ROXY
“One cotton candy, please.”I hand the vendor my money before I turn around to scan the giant field where half the town meanders between hundreds of booths.
The Nut Festival is a three-day event that citizens of Charming take very seriously because it brings in revenue for local businesses that helps them get through the slower winter months.
I bounce Marley in my arms as I wait for my sweet treat. Billy dropped us off at the entrance while he went to find a parking spot.
Things with Billy are good. Incredible, actually. We’re insanely busy, but as soon as he comes home, we make a point to talk about our day. And if I’m too tired to bone—it happens—he snuggles me, which is heavenly. We agreed that our bare minimum is half an hour a day to talk, snuggle, eat together, whatever. But we need that time to reconnect.
Although it’s only been two weeks since we talked things out, I think we’re on the right path.
When I get my cotton candy, I take a bite. “This is a one-time thing,” I tell Marley. “Mommy rarely eats sugar, but tonight I’mletting myself have cotton candy and a praline. Because how can we go to the Nut Festival without having something with nuts?”
“That’s solid logic,” a familiar voice says next to me.
I turn.
And freeze.
Ezra.
I can’t believe I haven’t seen him all semester. Leaving cheer meant not being around the field house, and that was a blessing in disguise because it meant I got to avoid him.
I hold Marley tighter and turn her away from him. Not that I think he’d hurt her. It’s just, after all the horrible things he said to me, I don’t want to share her.
Which… I’m not sure is fair since he did donate half her DNA, but here we are.
He clears his throat. “Hey, Roxy. How’ve you been?”
“Fine.” I look around, hoping Billy will be back soon.
“Look, I don’t want to bother you. I just want to say I’m sorry for all the shit I gave you. Losing Abigail was a wake-up call. I figured that girl would stay with me come hell or high water. Never thought she’d dump me. I’m a pretty good catch, you know?”
“Are you serious right now? Why don’t you check that ego.” I almost say something snarky about him not being able to throw a touchdown anymore, but that seems cruel. And even though he’s been an asshole to me, I won’t sink to his level.
He hangs his hands on his hips and nods. “I just wanted to see how the baby was doing. Is she healthy?”
My hackles are still aflutter, and I frown. But I keep myself from insulting him because this is the first time he’s asked about her since I told him I was pregnant. “She’s great.”
A large presence moves next to me, and relief hits me hard. I look up at Billy and see the concern on his face. “He just wanted to know if Marley was doing okay.”
Billy wraps his arm around my shoulders, and I lean into him. “She’s a happy baby,” he says. “Because Roxy busts her ass.”
Ezra nods slowly. “Can I… can I see her?”
Everything in me screams no, but I see regret in his eyes. I don’t know what this means, if he wants to be involved now or how I feel about that. I guess I’m getting ahead of myself.
“Sure.” I angle her toward him so he can see Marley’s face.
She’s sleeping peacefully, her little bow lips pursed. Her short dark hair is gathered in a spiky bow on top of her head. She’s all snuggled in a blanket because it’s chilly. Her eyes flutter open, and she stares up at him.
“She’s beautiful. Wow.” For a moment, Ezra’s cocky mask slips. “Hey, Marley. It’s… it’s me. Uh…”
Is Ezra about to call himself Daddy?I feel my blood pressure rise. Because that role belongs to Billy. He’s the one who held my hand during labor. Who rubbed lotion on my stretch marks. Who wiped my tears when I thought birthing her was going to break me in half. Who feeds her at dawn before he goes to practice.
Ezra coughs. “It’s Uncle E, pretty girl.”
Emotion makes my throat tight. “Uncle” is okay, I suppose.
