He gives a modest shrug and nods, and a laugh escapes me. I hurry Luca out of the living room.
We go to his bedroom, now minus the bad rug.
“Let’s find your jam-jams,” I say, rifling through his drawers. I find a couple of options and present them to Luca. “What do you want to wear?”
He hesitates. Maybe I’m just supposed to toss him something. He points at the one with fish.
“Good choice.”
Maybe Enzo and I can take Luca to the aquarium one day. It’s a bit tricky since Enzo and I can both be recognized. I’ll ask Enz what he thinks.
I look for the training pants I ordered.
“Can you put these on?” I ask Luca.
He nods, and I get him his pajamas.
After he’s dressed, I have him brush his teeth, making sure he does it for a long enough time. I look at the bathtub and wonder how often he takes baths. Should I have had him take a bath before I put him in his jammies?
He looks clean though. I’m going to need to ask Enz about that too. Maybe Patricia has some best practices for two-year-olds.
I have Luca use the bathroom and wash his hands, then we go back to the bedroom. I think I remembered everything.
Luca crawls into bed, and I tuck him in. His nightlight glows in the corner. Then something occurs to me.
I didn’t buy Luca any books.
Shit.
I look around in case Enzo brought any from Luca’s home, but I guess he didn’t. Enzo was distracted, and they did fly to Boston. It’s not like we have Mary Poppins handbags yet, and I’m not sure scientists are even working on them. Maybe we should have 3-D printers everywhere so we can travel without luggage. We could have them installed in every hotel, so the clothes and books and toys would be waiting in the room.
Though probably not great for the environment. Hmmm…
But no picture book, no problem. I can tell a story. I mean, I never have before, but I’m capable of it. Hopefully.
“Now close your eyes,” I say. “Once upon a time…”
He falls asleep soon, which is maybe a compliment to my soothing voice or an uncompliment for not having enough plot points.
I kiss him on the forehead, then whisper, “I love you.”
I ease the door shut. The hallway is quiet, just the hum of the apartment and Enzo’s soft snoring from the living room. My son is asleep. The man who somehow became my partner in all this is asleep. I lean against the wall and let myself breathe.
I’m a dad.
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Enzo
Crying. I jolt awake, heart slamming, and for a disorienting second, I don’t know where I am. A blanket is over me that wasn’t there before, and my cheek is pressed against cold leather. I blink into the black night.
Luca.
God, I fell asleep! I didn’t put him to bed! Why didn’t Axel wake me up?
I hurry to Luca’s room. Footsteps join mine.
