Rock 'n' Roll Baby

At the loud noise, Bailey starts crying. I throw the flowers into the sink and cross the room to pick up the baby. There’s a bag by the door. I grab that and then start for the car.

“Where are you going?” Cherry yells, running after me.

“I’m taking my kid with me and you can either come or be left behind,” I bluff. As if I’d ever leave her again.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Cherry

I don’t panic. I stand here knowing very well that he won’t take Bailey from me. At least I think I still know him. But I never could have imagined that this last year would have gone down the way it did. None of it worked out the way it was supposed to. He forgot about me. Lived his life and left me behind. But that stuff is in the past. I have to move forward for our daughter’s sake.

I made it through, and even though he was gone, he’d left me with a piece of him. Bailey is the best of both of us and I wouldn’t change anything that happened if it meant her not being here. I continue watching as Linc keeps walking toward the door.

“Linc, knock it off,” I snap at him. Bailey starts to cry. “I need to feed her. I don’t have time for this. I have responsibilities.”

“Then grab a bottle.” I roll my eyes. “You can feed her in the car.”

“I haven’t pumped. She’s going to eat off the tap.” I point to my boobs. They are already leaking because Bailey cried. His eyes drop to my tits. Desire swirls in my stomach. He could always do that to me with one look. I knew I wasn’t over him. I don’t think I’ll ever be. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to allow him to just walk back into my life after everything that happened. Even if he thought I was the one that broke up with him. He didn’t even try to fight for us, for me.

“Okay.” He carries her over to me. Seeing him with Bailey warms my heart in a way that I didn’t even know was possible.

“Baby girl,” I coo at her, taking her from Linc. He looks entirely too sexy holding a baby. I sit down on the sofa. Linc drops down right next to me, giving me no space at all.

“Can I have some privacy?”

“No, I want to watch. I’ve already missed so much.” I bite my tongue from saying That was your decision. He could have been here from the start. I could have been on the road with him. It would have been weird traveling with a baby, but we would have made it work. At least the Linc I remember would have. Even though this person sitting next to me is familiar, I no longer know him or what to expect from him. “She’s beautiful, Cherry. Please don’t shut me out of this.”

“Okay.” I don’t know why he’s had a change of heart about the baby, but I won’t keep her from him. I know Linc will be a good father. I pull my shirt up and bra down. Bailey latches right on to me without hesitation. Linc watches as I nurse her, making me suddenly feel shy around him. Which is absurd since he’s seen every part of me.

“This is amazing.” He reaches for her, rubbing the back of her head as she nurses. “I’ve missed so much. You being pregnant. The birth.” He chokes out the last word. His eyes water. I can’t help but feel sorry for him. Even if it was his choice.

“Linc, you’re confusing me.”

He looks up at me. “It’s simple. You’re coming on the road with me. We’re leaving tonight.” I shake my head no. I’m not uprooting everything and Bailey. Not until I’m sure of Linc’s intentions, anyway.

“You have a gig here,” I remind him. He is playing the festival in two days.

“Right. Then I’ll stay here. You break up with your boyfriend?”

“What are you talking about? The only boyfriend I ever had dumped me,” I snip. How does he not remember this? He said I’d broken up with him. I guess I kind of did. I knew he wanted an out, so I gave it to him.

“No, that’s not what happened.”

“You thought I was cheating on you. I gave you an out and you took it. You didn’t fight for us.”

He drops his head. “You’re not with Brian.”

“No. He’s my best friend and you should be nicer to him. He helps me take care of Bailey. He’s been here for me. If it weren’t for him and his family, I don’t know where Bailey and I would have ended up.” Linc’s jaw clenches. I can tell he’s fighting back anger. More likely jealousy. “You went to the strip club that night. You texted me from a strip club that I was cheating on you.”