“What did you do when she came back?”
I looked Billie in the eyes. “I’ll let you know when that happens.”
“Oh my God, Colby. Are you saying Saylor’s mother left her on your doorstep and you never saw her again?”
I nodded. “To be honest, I wasn’t even sure the baby was mine at first. I had no idea what to do. I’d never changed a diaper in my life.”
“Did you try to find her?”
I nodded again. “For a long time. But the only thing I knew about her was that she worked at the strip club. Of course I went back there, but the manager said she hadn’t worked there in six months. I went as far as hiring a private investigator to track her down, but she was nowhere to be found. Turned out Raven wasn’t even her name, it was Maya, and she wasn’t in the country legally, so the paper trail was pretty scarce.”
Billie shook her head. “Holy crap. That’s crazy.”
“Do I win?”
She laughed. “I think you might.”
“Then I guess I win twice. Because Saylor turned out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. My crazy story might beat your crazy story, but in the end, I got the love of my life.”
Billie’s face went soft. “That’s really beautiful, Colby.”
A few minutes later, Deek walked in. He surveyed the scene and smirked at Billie. “Am I interrupting something, boss?”
Billie rolled her eyes. “No, Deek. Colby and I were just talking.”
“Uh-huh.” He lifted his chin to me. “How you doin’, man?”
I hopped out of his tattoo chair and extended a hand. “Not bad. You think her ex, Kaiden, did this to her window? Maybe you and I should go have a talk with him.”
Deek smiled. “I like the way you think.”
“Uh, no one is going to talk to Kaiden,” Billie said. “We’re just going to chalk this up to some kids being jerks and put it behind us.”
I looked at Deek, and he shrugged. “She’s my boss. She might be short, but I’m afraid of her crazy ass.”
I chuckled. “Alright. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
Billie shook her head. “I think I’m going to get out of here. Do you need anything from me before I leave, Deek?”
“Nope. All good.”
“Okay, I’m going to head out. Justine leaves now, too, so I’m locking the door behind us, just to be safe. You’ll need to keep an eye out for when your appointment knocks.”
“Yes, boss.”
Billie looked at me and tilted her head toward the door. “Come on. I know you have to get to your daughter. I’ll walk out with you.”
Out on the sidewalk, Billie and I stood for a minute, looking at the plywood sheet.
“Is there anything I can do?” I asked. “Call a glass company or something?”
“Thanks, but I already scheduled a company to come install new glass tomorrow morning. And I’m also having an alarm installed on Saturday—with cameras. If there’s a next time something like this happens, I’m going to know who it was.”
I nodded. Billie was tough, but she had to be shaken up from the day. “Good. Can I walk you home at least?”
She smiled. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to grab an Uber tonight. I’m too lazy to do the mile-and-a-half-long trek, nor do I feel like riding two subways. It’s been a really long day, and I just want to get home and soak in a hot bath with some wine.”
I grinned. “If you need someone to wash your back…”
She play-slapped my abs. “Goodnight, Colby. Thanks for checking in on me.”
“Anytime, sweetheart.” Just as I was about to walk away, I turned back. “I almost forgot. Saylor asked me to invite you to her birthday party on Saturday.”
“Really?”
I nodded. “You don’t have to come, but I don’t want her to find out I didn’t extend the invitation. Like Deek said, sometimes it’s the little ones we’re most afraid of. My boss just happens to be only three-feet tall.”
Billie smiled. “What time is the party and where is it?”
“It’s at three. Her actual birthday isn’t until Monday, but I’m having a few of my friends, a girl Saylor plays with from preschool, and my parents over. It’s just in our apartment, nothing too fancy.”
“I’ll try to stop by. The alarm company is calling me in the morning to give me a four-hour window that day, so I’m not positive I’ll make it, but I’ll try.”
I rubbed my chin. “So when my daughter invites you, you’ll come. But not when I invite you to do something with me?”
“Don’t be offended, Big Daddy. Saylor doesn’t have that thing I’ve recently determined I’m allergic to.”
I shook my head. “What thing?”
“A penis.” She winked. “Nighty-night, Colby.”
***
Saturday afternoon, I got excited every time someone knocked at my apartment door. But by seven thirty, it had become apparent that Billie wasn’t going to make it. Most of the guests who had come to help Saylor celebrate her fourth birthday had already left, and it was only Owen, Holden, and me still sitting around drinking beer when there was a knock at the door. I hadn’t told the guys I’d invited Billie, because once they caught on that you liked a woman, the ball busting never stopped.