Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

chapter 644

Their faces tightened with suspicion. "Who are you?" one asked sharply.

It hit me-they didn't recognize me. We'd met before, but that was years ago, and they'd aged since then.

"I'm... a friend of Desmond's," I lied, keeping my tone light. No way would they tell me anything if I revealed the real reason I was here. "I heard he had a baby and thought I'd check in." Their eyes darted to each other, their unease palpable. "We've never seen you before," one said, voice sharp with doubt. "And Desmond never mentioned a

friend like you."

Their guardedness made sense-these days, you couldn't be too careful with all the scams and con artists around.

I offered a gentle smile as I handed over the small gifts I'd brought. "It's okay. I just wanted to check in and see how you're doing. That's all."

But they didn't take them. "We don't know you, and we're not comfortable with

this."

With that, they turned and walked away.

I stayed rooted in place, watching them go. Following them would only make things worse, pushing their suspicion or fear over the edge.

Still, where was the child? Was he cared for by a nanny?

their apartment to find out. Instead, I went to the property management office, left the gifts with them, and

doing just fine," the property staff said. "They dotes on him. They take him out to play every day-usually

a small play area within

added. "Though I heard he's

They even brought in a doctor to care

middle-aged woman gently

say you're a friend of their son, the couple doesn't want to hear it. You might as well

Desmond's parents weren't just

to push further. Still, I left the gifts with

said, he was the cutest, chubbiest little thing. His fair skin looked impossibly soft, and his eyes sparkled like tiny stars. The baby noticed me watching

could thaw the iciest heart. I couldn't help

"Keira?!"

'standing nearby. It took a second to place her, but I recognized her immediately-Whitney. She used to work with Lena

a family doctor now?" I asked,

the hospital, I struggled to find a good job, so I ended up opening

Whitney picked him up, patting his back, but he kept stretching his little

you?" I

chuckled and passed him

in my arms, his tiny hands grabbed at my cheeks,