Sucker Punch (TKO 4)

“It really is.” I grin just thinking about it.

Lucas cries and Raegan sets the plate in her hand down. “Mommy’s coming, baby. Did Uncle Lance scare you with his singing again?”

“I did no such thing. Tyler loves my singing.” Lance frowns. “Lucas just needs a better appreciation for music. What are you teaching this kid?”

Raegan rolls her eyes and laughs. “We’re teaching Lucas all about anything but what you sing.”

Hilary laughs and asks Lance to take Tyler so she can go to the restroom. The way Lance holds his son is adorable. Who would have ever thought he would reproduce?

Raegan looks over at them, smiling. Lance gets started on the Disney trip he’s been dreaming of and Garrett glares at him. I stifle a laugh, knowing all is right in the world.

If Paige and I ever really hit it off, I’d love for her to meet everyone here. She would love them.

When Lance and Hilary decide to leave, they offer me a ride and I accept. I know Garrett told me he’d take me home but he’s already home, I don’t want to make him have to leave again. I hug Raegan and thank her for the delicious meal. I’ll be sleeping well tonight. I can’t wait to climb into my bed now. Good food and good friends, that’s all a man needs nowadays.

Chapter 9

Paige

After a long day, what I would call one of the toughest I’ve had since becoming a nurse, I was relieved to have my parents insist Darla and I eat dinner at their home. Darla pulled their legs and got them to make spaghetti and meatballs. Even as a grownup, I love my parents’ spaghetti and meatballs.

They ask about my day and I sadly inform them what happened. It’s nice having someone to talk to that understands. It’s not like I could sit down with Darla and explain my day; she’d never be able to comprehend. I have no friends except for Nora. Being with Brendan pretty much severed all of my friendships. They sensed his toxicity before I ever did and left me high and dry because I couldn’t see it at the time. Even after he was gone, they kept their distance. They say you find out who your friends are when shit gets tough. Well, I found out I had zero friends. Lucky me.

I help Mom clean up the mess and notice Darla beginning to yawn. I love my job, but sometimes it makes me sad when I think about the little moments I’m missing. There are some days where I barely get to spend any sort of time with her because she’s already falling asleep. This is one of those times. I can already guess how the rest of the evening will go. I’ll drive us home, somehow manage to wiggle her out of her clothes and put her jammies on her, and then I’ll tuck her into bed and kiss her forehead. I’ve become a pro at this.

I kiss my parents bye and tell them we’ll be back in the morning. Just as I suspected, Darla is beginning to fall asleep in my arms. Juggling her and the small suitcase of toys is not easy. I load her into her car seat and toss the suitcase haphazardly onto the floor.

By the time I reach my apartment complex, she’s snoring. I chuckle, thinking about how cute she is right now. I’d take a picture but I don’t want the flash to wake her. I have the thought to leave her suitcase in here, but she may want to add to it in the morning so I begin the struggle of juggling both her and it again. The handle begins slipping from my hand. I know something eventually will fall and it sure as hell won’t be Darla. She wiggles her little body and the suitcase lands with a thud on the ground.

I sigh as I hold her steady and begin to bend over to grab it.

“I can get that for you.” A voice comes from nowhere.

I look up to see a girl about my age with a lopsided bun of brown hair sitting on top of her head. “I’m Raegan, are you new in here?”

“Thank you. I’m Paige. I’ve been living here for a while now, probably almost a year. I’m a nurse so I’m rarely here, it seems sometimes,” I tell her.

“I’m always here.” She smiles as she reaches down and grabs the suitcase. “My son’s favorite toy is in my car and he can’t sleep without it. Let me guess, this is full of toys.”

“You guessed it.” I chuckle. “Darla packs about everything she can into this suitcase every morning.”

“She’s so adorable. Which apartment is yours?” Raegan asks.

I point straight ahead and she follows behind me. I unlock the door and push it open. “Thank you so much, Raegan. It was nice to meet you.”

“You’re welcome, Paige. My apartment is two doors down. Garrett is at the gym most of the day and sometimes our friends come over. You’re welcome anytime.”

“That means a lot to me,” I tell her. Little does she know, I’m being brutally honest.

“Next time you’re off or have free time, just come by.”

Raegan sets the suitcase inside for me and steps out, waving bye as she walks off. She’s the first neighbor I’ve ever met. I’m not used to letting people into my life, but it doesn’t hurt to try to have another friend around. Nora has her own life and we may talk sometimes outside of work but it’s mainly a workplace friendship. Raegan is two doors down, which could be perfect.

I lock the door behind me and carry Darla to her bed. I quickly change her into her nightclothes and cover her up. My sweet girl is tired. I yawn, realizing I’m just as exhausted. I walk straight to the shower and clean up quickly so I can lie down. I pass out the minute my head hits the pillow. I had told myself I was going to check my phone before I fell asleep but that doesn’t happen.

***

My alarm blares in the morning, reminding me I need to get up and start my day. I realize I’m alone in my bed. Darla must have slept soundly through the night. I slowly get up and walk towards her room. When I see she’s still sleeping, I go and make a small pot of coffee. While the coffee brews, I put on my scrubs for the day. My curls are all over the place and I grab a pony tail holder. Once I adjust my ponytail, it’s time to wake up Darla.