I started to take off my jewelry as I waited for him to say something about my plan. He wasn’t going to tell me no because he had no reason to. Going against the rules meant paying an administrative fine and I knew he wouldn’t want to do that just because of my mother’s inability to let go.
When he sighed I knew he was going to do what I needed him to. I heard the clicking of keys and despite it being after ten on the east coast; he was like the family concierge so this was probably the tamest request he’d gotten all day.
“I’ve got the suite reserved for you. Everything is under your name. Would you like to add a password to the file so that it’s extra secure?”
“Yes, put it under Amisha.”
“A new alias?”
I laughed because I knew he couldn’t help but be curious.
“Nope. Just a name I like.”
After a few more clicks of his keys, I heard my email chime that he’d sent me what I needed. “I’ve sent you over the confirmation and I have it blocked off for you. If you’re going to be in the city, would you like me to make additionalaccommodations for you? Hotel or maybe the apartment you have access to?”
“I’ll think about that as time gets near. I might be coming in early for the US Open so I’ll either have accommodations in two places or try to be central to Arthur Ashe and the stadium. They aren’t that far but you never know with traffic.” With Aphrodite being my friend, I would definitely love to travel to be there for her match. She had her eye on making history and I wanted to be there to witness it.
“I’ll hold several reservations for you and then you can decide later. Will that work?”
“That’s perfect, Victor, thank you.” I smiled because I couldn’t wait to let Aphrodite know that we had tickets to the game. I was sure that Aldrich would want his daughter there even if she was still a baby but he wouldn’t want her to be around a bunch of strangers. This way she’d be protected and he wouldn’t have to worry about her missing the game.
“Tell me this, Ms. Sterling. Are you safe?”
His concern sounded genuine and I was sure that he, like most of the people that worked for our family wasn’t as weird as we were. But showing any kindness meant that you were usually dismissed if someone complained that you played favorites. A lot of the people who worked with us learned quickly to be standoffish to keep their jobs.
I smiled because I appreciated his concern. “I’m safe and I’m happy, Victor. That’s a lot more than I would be if I were with the rest of the family on the coast.”
I heard him stifle his laugh but I knew he didn’t need to because I wasn’t going to tell on him. “I understand completely, Miss Sterling and I’m glad that you’ve found somewhere that brings you happiness.”
“Thank you.” I hung up before I finished the transfer of gratuity to his account. I did it when we were already off thephone so he couldn’t attempt to return it or try to talk me out of it.
I’d barely put the phone back into my bedside table when Aldrich walked in with a worried look on his face. Ami was moaning against his chest and I could see her thrashing like she was uncomfortable.
I shot out of bed and made my way over to her. I could feel that she was warmer than she should’ve been but I didn’t lift her off his chest. He looked completely upset and his eyes were frantic as he looked at Ami like he could will away what was wrong with her.
“Please help her.”
We had been in the trenches for hours still trying to get Ami’s fever to go down. Despite the pain relief that she’d been given, her ears were still bothering her to where she didn’t want to eat. Her not wanting to eat meant that she was crying because she was hungry and there wasn’t a lot I could do to soothe her.
Aldrich and I had both taken our turns walking around the house with her but nothing helped. We’d sung, played music and even held gently warmed compresses to her ears but Ami was in pain and didn’t care who knew it.
“This shit is killing me.”
He looked tortured and I wasn’t about to ask him to clarify because I knew what was up. He’d made a drastic change in the few months since I’d gotten here. Some of it coincided with his family arriving but I think some of it was a resignation that his life was just different now. The easy camaraderie we’d had while taking care of Ami had been nice. But it was times like this thatwould stress the bounds of the surprisingly easy friendship we’d developed.
I nodded my understanding as I reached out for her to take my turn again. This was technically my responsibility and if he needed to rest I would be happy to take my turn. “Take a break if it’s too—”
“It is but not like that. She’s so little and this shit is tearing her up. Her little face is all red and she won’t stop crying. My baby hasn’t been able to catch a break in or out of the womb and I’m about to lose my shit if the universe doesn’t ease up off her.”
His face was as contorted as hers and he truly looked like he would battle God and all the ancestors if it meant he could provide her some relief. His turning into a full-on girl dad warrior wasn’t what I’d thought we’d get to but miracles apparently happen. We’d been pacing the hallway between our rooms and the den and I knew she was on the verge of losing it.
“I know you’re upset, but just take it easy. She can feel our energy and our being apprehensive is only going to make it worse for her. Are you sure you don’t want me to take her?” I was trying to give him a second to calm down because she really could sense that he was upset. He’d taken his shirt off for skin to skin. It was something to see his tattoos and muscles carefully cradling such a small baby in his arms like she was the most precious thing to him.
“No, but I know I should probably give her to you. I know she’d much rather be lying on your chest than mine.”
I laughed as he slid the baby off of his shoulders before handing Ami over to me. When he held her to my chest so I could grab her, his hand inadvertently brushed against my nipple. It took all my strength to keep myself from crying out. The move was shocking even in its innocence and I needed to get him away from me before I did something crazy.
“My fault.” Her crying was still shaking her little body and I swear Aldrich almost snatched her back out of my hands. She was less warm than she’d been before so I knew the meds were working.
