Page 27 of The Sacrifice
“Gotcha.” The driver raises his thumb in the air and slips back inside the cab.
“We’ll see.” Tate smiles. “Do you want to put a bet on it?”
“No.” I glare at him. “I don’t want to put a bet on whether Mia likes me or not. I’m not twelve years old.”
“Dude.” He laughs and smacks my chest with his open hand, shoving me backward. “You’re afraid you’re going to lose.”
“No, I’m not.” I bite out with more anger than I’d like. I don’t want him to know he’s getting to me. I’m afraid I’d win the bet and winning a bet I don’t want to lose is depressing.
The two moving men hop down with the vehicle still running and pop open the latch, shoving the back door upward. The loud rattle of the rollers moving ends with the display of a bunch of boxes. All kinds of boxes.
I’ve got to put all of this together. Why didn’t I order the pre-made shit?
“Well, I’ve got to go.” Tate steps toward his car.
“Asshole.”
He turns and wink. “Hey, you did the crime. You’ve got to do the time.”
“I’m taking care of my responsibilities. But you could offer to help put the crib together.”
“I could, but I won’t.” He laughs and yanks open the door. “You’re on your own.” He braces his arm over the open doorframe and the hood of his car. “Maybe if you sweet talk that pretty woman inside your house, she might help you. It would give you time to get to know her. Hours of time.” He waggles his eyebrows and falls into the driver’s seat.
“Awesome.” I rub my hands over my face. I hate reading directions. Here’s to hoping there are online videos.
Chapter Sixteen
Mia
An hour later, I walk into what is going to be Hadley’s room, and my mouth drops open. Jackson is sitting cross-legged on the floor with a pile of wooden slats in front of him. The hair on top of his head is standing in different directions as he holds the instructions in one hand and a screwdriver in the other. His entire face is contorted into a WTF expression.
“How’re things going?” I fold my arms over my chest and lean my hip against the door frame.
He glances in my direction and gives me a pointed stare. “How do you think things are going?”
“Not much on instructions, are we?” I fight the smile that’s begging to come out, but I don’t want one of those slats tossed in my direction.
“No, we are not.” He shakes his head.
“You’d think a guy who can read football plays could figure out a simple crib.”
He smirks, and my nipples stand at attention. Thank God my arms are crossed. “I’m more of a visual person. I want to see what I have my hands on.”
I did not need to know that. Heat swells in my core, leaving me achy and needing to keep things in a less volatile direction. “Have you tried instructional videos?”
“The videos help, but it would be easier with another person.” His eyes twinkle as he winks.
Lord, save me.My cheeks must match the color of a ketchup bottle. “That’s not what I meant.” But now, I can’t get it out of my head.
He chuckles and returns his attention to the booklet of instructions. “I was teasing.”
I push off the wall and step into the room. The entire space is crammed with all the gear a three-month-old would need, plus a daycare for other children. Here’s to hoping the rest of it slides out of the boxes fully assembled.
“Do you want me to help? Hadley went down for a nap, so I’ve got a little time before I need to check on her.” I wave my fingers. “And, I have two extra hands.”
“Are you serious?” The look of hope and appreciation on his face is enough to stop me in my tracks. He’s always cocky, so the air of vulnerability is enough to make my head spin.
“Yes, I’m serious.” The bag of nuts and bolts by his leg and the others strung across the floor have me questioning my decision. That’s a lot of pieces. “What do you need me to do?”