Say It's Not Fake

“The firm doesn’t handle real estate transactions, but when she told me the number she was willing to cough up for the work, I told Decate he’d better take it on, or I’d kill him.” Jeremy laughed.

“So, guess who’s been stuck doing all the grunt work,” Lena said, coming over to join them. Daisy was starting to cry, rubbing her eyes. Lena bounced her on her hip. “She needs a nap. Jer, did you bring the porta-crib?”

Jeremy winced. “Uh, actually, I think I left it by the front door at home.”

Lena groaned. “What the hell, Wyatt? I told you right before we left to put it in the car. Do I have to do everything myself?”

“I have Katie’s in the truck if you need it. I’ll need to put Katie down in a little while, but you can borrow it,” I offered, intervening before the soon to be newlyweds erupted into one of their notorious arguments. Lena and Jeremy had matching tempers, which made them an explosive pair.

“No, Web, Katie needs it. Jeremy will just need to go home and get it,” Lena seethed, glaring daggers at her fiancé.

“Babe, I can’t. I’ve already had four beers,” Jeremy said and braced himself for Lena’s reaction.

Adam’s sister looked ready to burst a blood vessel, but Meg quickly jumped in. “Lena, we have the crib already set up in the nursery. Put Daisy down in there.”

Lena deflated slightly. “But then you’ll have to wash the bedding. We have a perfectly good pack n’ play at home.” She glared at Jeremy again.

“I’ll Uber home and grab it—” Jeremy started to say.

“Don’t be dumb; just put her in the crib. Wyatt can come over later and wash the sheets,” Adam interrupted, grinning at his partner.

“Absolutely. Of course, I will,” Jeremy promised. He took Lena’s hand. “I’m sorry, Marlena. I’m an idiot. How do you put up with me?”

Only Jeremy could get away with calling Lena Decate by her given name, and that was only if she was in a good mood. Which she wasn’t. But he had a way of soothing her even if he was the source of her annoyance. Jeremy leaned down, kissed her gently on the mouth, and whispered something in her ear that had her flushing bright red.

“Okay, well, if you’re fine with it,” Lena said to Meg after clearing her throat.

“Of course, it’s fine,” Meg assured her.

Lena took Jeremy’s hand. “Come on. You’re singing her the Monkey Song then.”

The family left the room, heading for the stairs.

“Well, we won’t be seeing them again for at least an hour.” Whitney laughed, carrying Katie over from the swing set. I tried to reach for my daughter, but she was velcroed to Whitney’s side.

“Remember that time Rob caught them going at it in the garden shed?” Skylar said, pointing to the tiny building at the back of the yard.

“They’d better not have sex in my son’s nursery,” Adam groaned.

“We’re talking about Lena and Jeremy. Of course, they’re having sex in the nursery.” Meg giggled, and the rest of us could only laugh too.

“I think this one might be getting sleepy too,” Whitney said to me, coming to my side. “She’s getting really clingy. Is that normal when she’s tired?”

I peeled Katie away from Whitney and tucked her head beneath my chin. “Yeah. She becomes a stage ten clinger, that’s for sure. But she needs to eat some dinner first, and then I’ll put her down.”

I put together a plate of apple slices and crackers and carried her back out to the patio where Katie decided she once again wanted to sit in Whitney’s lap.

“It’s okay. She can sit with me,” Whitney insisted, letting Katie climb into the chair with her.

“She’s not normally so attached to strangers,” I said, handing Whitney the plate.

“Strangers? I’m offended. Katie and I are old friends.” Whitney smiled, handing Katie a piece of apple, which she took eagerly.

With me out of a job, and Adam cooking steaks, I helped Meg and Skylar bring the rest of the food out to the table. We sat down together and started loading up plates. I went to take Katie’s plate and found her asleep, tucked into Whitney’s side, whose arm was protectively encircling her.

My throat felt uncomfortably tight. “I should put her down. I’ll go get the pack n’ play.” I got to my feet and left before Whitney could say anything.

I set up the portable crib in Adam’s office and went to get my daughter. Whitney carefully got to her feet and handed Katie to me. “I can come with you—”

“That’s not necessary. I know how to put my own kid to bed,” I snapped, then felt like an asshole for being snippy.

Whitney dropped her hands immediately and took a step back. “I didn’t mean—of course. Sorry.” She sat back down and turned away from me.