Wicked as Lies (Wicked & Devoted 3)

“Want some spinach and sweet potatoes?” she asked her daughter, who still gummed some Cheerios in her high chair.

Hallie shrieked with excitement and slammed her palms on the plastic tray, rattling the little oat circles.

Tessa laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Could you guys keep it down? Some really good analysis here on NFL Countdown…”

“She’s a baby, Cash. She doesn’t understand shut up.” But you should.

Tessa kept the comment to herself so she didn’t start a fight. Instead, she unscrewed the caps from both jars and started spooning the food between her daughter’s lips while she blew raspberries.

After a few bites, Hallie barely consumed any of her food, instead pushing it against her two bottom teeth and smacking it between her lips. She definitely preferred the sweet potatoes, but even after a few extra bites of one of her favorites, the baby decided she’d rather play than eat.

With a frustrated huff, Tessa wet a paper towel and cleaned Hallie’s grubby hands, then peeled her out of her dirty onesie. “Time for a bath, young lady.”

Hallie squealed again as Tessa lifted her and headed for the bathroom.

“I forgot to ask…” she said as she passed him. “Are you working tonight?”

“Yeah. Got a new game I’m supposed to start testing. It’s going to be intense. I only have two weeks to give feedback.”

“Okay.” Tessa shook her head as she headed to her bathroom and filled the tub.

Honestly, she didn’t understand Cash’s job. Why would any video game company pay someone to play games that had already been released? And why would his boss insist they play at night, rather than during the day? Oh, she’d heard his explanation about the video game maker wanting to improve the multiplayer experience and that, as one of the new guys, he’d been assigned to a team based overseas, so the hours were weird. But Tessa just didn’t get it. And how was this a career? After Cash’s speech about wanting to be an adult, he’d definitely chosen a job a kid would love.

Another clue that maybe Cash wasn’t as ready to adult as he’d claimed?

Maybe, but at least the pay was decent enough, and he’d reliably given her money for his share of the rent and groceries on time every week. It was a start—and one of the few reasons she wasn’t raising more of a stink. The extra money was really helping.

Bath time was one of Hallie’s favorite times of the day, so Tessa enjoyed it, too. They splashed and sang and laughed, but when the baby started rubbing at her eyes and fussing, a glance into her adjoining bedroom at the clock on her nightstand had her eyes popping. “It’s almost your bedtime. We’d better get you dressed.”

She wrapped her damp baby back in her towel and carried her across the house, toward the nursery.

Cash still sat on the sofa in a pair of basketball shorts and a wifebeater, scratching at places she still couldn’t believe she’d ever touched, and watched the kickoff while he shot off a text to someone.

Tessa was disappointed—but not terribly surprised—to see the dishes still on the table and the kitchen a mess. He’d vacuumed the house once since he’d moved in. Everything else that got done around here—cooking, cleaning, child care, and yard work—she’d done herself.

Zy would have helped you a million times more and looked better doing it.

She shoved the thought aside. Cash was here because he was the father of her daughter, not because he thoughtfully did dishes or tried to help with mowing. It didn’t matter that he didn’t compliment her cooking or that he didn’t pay much attention to her. He was here strictly as a co-parent.

Yeah, and so far he’s not doing a great job of that.

Still, she had to give him time to adjust. After all, she’d had nine months to get used to the notion of becoming a mother. He’d jumped in barely more than two weeks ago. Hopefully, he’d get there if she was a bit more patient.

A few minutes later, Hallie was wearing a clean diaper and fresh pajamas. Tessa sank into the glider and started to read her baby a bedtime story. She might be a little young for this ritual, but Tessa loved to read—when she had time—and wanted her daughter to find joy in it, too.

Just as she closed the book and tucked Hallie into her crib, Cash poked his head in the doorway. “How’s it going in here?”

“Good.”

“I’d offer to help, but it looks like you’re done.”

Isn’t that convenient timing? “Well, then you can help by doing the dishes.”

Just then, his phone dinged. He pulled it from his pocket and gave her that smile she supposed he thought was charming. “Sorry. Duty calls.”

With a press of his thumb, he answered. “What’s up?”

Tessa tuned him out with a sigh and started clearing the table as Cash disappeared into the backyard, his phone still pressed to his ear. Times like this, she wished she could call her mama for advice, but Tessa blinked her tears away. There was no sense in feeling sorry for herself. She’d made her bed by sharing Cash’s, then falling for Zy when she shouldn’t.