I really need to get it together, because I don’t want to scare her off. She’s one of the few people that knows me for me and likes me.
I want to keep it that way.
ChapterFifteen
STEVIE
“Hi, hi, hi!” Cressy bursts in through the unlocked front door. “Did I miss kickoff?”
I snort a laugh as I hold out Caleb’s spoon for him. A lovely mix of sweet potatoes and peas. “You mean the puck drop? No.”
Caleb giggles, slapping his hands on his high chair tray.
“See?” Cressy sets the bottle of wine down on the counter. “Caleb thinks I’m hilarious.”
“He’s nine months old. I’m pretty sure he’d be entertained if a ghost came into the room.”
“But he couldn’t see a ghost.”
“I can’t with you sometimes.” I nod toward the plastic wineglasses sitting on the island. “Pour us some and I’ll get Caleb washed up.”
Cressy comes and stands next to me. “He really is a cute kid.”
“He is. He’s such a happy baby.” Using his spoon to wipe the rest of the food off his face, I clean him up before pulling him out of his high chair. “Yes, you are.”
I coo and gush over him as I grab the hummus and chips from the fridge, balancing it in one hand with Caleb on my hip. The pregame show has ended, with the lights now flashing across the ice.
“Where are they playing tonight?” Cressy asks. I hand her the plate and she sets it on the coffee table before settling back in the oversized cushions with her white wine in hand.
“Boston, I think? Could be wrong, but Bode’s been gone for a week now and his schedule has all blended together.”
“A week? He can leave this cutie for that long?” She tickles Caleb’s side, earning her a laugh.
“It’s not like he can stay home.”
“So his live-in…roommate,” Cressy questions, “is also his nanny?”
“What? No. I’m helping him out.”
Dunking a cracker into the hummus, she shovels it into her mouth. The starting lineup is announced and Bode’s sexy face flashes across the screen.
“Okay, how are you living with this man and not jumping his bones?” Cressy asks. “If I weren’t in love, I’d hate you.”
“Stop it.” I bounce Caleb on me as he chews on the icy toy to help his incoming teeth. It seems like he’s getting more and more nowadays.
“I’m serious. That man is hot.”
“And you think I need to be dating the man that I’m living with? Please. That is the worst idea ever.”
“No.” Cressy sips her wine. “The worst idea ever would be not making good use of your time here and crawling into bed with him.”
“You can’t say that around Caleb!” I cover his ears. Not that he would understand a word of what we’re saying, but the sentiment still stands.
“Fine. You should have s-e-x with B-o-d-e while you l-i-v-e here.”
“Now you’re just being mean.” I poke her with my toe.
She winks at me. “Only trying to get my point across.”
