Page 63 of Accidentally in Love

“I know. I…”

I couldn’t finish the thought because my brother came into the tank room. “Do you have your phone on you?” he asked.

“No. Why?”

“Avery’s been trying to get a hold of you.”

My heart jumped up into my throat, and I raced into the office where my phone was charging. I hit her number in my contact list, my heart pounding, thinking something happened to her and the baby.

“Hey, there you are,” she said cheerfully. “I figured you didn’t have your phone on you when you were in the middle of production.”

“What’s wrong? Is Peanut okay?” I rushed out. When Declan said Avery had been trying to get a hold of me, my mind immediately went to the worst thing. Maybe I was just wired for phone calls spelling bad news.

“Oh, nothing’s wrong. I’m sorry, did I make you think it was an emergency? I told Declan to have you call me back when you got a chance, not this second.”

I sighed and slumped down in the chair across from Declan’s desk. I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. She was fine. The baby was fine.

I checked my watch; it was almost five, and Avery was probably home by now. Or maybe she was still at school? We had only been living together since this weekend, so I didn’t know her work schedule yet.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Do you think you could be home for dinner tonight? My dad ambushed me, and he wants to come over and meet you.”

“I think I can be home. You need me to stop at the store?”

“I’m there now, but thanks for the offer. Sorry if I worried you.”

“S’okay, baby,” I said in relief. “Let me finish up my current task, and I’ll meet you at home.”

I hung up and ran a hand through my hair again. I hadn’t been expecting to meet Avery’s dad so soon. I looked up and saw my brother standing in the office doorway with a smug look on his face.

“What?” I barked out.

“You called her baby,” he said in a teasing tone.

“Yeah?”

He smirked.

I stood up and punched him in the arm. “Don’t do that to me again.”

He rubbed his arm. “Ow, what the fuck!”

“You made me think something was wrong with the baby!”

He shook his head at me. “Man, you’re so high-strung. What did she want?”

“Her dad’s coming over for dinner, and she wants me home.”

“Go on. Ryan and Allen can handle the bottling. Go be with your baby mama.”

I took off my apron and put on my coat. “Are you sure?” I asked.

Declan pushed me out of his office. “Please go. Your stress is annoying everyone.”

I glared at him, but left in a rush to get home. Avery wasn’t home yet when I got there, so I put the Christmas lights on while cleaning up the kitchen. I took a shower and was trimming my beard when I heard her coming into the house.

I walked downstairs and lifted the grocery bags out of her hands when I reached the kitchen. “Hey, give me that.”