Liars (Licking Thicket 2)

I nodded against his T-shirt. “I believe you.”

And when he walked away, I really did believe that he meant every word he said—I believed that he cared about me, and I believed that he had confidence in our chances.

However, I was also determined that, as part of Team Marigold, I needed to do all I could to make up for the trouble my past had caused. I needed to make sure our team prevailed. So, I dug my phone out of my pocket and pulled up my contacts.

“Cameron,” I said when the call connected. “Talk to me about that gorgeous Victorian. How fast can we move on it?”

20

Diesel

I was trying not to panic. The custody hearing was supposed to start in fifteen minutes, and Parrish still wasn’t here. Not only that, but I hadn’t even heard from him since I’d awoken to find him gone this morning, and he hadn’t answered any of my calls and texts.

When I’d stopped by the Partridge Pit, Colin told me he hadn’t been in all morning, so I knew he wasn’t at work either.

“Where the hell are you?” I muttered down at my silent phone.

“Bah!” Marigold called out to someone who walked past. The woman gave her a friendly smile and wave which made Mari wiggle and kick from her position in the front carrier on my chest. “Bah,” she said again for good measure.

I needed Parrish here with me. I couldn’t imagine where the heck he was, or what was keeping him, and I knew he had to be freaking out right now. He and I were solid, I knew that to my bones. But I was pretty sure we both also knew there was no way the judge was going to award custody to me without him, and when I heard the final decision, I needed him to help me pick up my broken pieces and make it back home. Hell, I was even worried about causing a big scene if they made me hand her over directly to the Kensingtons. Maybe I’d end up in jail. It wasn’t that I had a bad temper, but how could I be expected to give this girl away to people who wouldn’t love her like I did?

A fat ball of nerves lodged in my throat as I checked my phone for the millionth time and found nothing. Mari squirmed again, and I decided to do a last-minute diaper change before getting called into the courtroom. I couldn’t take the risk of bringing her into the hearing in any less than perfectly cared-for conditions. Besides, I didn’t want her poor butt getting a rash if by some chance she actually needed a change.

I made my way to the men’s room and noticed there was no changing table. Typical. Single dads were supposed to, what? Change their babies on the nasty men’s room floor? Nope. Not me. I pushed down my anger and stepped back out into the hallway where the woman who’d walked past us was coming back down the hallway from wherever she’d gone.

“’Scuse me, miss. Would you mind checking to see if the ladies’ room is empty? I need a changing table, and there isn’t one in the men’s room.”

She smiled and nodded before peeking in the ladies’ room. “All clear. Want me to stand guard while you change her?”

I shook my head. “I’ll be super quick, and you’re the only person I’ve seen in the last fifteen minutes in this hallway. I’m sure it’s fine.”

She wished me luck and continued on her way as the restroom door closed softly. I got to work at the changing table, swinging Mari out of the carrier like a pro and pulling the needed supplies from the diaper backpack Brooks and Mal had given us at the engagement party. They’d filled it with beer bottles where the baby bottles were supposed to go, and lube and condoms had overflowed the diaper and wipes section. Parrish had opened it in front of his aunt Marnie, and his face had turned pink with embarrassment.

It was one of my favorite baby items now because it reminded me of his adorable blush.

“Don’t hurl yourself off this time,” I warned Marigold. “I’m onto your little tricks.”

She yanked the chicken passie out of her mouth, made deliberate eye contact with me, and dropped it over the edge of the changing table. Suddenly, I flashed forward to a teenaged Marigold being rebellious and turning my hair gray prematurely. Lord help us all.

“Joke’s on you, little miss. I have five more where that came from,” I muttered, performing the diaper change like a NASCAR pit crew. Within seconds, she was freshly diapered, dressed, and back in the front carrier as I washed my hands in front of her. She tried reaching the flowing water, but I knew the exact angle to hold my body in order to keep her from creating our very own splash park.