“You know what, you can start without me.” I run to the kitchen, grab a package of salted popcorn, and place it in the microwave.
Never in a million years did I ever think I would be babysitting… In fact, it’s in the infamous Never list. And babysitting with Jake! I got to see the other side of him. The side that cooks amazingly and is patient with kids. Not bad, West, I’m impressed. Also, it’s insufferably hot when boys take care ofkids. Besides, it was always me and me being babysat and not the opposite.
When the microwave rings, I take the package out and the mouth-watering smell. I smile at them — and yes, I’m smiling atfood. Food and me, just work, it comforts me and my dark issues, okay? I get to the living room, and it’s like my heart pumps blood to my entire system in one second, spreading warmth across it. The twins are lying on the floor with their stomachs down and holding their heads with their hands. Alana and Lindsey are with their knees to their chest and hands around their legs. And Paige… Paige is sitting between Jake’s legs on the floor.
“Hey, you stole my spot.” I whisper to her. It’s called lying, okay? Stop doubting me, I know you are.
“Oh, sorry, Maddie. I didn’t know…” She whispers back, earnest as you’ve seen her.
“You can have it.” I assure her.
I sit next to him and start to eat. He turns to me and mimics if he can have one popcorn, and I mouth,of course, no, but when I turn to the TV, a hand flies to my bowl and takes atoo-generous amount of popcorn. I make a face that indicates that I could cry. He shrugs softly and puts the popcorn, one by one, in his mouth. Scoundrel.
After a while, I Won’t Say I’m In Love starts to play, and I glance at Jake as he peeks at me. I throw a tight smile his way, and the corners of his mouth lift too, only for him to look at his lap and then the screen.
“Why doesn’t she say she likes him?” Paige asks, breaking me and Jake’s silent moment.
“Because she’s not sure if she loves him or not. I mean, deep down she knows the truth, but she’s indeepdenial.” I shrug it off, and Paige is content with my answer, and also, I’m prettysure she stopped listening to me about halfway through my explanation.
My head starts to feel heavy and simply falls on Jake’s shoulder. I’m too tired to care, and I end up closing my eyes. When I open them again, my head is being shaken by his shoulderaggressively.
“Dammit,West!” I shout, scared. “Couldn’t just wake me up like a normal person?”
“Where would be the fun in that?” He grins, making me groan.
“Alright.” I retort and turn to the kids. “Alana, you can have my room with one bed.” They all stare at me, and not a single thought is behind those eyes. “You can go now.” I shoo them all upstairs, and only two people remain in the living room.
Paige is leaning against Jake’s chest, asleep.
“Do we wake her?” I whisper.
“No.”
He gets up, lifts her and carries her upstairs, and I follow them. We get to Paige’s room, and it is fairy tale worthy. Pink walls with flowers all over them. Many,manytoys and a bed with transparent curtains around it.
Jake slowly puts her in bed, and I watch it happen, against the door frame. When he’s returning, we hear someone ask, “Can you tell me a bedtime story?”
“Sure.”
He goes to a little shelf nearby and takes the Princess and the Frog book. He then pulls a chair, and I take another one.
We do not look like a real couple. I just need to rest, and I also want to hear the story, okay?
Just as he’s about to read, I grab the book from his hands, and I start to read. I think I’m too jittery by the image of us reading a bedtime story to a child, so I have to control it somehow.
My voice, soft and relaxed, makes Paige fall asleep in under five minutes, but she’s not the only one. Jake is sitting and asleep. I hold my grasp on the book strongly andsmack it in his head.
“What-” He suddenly wakes up and shuts up immediately, remembering Paige is asleep. I silently laugh, covering my mouth.
“You’re done.” He yawns while ushering, and I bite my lip while holding back the biggest smile.
I close the book and put it on her bedside table. When I get out of her room, all the lights are out, and it only makes me more sleepy. I move to my bedroom, and when I get there, I throw myself onto the bed.
“Goodnight, Brown.” I hear Jake say, getting out of the room.
“G’night.” I don’t even think twice, you know? And I usually have so much trouble falling asleep that I just take this opportunity to do just that.
But as I’m falling deeper and deeper into sleep, I feel a deeper and deeper pit at the bottom of my heart.
