And it’s a good thing I do, too. Because there’s one little thing I forgot to warn Archer about.
“Shit! What is happening right now? Dude, stop.” Archer’s arm is fully extended with a hand on Lincoln’s belly as he turns away with his eyes squeezed tight, a grimace on his lips. He’s holding his other hand away from his body, looking almost like he’s leaning away from it, too.
A laugh rips from me when I see the arc of liquid reflecting the light and I realize what’s happening. I rush forward to help, but I’m laughing too hard to do much more than flip the diaper back over Lincoln’s front.
“I’m sorry,” I force out in between laughs. “I forgot to say you need to be ready to cover him up quickly.” I wheeze, my shoulders shaking with more laughter. “The cold air—hahaha—the cold air can make him pee!” I squeal the last few words before bursting into hysterical giggles. “Oh, my god. You should see your face!”
“Haha. So funny,” he deadpans with a trace of laughter in his voice. “Are you all done, little man? Let’s get you cleaned up then, okay?”
I continue to chuckle as I go to the dresser to grab a clean onesie and a pair of pants for Lincoln while Archer gets a fresh diaper on him. “Here.” I stand next to Archer with the new clothes in my hand. “I’ll get him dressed so you can go wash up.”
“Oh, yeah. Good idea, thanks.” He bends over Lincoln and tickles his tummy. “You were aiming for me, weren’t you, buddy?” He laughs. “Aim a little higher next time, and you might hit more than my hand.”
He walks to the bedroom door and stops. “Where’s the bathroom?”
“Straight across the hall.”
“Thanks.”
I get Lincoln into his clothes and am picking him up as Archer comes back into the room. “That’s better. I wasn’t expecting to get peed on when I came over today. That was a fun surprise,” he says with a chuckle as he comes to stand close enough that the heat from his chest warms my arm.
“A fun little bonus, hey?” My voice is breathy and my heart is pounding in my ears. I sway closer, pressing my hand against his chest when his palm comes to rest on my lower back. I turn to face him, one hand holding Lincoln and the other resting on his chest.
What is happening? My stomach is a riot of butterflies, and my breath comes faster and faster. I catch myself looking at his lips before darting my eyes back to his. Why’s it so hot in here all of a sudden?
“Thank you,” he says. His eyes search my face, his hand traveling up my arm as he inches closer.
“For what?” My voice comes out as barely a whisper, so muted I’m amazed I can hear it over the sound of my pounding heart.
“For everything.” My pulse spikes as he leans even closer. What’s he doing? The thumping of my heart is so loud there’s no way he doesn’t hear it. I’m pretty sure it’s about to jump out of my chest and take a little stroll.
Is he kissing me? Holy shit, he is.Excitement, and relief, and euphoria rush through my system in equal measure.Close your eyes, Phoebe. Don’t be weird.
I let my eyelids flutter closed and lick my lips, the thought of kissing Archer sending tingles all the way to my toes. I hope his lips are as soft as I remember.
“I’ll take this.” I sense the loss of heat from his body before it registers that he’s stepped away. “Are you okay?”
My eyes fly open and he’s standing in front of me holding Lincoln’s rolled up dirty diaper ready for the trash.
He wasn’t trying to kiss me; he was reaching past me to get the diaper from the changing table.
You’re an idiot, Phoebe.Embarrassment floods my body, heating my face, and pissing me off. I’m glad he didn’t kiss me. I guess I forgot for a moment that I don’t mess around with other women’s men. And I’m glad Lincoln pissed on him, too.
I clear my throat and force a laugh. “Oh, yeah. I’m fine. Just had something in my eye.” I make a show of blinking hard. “I think it’s out now.” I step around him and walk to the door. “Should we move on to the next lesson? Let me show you how to make him a bottle.”
Chapter 22
Meeting The Parents Part One
Archer
“Andthat’sallthereis to it. The instructions are right there on the formula container, if you forget. And promise you won’t try to cheat and heat it in the microwave. The uneven heat distribution could leave hot spots that might burn him.” She shows me how to test the temperature of the milk on the inside of my wrist. “I try not to heat his milk too much, anyway. I find it makes him sleepy and I’m trying this thing where he naps, then eats, then plays, before going down for another nap again. I read it in one of those millions of baby books I told you about.”
Phoebe’s been acting a little weird since we left the bedroom after getting Lincoln up. There was a moment while I was reaching for his diaper that I almost thought she wanted me to kiss her, but apparently she had something in her eye.
Too bad.
Honestly, the temptation to kiss her was almost too much to handle. When she closed her eyes as I was reaching past her, I nearly abandoned the diaper, turned my head, and pressed my lips to hers. Good thing I thought better of it at the last second and grabbed the trash before stepping back. I doubt she’d be happy to continue teaching me this baby stuff if she thought I was using it as an excuse to try to get into her pants again.
