Page 10 of Stay Wild Darlin’

6

Dalton

The rich scent of leather and aged wood filled the air as I sank into one of Beau’s oversized couches. His whole place looked like it belonged in the mountains somewhere—a true cabin aesthetic with rustic beams, dark-stained floors, and a stone fireplace that made my tiny ranch house with its thrifted couch feel laughably small in comparison.

I cradled my daughter in my arms. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am for you,” I murmured.

Beau sat across from me, his arm draped lazily around Fable as he pressed a kiss to her temple. “It’s what we do for each other.”

I shook my head. I didn’t deserve it. I’d been a shit friend, wrapped up in my own life when I should’ve been here, especially after Beau had stepped up without hesitation to watch Cora. He’d never held a baby in his life, but when I told him I needed help, he didn’t even blink.

“We gotta find you a nanny soon, though,” he added, shifting to lean forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “I’m gonna have to start traveling with the teams.”

I sighed, knowing he was right. Beau was coaching in the team league this summer, but they were already talking about bringing them into the circuit season too, which meant I needed to figure out childcare—fast.

“I know,” I admitted, rubbing small circles on Cora’s back.

“I was working on it,” Fable said.

“Of course you were,” Beau murmured, and she laughed as she fell into his lap.

I looked down at Cora and realized it was my first full week of being home with her.

“Harleigh and I aren’t going next weekend, so we can help, but I met someone who I think would be the most perfect nanny for you.”

“No, thanks.”

Fable scoffed. “Oh, come on. You don’t even know who I’m talking about.”

“Don’t need to,” I muttered, adjusting Cora in my arms. She let out a sleepy sigh, her tiny fingers curling against my chest. “Brooke’s coming back soon. She has to.”

Beau and Fable exchanged a look I didn’t like.

“She left, Dalton,” Fable said gently. “I know it’s hard to hear, but she’s not coming back.”

I shook my head, my grip tightening around Cora as if holding her closer would stop the sharp sting of reality from cutting too deep.

“She needed space.” I insisted. “She’d never leave a baby.”

Fable stood from Beau’s lap and gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll help you in any way we can.”

I nodded, appreciating the sentiment, but knowing she was tiptoeing around the one thing I hated most—pity. I didn’t need their sympathy. I needed a plan.

“You tell your parents?” Beau asked hesitantly.

I scoffed. “Nah. What’s the point?” I brushed a thumb over Cora’s soft cheek. “They didn’t want anything to do with me before, so why would I tell them their ‘fuckup’ son somehow ended up with a baby?”

Beau sighed, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “That’s their loss, man.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah, well, we’re not missing out on much.”

I glanced between them, my two best friends, settled into a life I never thought I’d envy—love, stability, a home that didn’t feel temporary. I wasn’t jealous of what they had, but damn, I wanted something solid for Cora. Something that didn’t feel like I was constantly one bad day away from everything crumbling.

“You should at least meet the girl I was talking about,” Fable said, her voice pulling me from my thoughts.

“Nah, I’m good. I’ll figure it out.”

Fable opened her mouth to argue, but I cut her off before she could push the issue. “Anyway, I should get going.”