30. Tish

Chapter Thirty

Tish

Allie scooped Teddy out of my arms, giving him a loud kiss before lifting him in the air while he giggled. "He's all mine now, you relax," she said.

My heart clenched a little in my chest. When I'd first had Teddy, I'd been nearly desperate for any kind of break at first because it was a twenty-four-hour job. Babies didn't operate on a rational schedule. Days of endless diaper changes, nursing, and sleep doled out in hours here and there.

Now that Teddy had settled into somewhat of a decent sleeping schedule, usually only waking maybe once a night and I had returned to work, I missed him during the day. Yet, I also wanted and needed this time with my friends.

"We'll just be upstairs," Allie assured me. With a wave, she was gone.

Madison smiled over at me, her brows hitching up as soon as Allie was out of the room. "You okay?"

I took a quick breath. "Yes. But it's weird. I'm working now and I've only seen him for a few hours today."

Maisie had just walked into the room and her hand landed on my shoulder. She patted me lightly. "I know the feeling. Trust me, he's fine and you'll get used to it."

I smiled up at her. "Really?"

Her curls bounced with her nod. "Promise."

"Is Beck home with the kids tonight?" I asked.

"They're with his mom tonight. He's out with the guys at Wildlands. They kinda like to do that when we have our card night," Maisie explained.

Amelia sat down and slid a stack of paper plates into the center of the table. "They feel like they gotta have a guy thing because we have a girl thing."

"How long have you all been doing this anyway?" I asked as I took the plate that Lucy handed to me.

"Years now," Lucy replied.

Maisie nodded. "It was pretty casual at first, and more and more have joined in."

"Me!" Jasmine came walking with Susannah.

I felt blessed to have been welcomed so warmly into the group. Phoebe had smoothed my way, along with Hallie. Phoebe was here, but Hallie had texted me to let me know she was too tired tonight.

Amelia started shuffling cards. I passed on playing tonight. "I'm just gonna enjoy watching," I offered.

"You know how it goes," Susannah commented. "Maisie usually wins and sometimes Lucy."

Maisie waggled her brows. "I learned from my dad. He mostly ignored me, but he was really good at cards."

As the conversation carried on, Madison nudged me in the side with her elbow. "Yeah?" I glanced over.

"How are things with Griffin?" she asked.

Before I could reply, Phoebe's gaze bounced from me to Madison. "You and Griffin?"

My cheeks were burning up, so I didn't try to bluff my way through it. "We might be, um, seeing each other."

Phoebe's brows hitched before a slow smile unfurled across her face. "Griffin is a great guy."

My heart was pounding fast, and my belly fluttered just thinking about Griffin. "I know." I took a quick breath. "I think he's a little crazy because I have a baby, but he doesn't seem to mind." Most of them knew the story about Teddy's father.

"Is he helping?" Maisie asked as she studied her cards.

"With what?" I asked.

"With the baby. That tells you a lot about a guy."

"Actually, he is, and I didn't expect him to. He even does dishes and makes the best mac and cheese I've ever had," I offered.

"Well, that pretty much tells you everything you need to know," Lucy said before focusing on her cards again.

"I haven't known Griffin that long, but he seems like a good guy," Maisie added.

"Archer's known him since they were kids. He's great," Phoebe offered. "How do you feel about him?"

I felt a little put on the spot, but I trusted my friends and figured I might as well be honest. "It's pretty fresh, but since I have Teddy, I can't really imagine trying to do the casual thing. I also work for his family's company. He's not working there yet, but—" I paused, my face getting even hotter.

Madison waved dismissively. "Griffin doesn't even work there."

"I know, but he will eventually take over the brewery here."

Phoebe shrugged. "When you were Rhys's assistant, that might've been really too close for comfort, but not now."

While my friends were curious, maybe even nosy, I knew they all cared. I took a bite of my pizza. Just as I finished chewing, Madison nudged me again. "Griffin will be good to you."

I slid my gaze to hers. "I hope so."

"I see the way he looks at you. The man is smitten," she said firmly.

"He's probably at Wildlands tonight with the guys, and Chase or Archer is giving him a lecture about being good to you," Lucy chimed in.

"Graham will lecture him on my behalf," Madison said with a grin.