"I'll let you off today because it's your birthday, but from tomorrow, I'm Uncle Sky or just Sky. I'll even take Dude, justnotMoo Moo."
"Moo Moo," he says again, holding onto my shirt. I boop his nose and hold him close, inhaling his baby scent. God, I love how he smells.
Anita keeps teasing, saying I'm broody, but I don't think I'm ready for children just yet. Where would I even find the time? It doesn't stop me from loving this particular tiny human though.
When Ollie is dressed, we take a selfie before going downstairs. We look so cool with our matching sweaters that say Birthday Dude, Daddy Dude, and Moo Dude.
Okay, so maybe I'm enabling the nickname a little.
We put on our best smiles and go in the kitchen to show off our party outfits.
I hear voices and some laughter as we approach.
"If you want, I can send you the recip—" Jud stops when he looks up and sees me.
"Oh my gosh, don't all you look adorable," Anita says. I'm holding Ollie, who now wants his mommy. Anita takes him, giving him a kiss and straightening his sweater. "Skyler, I'm going to take back your Ollie cuddle privileges. Why didn't you tell me Judson is back in town?"
I do a doubletake before remembering that Anita was in our senior class.
Jud stares at me and then at Anita.
"Um…that's actually my fault. I didn't want to make a big deal of it, so I asked him not to tell anyone." He smiles and points to the door. "I'll just go back out to get your cupcakes, and then I'll be out of your hair. I'm sure you have a lot of stuff to do."
When he leaves, both Anita and Noah stare at me, and I can tell by their faces it's for very different reasons.
"Maybe I should see if he needs help."
I find Jud staring at the back of a van. When he sees me, he opens the door and starts stacking the cupcake boxes.
"Do you need help?" I ask.
"No, thanks." He grabs the boxes and uses his foot to close the van door, walking around me to go inside the house.
I stare at him from behind. He walks with confidence now. He’s lost weight, and his clothes fit him perfectly, but there's...something else different about him.
He comes out of the house, holding the keys to the van in his hand, and stops when he sees I haven't moved.
We're only a few feet away from each other, and I take a moment to really look at him.
Big blue eyes, a small round nose, the same freckles, and the beauty spot under his right eye. I don't need to be closer to know that I'm staring at my old best friend.
Except we're anything but best friends now. He's a stranger who looks like someone who knows how to stand up for himself. I don't know if the thought makes me proud of him or sad that I would no longer be his protector.
I don't know what he sees as he stares back at me. Does he see the friend with whom he spent countless nights, looking at photos of places around the world under a bedsheet, pretending it was a travel machine? Does he see the friend who would sneak in maple candy for him in his school bag and forget about it until ants were crawling all over his books?
Or does he see…me?
"Did you want anything?" he asks.
"Are you staying?"
"Today or forever?"
"Both?
"No."
I nod. "It's nice to see you back…for as long as you are here. Your parents must be so happy."
