onesie back.
“Not sure. But why does she think we slept together?”
I grit my teeth. He ought to have full transparency. “Because I may have told her that we had a one-night stand that resulted in my baby.”
“I like you, but my parents will kill me if they think I got you knocked up.”
“I’m sorry, Tanner.” I cradle Wylla Mae to my chest. “I don’t expect you to lie for me. It’s just...I can’t. People can’t know who the father is, and I had to tell her something. She was asking questions, and I didn’t have answers. If you mom asks questions, tell her it was a misunderstanding.”
“You’re beautiful,” he blurts out. He blushes and stares at his shoes. His head snaps back up. “What I mean is whoever or whatever they’re the one missing out. I’ve thought you were the prettiest girl in all of West Virginia since the fifth grade when my family first moved here. If people think that you...that we. Then I’m okay with that. I’ve been wanting a shot with you long as I can remember. You might not think of me that way, but maybe one day you will.”
“That’s sweet. Probably one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. I’m not looking for a boyfriend, but what I could really use tonight more than anything is a friend.”
He smiles at me. Tanner has one of them golden smiles. Perfectly sculpted lips and a chiseled jaw that’d cut glass. Any girl would be lucky to have him. Because sure he’s cute, but he’s sweet and kind. The kind of guy most parents would love for their daughter to bring home. The guy I shoulda been dating, but he’s not the one I love. My heart belongs to a royal bastard in every sense of the word. As hurt as I am, I still ache for James.
“How about we get this crib set up?”
“I’d like that. Thank you, Tanner.” I shift my baby girl to my other shoulder and kiss his cheek. I don’t know if I will ever open my heart to another man, but maybe one day.
Chapter Twenty-six
“What’s all these charges?” I flip through my bank statement. “Why you buying fuckin’ pampers? Something you wanna tell me?”
Ruthie tucks her dark hair behind her ear. “I bought them for Wylla Mae.”
“Who the fuck is Wylla?”
“Alexa’s daughter. I felt so
