My face goes hot. “Probably.”
“Hmm.” Kai’s face turns thoughtful.
I could swear that he’s thinking the exact thing I am. Will other cards prompt us to kiss? I can’t help but wish that we were in a place where no prompting was needed. I want Kai to trace over my arms, grip my waist, and put his full and glorious mouth on mine right here and now.
“I guess we should probably start drawing cards before thetwinswake up,” Kai suggests. He rids himself of the baby stuff by plopping the items one by one onto the corner of the couch. I do the same.
“Do you want to go first, or should I?” he asks.
I’m about to tell Kai to go ahead when a very realistic coo sounds from overhead. I tilt an ear toward the ceiling as more sounds come. Baby babble. “Maybe there are legitimate babies up there,” I say.
Kai shrugs. “Only one way to find out.”
“How close do you think their actual mother is in this moment?” I ask in a whisper. “Since her babies are with perfect strangers.”
“Oh, she’s close, all right,” Kai says as he comes to a stand. “And she’s scrutinizing every move we make.”
I tug a lingering burp cloth off my arm. “That’s intimidating.”
Once we’re both on our feet, Kai laces his long fingers through mine and squeezes my hand. “Don’t be afraid,” he says in a whisper. “I have experience with these things.”
Good gracious! I know he means the babies, but my body responds like he means something else.
“Well, good,” I say with a laugh. “Because it’s been years for me.” I try to count back on just how many years it’s been since I babysat for the neighbors. A spark of fear rips through me once I get to ten. It’s been over ten years since I cared for a baby?
We follow the playful cooing sounds up the stairs, down the hall, and into the room with the cribs. Tiny fingers curl around the edge of the nearest crib. A tuft of soft, brown hair peeks from the top. Kai rushes in confidently, dragging me behind until we spot the round little guy just inside. Yep, they left us with the real thing, all right.
“Hey there, little man,” Kai says, releasing my hand to reach into the crib. The baby squeals as Kai hoists him onto his hip. The little one looks at me with a pair of big blue eyes and blinks.
I wave, feeling very inadequate at the moment. “Hi. I’m Nikki.” It’s a stupid thing to say since he can’t be old enough to say much in return. I reach out to rub a finger over the back of his hand. “What’syourname?”
The baby flinches away from my touch and stares at the hand I rubbed. His bottom lip quivers as he looks back at me with the saddest eyes I’ve ever seen.
Sparks of horror flare hot within me as I spot tears welling there.
Oh, no. Please don’t say I just made him cry.I haven’t even done anything.
His pouty mouth bows into a frown. His lip quivers some more. He’s staring at me now, probably wondering if I’m as horrible as he imagines I am.
“I think you’re going to make him cry,” Kai accuses.
“You’rethe one holding him.” I back up, hoping to break the baby’s teary-eyed gaze, but he continues to stare at me no matter how far I move. Finally, I duck behind the door and hide.
I sigh as I hear him coo once again. I dodgedthatdisaster.
With my shoulders crouched, I take a very quiet, very sneaky step away from my hiding spot. I know there’s another twin in here, but since he or she isn’t crying, I don’t feel called to go to the other crib. I clear the door and ready myself to shimmy out of the room when the baby catches sight of me again. I freeze in place.
His eyes pinch shut. His pouting lips pry wide open. And a wrenching siren pierces the air.
Suddenly a second cry sounds from the other crib.
Thisis why I don’t like babies.Thisis why I don’t try to make conversation with them at the store or dare even tell a young mother that her baby is cute. I have a face that makes babies cry. That’s all there is.
“Wow,” Kai says, lifting the little guy off his hip. “You never told me you were the baby whisperer.” He holds the baby before him with straightened arms. “What are you crying about, huh?” Kai’s voice goes playful and goofy, like a cartoon character.
“What’s that you’re making such a fuss about, baby boy?”
The crying stops. And suddenly, a huge grin spreads over the baby’s round face.
