My Baby's Daddy

Chapter 66

The downpour didn’t look like it would stop anytime soon. Looking over at the man on the couch, Anastasia offered, “I’ll get you an umbrella right away.”

However, Elliot eyed her in mild amusement as he said matter-of-fačtly, “I’m staying here for the night.”

Stunned, she blinked at him for a moment and asked, “Why?”

“Because Jared needs me.” As if to make a point, Elliot stroked Jared’s head with his large palm like he was some kind of guardian deity, and the little one looked up at him with an imploring expression and begged, “Mr. Presgrave, Mommy and I are terrified of lightning and thunder, so can you please stay with us and keep us safe for the night?”

Anastasia immediately interjected, “Absolutely not, Jared. I’m more than capable of keeping you safe during the storm.”

“But you’re terrified of thunder too, Mommy!” Jared argued, mercilessly calling her bluff.

“I am not. I’m just—” She was about to make her case when the universe, determined to prove her wrong, called upon yet another bout of lightning that slithered past the sky and tore through the night. As always, this was followed by another violent clap of thunder.

She shuddered, flinching as she clasped her hands to her ears quickly.

and looked at Elliot, and she did not miss the amusement glittering in his eyes. Flushing, she mumbled

go as soon as the thunder stops,”

and said in resignation, “Fine, then. You can’t go back to your car anyway, what with

that he had retrieved earlier, she was seized with the urge to kick herself. Of all the things to drop from the pile

the window raged on. There was even a weather alert that urged

out that we spent the night together

wasn’t exactly staying at the most accommodating of abodes. With the apartment’s limited space, she didn’t have an extra room to put Elliot in, and

dragged into the bathroom by his mother so that he could wash up for bed. A while later, Anastasia emerged from the room with a better part of her clothes splattered by bathwater. . Having settled

a new message. Jared immediately grabbed her phone and keyed in the pin before reading

eyes as he bent to read Nigel’s message, which was clearly penned out of concern as it read, ‘Anastasia, are you and Jared alright? Do you need me

he set the phone down and busied himself with his Legos once more. Elliot reached for the pink phone, and with his long fingers clutching the device, he typed out the reply,

deter Nigel from his enthusiastic efforts. ‘You know I’m just worried about you and

you to drop by right

over at your place plenty of times while we were abroad,

outside as he thought, Which

happy to take care of you and Jared