lunch worked its way through his little body.
“Is there a changing table in the restroom?” she asked Brandi.
“Sure. There’s even one in the men’s room. Just go on in and make a left at the snack bar. Will and I can catch up while we wait for you.”
That was so not happening. “Actually,
darling
, it’s your turn.” Julianne presented Will with the diaper bag. As usual, his face was inscrutable as he took the baby carrier from her hand.
“Oh, wow, you change diapers, too, Will? You
are
the doting dad, aren’t you?” Brandi exclaimed as she led them through the small terminal to the snack bar. “I’ll just get you both a drink for the ride into town.”
“Nicely executed,” Will growled in her ear as he passed by her side.
Julianne grinned. “You’re welcome. The goal is to make you look like a hero in front of your hometown, isn’t it?”
Will just grunted at her as he used his back to push open the door of the men’s room. Julianne took a step in to follow him before he stopped her. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“I’m not seriously going to make you do this on your own.” Julianne glanced over her shoulder to make sure Brandi had disappeared into the snack bar. “He’s likely got a landfill in his diaper by the smell of it, and you’ve never changed a baby before, have you?”
“I studied a few videos on YouTube. I’ll manage.”
“Ohmigod! You have got to be kidding me!” It was all she could do to contain her incredulous laughter.
Will obviously wasn’t kidding because he slammed the door in Julianne’s face.
• • •
His son had pretty impressive range. Julianne was right, his diaper smelled worse than a locker room after the offensive line had pigged out on Mexican food. But Will was proud he made it through without losing his lunch. He’d just finished getting Owen cleaned when his son proceeded to piss all over him.
“Argh! You little bugger!”
Owen pumped his legs as he sucked on his hands, his eyes wide at the sound of Will’s voice. Will grinned at his son, any anger he might have felt washed away by the precious look on Owen’s face. He felt his own face break out into a smile, something he didn’t often do as he realized he’d forgive his son anything.
Will cleaned him up a second time, thankful that Julianne had a well-packed diaper bag. His earlier remark about her parenting by the seat of her pants was a little harsh, but he resented her relaxed, casual demeanor on the plane.
It took nearly ten minutes to get Owen changed; Julianne had impatiently knocked twice already by the time Will emerged from the restroom, his shirt draped over his shoulder. Julianne’s eyes went from concern to merriment at the sight of his T-shirt-clad chest.
“Apparently, you didn’t watch that YouTube video that closely,” she teased, eyes dancing.
“I didn’t count on a sneak attack.”
“You must not have been a Boy Scout. You weren’t prepared.”
Will tossed the diaper bag at her as she laughed openly at him.
“I hope the damage was minimal.”
“I’ll live. I’ve been hit by worse.”
“Oh, that’s right, you’re a big fearless football player. A little pee certainly won’t bring you down.”
They reached the car, a new Volvo SUV with the highest safety rating. He’d bought it sight unseen, so that Owen would be protected in case of an accident. Will snapped the baby carrier into its base in the backseat as Julianne climbed in beside him.
“Is this one of the perks of being a big-name jock—you get a new car every few months?”
It was for a lot of athletes, but most of the new cars Will received for endorsements or awards he gave to charity. He could drive only one at a time, after all. Will ignored her question as he slid into the driver’s seat and started the car. “Make sure he’s fastened securely.” He glanced in the rearview mirror in time to see Julianne roll her eyes at him. Again.
“Yes, Dad,”
“Is there a changing table in the restroom?” she asked Brandi.
“Sure. There’s even one in the men’s room. Just go on in and make a left at the snack bar. Will and I can catch up while we wait for you.”
That was so not happening. “Actually,
darling
, it’s your turn.” Julianne presented Will with the diaper bag. As usual, his face was inscrutable as he took the baby carrier from her hand.
“Oh, wow, you change diapers, too, Will? You
are
the doting dad, aren’t you?” Brandi exclaimed as she led them through the small terminal to the snack bar. “I’ll just get you both a drink for the ride into town.”
“Nicely executed,” Will growled in her ear as he passed by her side.
Julianne grinned. “You’re welcome. The goal is to make you look like a hero in front of your hometown, isn’t it?”
Will just grunted at her as he used his back to push open the door of the men’s room. Julianne took a step in to follow him before he stopped her. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“I’m not seriously going to make you do this on your own.” Julianne glanced over her shoulder to make sure Brandi had disappeared into the snack bar. “He’s likely got a landfill in his diaper by the smell of it, and you’ve never changed a baby before, have you?”
“I studied a few videos on YouTube. I’ll manage.”
“Ohmigod! You have got to be kidding me!” It was all she could do to contain her incredulous laughter.
Will obviously wasn’t kidding because he slammed the door in Julianne’s face.
• • •
His son had pretty impressive range. Julianne was right, his diaper smelled worse than a locker room after the offensive line had pigged out on Mexican food. But Will was proud he made it through without losing his lunch. He’d just finished getting Owen cleaned when his son proceeded to piss all over him.
“Argh! You little bugger!”
Owen pumped his legs as he sucked on his hands, his eyes wide at the sound of Will’s voice. Will grinned at his son, any anger he might have felt washed away by the precious look on Owen’s face. He felt his own face break out into a smile, something he didn’t often do as he realized he’d forgive his son anything.
Will cleaned him up a second time, thankful that Julianne had a well-packed diaper bag. His earlier remark about her parenting by the seat of her pants was a little harsh, but he resented her relaxed, casual demeanor on the plane.
It took nearly ten minutes to get Owen changed; Julianne had impatiently knocked twice already by the time Will emerged from the restroom, his shirt draped over his shoulder. Julianne’s eyes went from concern to merriment at the sight of his T-shirt-clad chest.
“Apparently, you didn’t watch that YouTube video that closely,” she teased, eyes dancing.
“I didn’t count on a sneak attack.”
“You must not have been a Boy Scout. You weren’t prepared.”
Will tossed the diaper bag at her as she laughed openly at him.
“I hope the damage was minimal.”
“I’ll live. I’ve been hit by worse.”
“Oh, that’s right, you’re a big fearless football player. A little pee certainly won’t bring you down.”
They reached the car, a new Volvo SUV with the highest safety rating. He’d bought it sight unseen, so that Owen would be protected in case of an accident. Will snapped the baby carrier into its base in the backseat as Julianne climbed in beside him.
“Is this one of the perks of being a big-name jock—you get a new car every few months?”
It was for a lot of athletes, but most of the new cars Will received for endorsements or awards he gave to charity. He could drive only one at a time, after all. Will ignored her question as he slid into the driver’s seat and started the car. “Make sure he’s fastened securely.” He glanced in the rearview mirror in time to see Julianne roll her eyes at him. Again.
“Yes, Dad,”
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