“How about you get settled in the chair and we can go from there?”
“Why I gotta sit down?”
“Because you were just worried about it being too much to hold her. If you sit down and make a mistake it’s a far less distance for her to fall if you mess up.”
“Gotdamn you think I’mma drop the girl?” The shock on his face was one that showed genuine offense despite his ass being the one to say he was scared.
Now I was getting exasperated. Trying to solve problems for this man was an exercise in futility. “You’re the one acting all weird! I’m trying to give you some tips to help you. If you don’t want them—”
“Nah! That’s on me. I don’t like feeling like people doubt my ability to do something. But you’re right. I need tips so I’mma sit my ass down just like you said.”
I needed him to stop being all…genial and easygoing. My father would’ve looked at my mother like she was crazy for making any type of suggestion and my mother would’ve doubled down on her brashness just to browbeat him into submission. They liked to think I was too young but I wasn’t. I remembered how they would call it bickering but it was really jabs at one another that were akin to a heavyweight fight. Neither was above hitting below the belt. In fact, they seemed to race to see could take it to hell the quickest. Their inability to treat one another with respect was why I only dealt with people casually. The idea of someone trying to use my vulnerability and information I’d only shared with one of my many therapists against me in an argument would be my thirteenth reason.
And frankly, I’d worked too hard at this life to have someone come along and destroy the peace I’d built.
“You don’t trust me?”
I snapped out of the trance my thoughts had me locked in and shook my head apologetically. While I’d been mulling over the past, Aldrich had sat down and even fit the nursing pillow around his waist. It was somewhat askew but he looked adorable sitting there nervously anticipating this task.
“My apologies. I got lost in my head. Of course I trust you, this is your baby.”
“If possession is nine-tenths of the law I think they’d definitely give you primary custody.” I walked closer to him and gave only a neutral, noncommittal hum because I was glad herecognized he’d been avoiding her since we got home. Since he was holding his hands out and Ami was kicking her feet, I put the wriggling mass of baby into his arms. He immediately wrapped his large hand around her body to keep her from falling off his shoulder and instinctively held in the crook of his arm so she was supported.
Definitely like a football.
“You don’t look like you’re that nervous at all.”
“I might’ve been watching the expert at all of this a few times.” He wouldn’t look at me as he rubbed her back and tried to coax a burp from her.
I had to smile because he was open to learning and I knew it was probably hard as hell for him to confess that out loud.
“You’re doing a great job.”
“She hasn’t even burped yet.”
“Wanting to learn and caring enough to observe instead of being a know-it-all is honestly one of the best things you could do.”
He battled his smile but those full lips of his spread wide anyway. The dimple in his cheek was sinful and I knew that Ami had gotten those from him. I took a step back because the last thing I wanted to do was hover over this man as if he were going to do something wrong.
“Nah, come on back, co-parent. You're not about to leave me assed out in case something goes awry.”
I smirked because now who was using SAT words? “Not awry.”
“I might get hit for a living but I retained the knowledge necessary to exist and network across all echelons of society.” He gave me a wink as Ami wiggled and rooted and I prayed she didn’t attack his nipple searching for more food. Sensing her urgency he rubbed her back a little harder to get the gas out.
And here he goes being impressive again. I wanted him to care about the girl but dang maybe that was the wrong direction for us to go in. His ignoring her allowed me to not like him but now I was…something.
Definitely not finishing that thought.
Instead of focusing on my growing…something I gave him an encouraging smile as he watched her seemingly enthralled. “You might need to handle the middle of the night feedings since you seem to have this covered.”
He kept his eyes on her as he smiled and even I could tell how much he loved her. “I don’t think I’m there yet. I am gonna do more though. You’re here to be her nanny not her full-time caregiver.”
“You do realize that being a nanny is a full-time caregiver, right?”
“Yeah but you need a day off and shit. Hang out with your people.”
“I’m not from here. I know you and your agent and the ladies who took me shopping. That’s about it.”
