She’s gorgeous.
Late twenties, thick wavy reddish-brown hair. Sharp cheekbones and plump pink lips. I can’t see her eye color from where I am, but they’re warm and friendly.
She has long legs encased in leggings that show off her shape and outline her pussy in a way that makes my mouth water. She has on a crop top T-shirt with a knot at the hem so that I see a smooth expanse of skin above her waistband. She has big breasts. High, full, sensual breasts that I could bury my face in and…
Her eyes widen.
I realize I’m staring at her like a lust-crazed lunatic.
I clear my throat. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Her voice is low, very blues and jazz. Sexy. “Cute baby.” She smiles at Evelyn.
“I know.”
Why the fuck did I say that? I mean, Evelyn is a cute baby. She’s a really fucking cute baby. But it sounds arrogant to admit that. I’m supposed to just say thank you, like a normal human being.
Not “I know” like a total prick.
The woman laughs lightly. She leans in and tickles Evelyn’s arm. “You have a very proud papa. Lucky little girl.”
She’s too close to me.
I can smell her shampoo and see straight down her T-shirt, which has fallen forward with her lean. That’s a lot of flesh spilling out of a bra that seems too small.
My sleep deprived brain can’t figure out if she’s somehow miraculously here to help me with Evelyn or to help with the raging erection I suddenly have.
But then she stands up and finger waves at Evelyn. “Bye, cutie.”
And she sashays right on past me.
Oh my God, I really need a nap. She’s not an angel of mercy, she’s just there to visit another tenant.
She stops at the door next to my apartment. I call out after her, “Are you here to see James and Cas?”
I’ve barely had a chance to meet the two guys who live next door, but they seem cool. They have a baby as well—a little boy. Or is it a girl? I can’t remember because the last few weeks are a fucking blur.
And of course she’s there to see James and Cas. She’s knocking on their damn door.
“Yes.” That’s all she says, but she does give me a friendly smile.
I retreat back into my own apartment and look down at Evelyn. “That was not smooth,” I tell her. “That was embarrassing.”
Evelyn gives me a gummy grin and bounces up and down on my hip. She sticks her wet fingers into my mouth.
“We’re calling Auntie Annabelle,” I mumble from around her fingers. “We need help. So. Much. Help.”
CHAPTER3
Caroline
I have knownJames through many of his eras. His fourth-grade Student Council President era, where he campaigned on the platform of puppies in the classroom, his middle school Paramore Super fan era, and his high school Gymnastics God era.
But seeing him holding his son makes it clear he’s in his best era yet. “Oh my gosh, look at you!” I say, going in for a hug when James opens his apartment door holding his baby.
He’s smiling ear to ear, and whereas the last time I saw him, he still sported a boyish vibe—now he has defined and sharper features, all vestiges of his youthful baby face gone. His green eyes are bright and his hair is a little long and shaggy, beard stubble across his chin. He’s wearing joggers and a basic gray T-shirt, which shows off his fit chest and muscular upper arms.
All of that with him cradling a chubby little sleeping infant in his left arm?
