Page 68 of Broken Prince
“Really?” His face brightens.
“Yup.” I nod. “Let’s have a fun weekend. Watch some football, kick some ass.”
“Yeah,” he chuckles.
Logan leaves to meet his team at the school, and Elijah and I take off before them.
“I think he’s asleep.” Elijah chuckles, looking over his shoulder at Benny.
“I guess that’s a good thing. Might help the drive. I don’t know if he likes the car or not.”
“Oh, he loves car rides.” Elijah smiles over at me. “When he’s too fussy, and Logan looks like he’s at his wit’s end, I take him for a drive. He loves it when I sing whatever’s on the radio, but he’s normally out pretty quick.”
“That’s nice of you.”
“What is?”
I look over at him for a moment. “Helping out with Benny. You’re a good brother.”
“I don’t mind. I love both of them. My brother is a good person, hard worker, and an amazing dad. He’s just had shitty luck. But Benny is worth it all, Logan tells me all the time. He might not have asked to be a young dad, but he wouldn’t change it for the world. But the fact is, he’s still in college, trying to get his degree, and fighting for a chance to be in the NFL. Sometimes, we all just need a little help. And Benny is a good baby. I just feel bad I’ve been too busy to help out much.”
“Don’t be. Logan feels bad asking you and Owen for help, but I can tell you both don’t mind. You have a life, you’re allowed to live it. Me, however, I don’t have one.” I laugh. “So I have all the time in the world.”
“You really are an amazing girl, Laney,” Elijah says softly.
“Thanks.” I try not to blush, feeling his eyes on me.
“No, really. This is all new to you. New house, new family, new school. And here you are, helping watch your stepbrother’s baby. You don’t owe him anything, yet you’re giving him a lot more than you realize.”
I chew on my lip, not knowing what else to say.
He turns on the music, and we fall into a comfortable silence.
Benny ends up sleeping for the first hour of the drive, and then he’s awake for the rest. Elijah moves into the back seat to keep him entertained. Of course as soon as we pull into the hotel parking lot, he’s fallen back to sleep. Doesn’t even wake up when I take him out of his car seat.
We beat the team, checking into our hotel room. “Ahhh, I don’t think this is right,” I state, pausing to stand in the middle of our room.
“What's wrong?” Elijah walks in and looks around, brows furrowed. “Where's the other bed?”
“There isn’t one.” I stare at the single king-sized bed.
“Let me go down and see if we can switch rooms,” he offers. I nod, and he leaves me here with Benny, who’s still snoozing on my shoulder. I sit with him on the edge of the bed, rubbing his back as I look around the room, passing the time.
He comes back about five minutes later.
“So, bad news,” he says with a sheepish look. “There are no other rooms that are big enough to fit the crib for Benny. The front desk said that any of the others with more than one bed are too small.”
“So, how do we all sleep in the same room?” I ask.
“I was going to book another room with two beds so that maybe you and I could share a room, or even me and Logan and you and Benny have this one, but there’s none left. Between the team and other guests, it’s booked up.”
“Shit.” I stand and look over at the bed. Does this mean not only do I have to share a bed with Logan, I have to share one with Elijah too?
“I can sleep on the floor or the chair,” he suggests.
“No, that's crazy. Hotel floors are gross no matter how fancy they are, and this is not a high-end hotel.”
“I can call around, see if any of the other hotels in the area are free.” He grabs his phone, but I reach out and put it down.