I sat on the very edge of the couch. “I’m sorry you had to take care of him all day.”
“I enjoy taking care of him. So, thank you for letting me be selfish.” He shot me a sleepy smile.
What a man. If he kept this up, he’d never be rid of me. “You’re sweet.”
Elias stirred and grunted.
Jason splayed his hand on my baby’s tummy. “I bet he’s hungry.”
I wrapped my fingers around Elias’s foot and wiggled it. “I’ll fix a bottle and come back and feed him,” I said as I got to my feet.
“No, I’ll do it,” he said, and lifted Elias into my arms. “He needs time with his momma.”
Jason pushed off the couch and I sat down with Elias.
“Hi there. Did you have a good day?”
He made a few noises and wiggled in my arms.
“Did you have fun with Jason today?”
This time a grunt came out of both ends. “Oh wow. Thanks, dude. I missed you too.” I chuckled.
Jason returned with a bottle and handed it to me. “That’s different formula.”
“What?” I asked.
He took a seat next to me. “I thought the other formula was hurting his tummy or that he wasn’t digesting it well because of how bad his diapers smelled.”
“I hadn’t even thought of that.”
He leaned towards me, putting his arm along the back of the couch. “I just wondered, so I called a pediatrician that I met at one of the galas and asked her. She said to try an organic formula. I did, and I think his tummy feels better. The last dirty diaper didn’t smell nearly as bad as the one before.”
Organic? Formula was already not cheap, and organic was probably even worse.
“Before you freak out, it’s on me. I’m the one who changed it without asking you. It’s my fault.” He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about it until I was telling you. I should have asked you first. You’re his mom… I overstep?—”
I don’t know why I did it, but I kissed him. “Thank you.”
That was a lie. I did know why. He was Jason. Sweet, kind, gentle, and caring. He’d worried about my baby and then takenmeasures to make Elias feel better. That sort of care deserved a kiss.
“Do I need to pretend you didn’t do that?” He smiled.
I’ll admit, I laughed at that. “I thought about it…” I had. Sort of. Just now…
Jason pressed one of his fingers into Elias’s hands while he ate. “Oh, you have?”
“Yes. It occurred to me that we’re getting married and people will expect us to kiss. We want everyone to think this is authentic. We can’t do that if we act like we’re not together.”
His smile never vanished as he sat quietly. “I can see your rationalization.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Yeah. That’s the reason for the big ceremony. To prove this isn’t some sort of ploy to get custody of Elias.”
I laughed. “But it sort of is.”
“I had an idea that I’d like to run by you.”
