“Thanks, babe,” I say. “Quite the compliment.”
Nash and Kelsey both look at me, eyebrows raised.
“What?” I ask.
“Did you just call herbabe?”
Fuck.
“Nope. You must be hearing things.”
“Kels, you definitely heard him call you babe, right?”
“I take back what I said before,” Kelsey says, a smirk pulling on her lips as she keeps her eyes trained on the black earpiece in her fingers. “You’re both idiots.”
Nash laughs, a full, rich sound that bounces off the walls of the small room. “Sucks to suck, boss,” he teases.
“Go away, Nash,” I say.
“Oh, sure. Need some privacy. I totally get it.” He walks to the door, pulling it open with one tug. “I’ll just go see what Mikayla is up to!”
“Nash!” Kelsey and I both yell at the closing door.
Nash sticks his mouth into the small gap still open. “Just kidding, Mom. I’ll keep everything on the up-and-up.”
The door slams, and we both stare at it, not sure if he’s coming back or not.
Kelsey looks at me with a raised eyebrow. “Did he just call youMom?”
I chuckle at the confused look on her face. “No.”
“It really sounded like it.”
“He calls meDad,” I say, trying to match her seriousness.
Her eyes go comically wide for just the briefest second before she pulls her mask of neutrality back on. “You should fire him.”
I can’t contain the laughter that spills from me, and soon, Kelsey is chuckling along as well.
“I can’t believe you called me babe. And said it in front of him.” A hint of pink coats her cheeks at the statement.
“Is it a bad thing if Nash knows I use terms of endearment with you?” I ask, turning my full attention to her.
“No. I think Nash may have already been aware. I’m just not sure I’m much of a babe.”
“Sweetheart?” I offer, but Kelsey only snorts.
“Darling?”
“Who are you? A shadow daddy?”
I cock my head to the side, not following the reference, but she just shakes her head.
“Lila’s taken to giving me books to read.”
“How aboutangel?” I joke, knowing she’ll turn that one down.
In classic Kelsey fashion, she just glares at me.
