Ryan took this from me, my child, Blakely, everything. I feel the urge to snatch him up and hold him but don't want to wake him up.
"Does he sleep at night?"
"Look at me Judson, do you think he sleeps through the night?" She motions up and down her body as if something is wrong with the way she is dressed.
"I guess I need to get one of the rooms turned into a nursery at the house."
"You don't have to do that, Judson. He's perfectly fine here, he isn't going anywhere."
"I can help. I want to help, I mean, I know I travel some with work, but I really want to make this work…" She cuts me off before I can even finish my sentence.
"Judson, you can't come barreling back into our lives and expect to take charge. It doesn't work that way." She says in a tone that I don't think I've ever heard come out of her mouth.
There's a soft knock at the door, and Blakely looks to the crib before exiting the room to open the door. I am reluctant to leave this space beside the crib. Honestly, at this point, I might stake out here forever.
Curiosity gets the best of me as I hear Blake whispering from the foyer.
I see Bryce standing in front of her, both of them smiling, something I don't seem to make her do much of anymore. The heat radiates off of me as I close the gap between us.
CHAPTER 48
BLAKELY
The animosity on Judson’s face makes me nervous as he approaches us from JC’s room. Remembering the last time Bryce and Judson were in the same room, I quickly decide to re-introduce them, hoping for a better outcome than before, “Judson, you remember my friend Bryce?”
Judson looks to me and then to Bryce, silently.
“Good to see you again, Judson.” Bryce extends a hand to him, and Judson avoids it like the plague. I nudge Judson with my elbow, and he begrudgingly takes his hand to shake. His eyes never leave mine. I pull Judson back by his bicep, attempting to calm him down, wondering why he acts so protective.
“Where’s the little man?” Bryce asks, looking at me and walking past Judson.
“He’s asleep. He just went down about 30 minutes ago.”
“Damn, I was hoping for Jakey cuddles,” he whines.
I smile, thinking about how much Bryce loves JC. He has been begging me for a month to babysit.
I notice Judson’s exterior turn rigid, “We are kind of in the middle of something.” He practically growls.
“Judson, don’t be rude.” I plead.
Bryce turns to me, “It’s okay.” He whispers.
“It’s not okay. What is wrong with you?” I snap at Judson.
“This guy is always in the fucking way.” He motions to Bryce.
“Who me?” Bryce laughs. “I’ve been here for Blakely, where the fuck were you? I certainly wasn’t in your way for the past six months!”
“What the fuck is this, Blakely? You think you can just play house with him? With my son?”
I am so confused? He thinks Bryce and I are together?
“Judson, Bryce is just my friend!” I practically scream at him.
Before he can respond, Bryce’s fist connects with Judson’s jaw.
I gasp as Judson stumbles back. I expect him to retaliate, but before he can, Bryce is in his face.