Stassi reluctantly took the box from his hands, and he nodded respectfully before walking away.
Friday nights were reserved for them. Demi and Charlie. It was their preferred movie night of choice, only tonight they weren’t alone.
DJ hadn’t said one word since they had arrived home and Charlie felt like a fish out of water as she moved around the kitchen, preparing movie snacks. Demi seemed unbothered by the silence, but Charlie felt like DJ’s refusal to take off his coat, and the sliding of his finger down his iPhone was a declaration of war. He wasn’t comfortable, and Charlie was unsettled.
“I can hang up your coat, DJ,” she offered.
“I’m good,” he answered without looking at her.
Demi walked into the room. “Boy, take off your coat and hang it in the front closet.” DJ lifted from the couch and did as he was told, bypassing his dad and getting a head rustle along the way.
Charlie took a deep breath. This kid was practically an alien species to her. She didn’t know how to nurture a kid. She had just murdered a pothos plant the week before; how was she supposed to keep Demi’s kid alive? Her anxiety had heroverthinking. She hadn’t considered DJ when she had accepted Demi’s proposal. She had been so caught up in the love of this man, and they had moved so fast that she never considered all that came with him.
Can I do this?
“He don’t bite, Bird,” Demi whispered as he walked by her and into the kitchen. “Yo, kiddo, you hungry?”
“I could eat,” DJ responded.
“How about pizza?” Charlie added. “We do movie night on Fridays, DJ. You want to pick a movie for the lineup?”
“Eh,” DJ responded. His eyes had to be stuck in one place because he hadn’t given her eye contact yet. “I don’t really like pizza like that.”
“Boy, get your ass over here,” Demi interrupted. “Be cool, aight? I know you got some steam on your chest, and I’m willing to take all the shots, but be kind to her. She really likes you, man. Give her a chance.”
“Demi, it’s okay. Pizza does sound blah,” she said to DJ. “What about pancakes?”
“It’s nighttime,” DJ protested, looking up at his dad.
Demi shrugged.
“Who says you can’t eat pancakes at night?” Charlie smiled. “And, I mean, the good kind. Homemade with chocolate chips and whip cream on top.”
A stubborn smile snuck out, and Charlie felt like she had scored a jump shot.
“That’s super weird, but if you say so,” DJ replied stubbornly.
“I say so,” Charlie insisted. “Only thing is, I’ma need your help. Is that cool? You know how to measure?”
“Yeah, I guess I can do that,” DJ stated.
“Maybe while we’re making the food, your dad can go choose the movie?” Charlie proposed.
“Mann, he be picking weak movies.” DJ shook his head.
Charlie laughed, and Demi shook his head. “You can pick, man. Whatever you want at my house,” Demi said, yielding. Charlie and Demi knew how important it was for DJ to feel like he had a place and a say in their home. This was his home too, and Charlie didn’t want him to feel displaced when he spent time there.
Marvel had been the preference, and pancakes accompanied the entertainment. DJ tried to explain the entire Marvel universe to his dad. Charlie sat there watching Demi listen for the entire three-hour movie.
He’s an amazing father,she thought.No wonder he wants more kids.
Feeling as if she was a third wheel, she picked up the empty bowls of popcorn and the empty cans of soda to make an excuse to retreat. She left the stuff on the kitchen counter, knowing that Demi would clean up from top to bottom before he went to bed anyway. As she walked away, their laughter echoed behind her. She didn’t want to interrupt their time together. Demi rarely felt this light, and she wanted him to enjoy the carefree essence of his child. It was likely the only one he would ever have, at least for a while.
Hours passed before she felt the weight of Demi’s body sink into the mattress.
“He finally fell asleep, huh?” Charlie whispered without opening her eyes. His rough hand cupped her face, and she scooted closer to him, absorbing into his body.
“Boy can stay up all night,” Demi mumbled. “I had to clean up his mess, and that kitchen that you left tore up.”
