“And did you learn from yours?”
I nodded slowly. “I’d like to think I have.”
“Then that’s all that’s really important. Life’s nothing but learning from mistakes, Alex.” She shrugged. “All I ask is that you keep treating my daughter and granddaughter well.”
“I will.”
She offered me a curt nod, and I carried the still-asleep Kadie to my truck and buckled her into her car seat.
“Don’t worry, sweetie,” I said. “Daddy’s here.”
* * *
I stood above her crib, looking down at my sleeping daughter. She’d woken up briefly when I brought her inside but soon drifted back to sleep. Now, it was just the two of us alone in my house.
No. Not my house. I needed to stop thinking of it that way. It was Kadie’s house, too, and even Aspyn’s if I could get her to accept it.
After everything we’d been through, I wondered if I should even be thinking that way, but then I realized that’s exactly what I should be doing.
No more doubt. No more hesitation. No more running away.
I whipped out my phone and dialed Carl.
“What’s up, bro?” he answered.
“I have a favor to ask. Actually, a couple of favors.”
Chapter 39
Aspyn
I’d called Alex a few times throughout the day. Kadie’s fever was under control, and she’d been mostly resting and watching some TV. When I talked to her, she sounded tired but happy.
After work, I swung by my own house to grab a few things, changes of clothes for me and Kadie, some of her dolls and toys, her favorite blanket. That sort of thing. A box in my back seat now held everything I’d need for us to spend the night at Alex’s place.
Pulling away from my house, my heart kicked up. It was a big step. A very big step. Now that everything was back on track, it seemed like moving in was almost inevitable.
I shook my head. I wasn’t moving in yet. I was getting ahead of myself.
Perri was the one who suggested I get everything I needed before heading over to Alex’s place. She was an expert on dating a man and staying over at his place. Of course, she didn’t have to worry about a kid in the mix.
Sure, I’d already spent the night at Alex’s space, but including Kadie would be a totally different experience. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I felt like once I did it, I’d have a hard time wanting to stay in my rental anymore. But I wasn’t sure that was such a terrible thing.
My heart hammered for most of the trip out of town and down the country roads leading to Alex’s house. I started wondering how often I’d spend time at his place and what was the best way to divide Kadie’s toys between the two houses.
I snickered at the idea of asking Alex to buy her a pile of toys for his house. I was sure he’d gladly do so.
An idea entered my head, and my breath caught. I could also move in. Was that too forward to ask? I honestly didn’t know.
I groaned. I couldn’t be thinking about that sort of thing. I’d all but broken up with Alex a few days before. I’d even hidden from him.
I loved him, and I’d apologized, but there was no way he’d want me to move in with him so soon. He’d spent weeks proving to me he wasn’t going anywhere. Maybe I’d have to spend time proving the same thing to him. Not that I didn’t deserve it.
Even with our delicious sex the night before, I was sure Alex needed to recover from his emotional wounds. With that thought in mind, I pulled up in front of his house. I noticed Carl’s truck parked alongside Alex’s.
I grabbed the box of things from my back seat and quickly made my way to the front door. With my hands full, it was difficult to do much more than lightly tap on the door.
The door opened, and Alex smiled at me. He reached over and grabbed my load.