Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 76984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“Yeah, babies and I aren’t compatible. And to answer your question, I need help. My sister is in Toronto on business, and…well, I have nowhere else to turn. Maybe Tessa could come over for a couple days?”
“I have someone in mind. It’s Tessa’s best friend, Maggie. She’s a natural with kids. But there is one caveat: you have to promise not to touch a hair on her head. I mean it, Lucas, or our friendship is over for good. Maggie is a sweet and beautiful girl, rather impulsive, though, and someone looking for love. God knows she’d only find heartache with you.”
I couldn’t debate him on anything he’d said to me. I wasn’t good for anyone, including the kid hanging out in front of me.
“You have my word.” I meant it too.
“Okay, let me call Tessa. I’ll get back to you ASAP.”
“If it’s any help, I’m willing to pay her a thousand dollars a day until I can get things sorted out.”
“Well, Maggie could sure use the money. She hasn’t found her dream job here yet.”
The second I got off the phone with Barclay, the kid started fussing, her arms swinging about in the air. Thinking she might be hungry, I dug around in the bag for the bottle the woman had fixed for her. She’d said it would be fresh for thirty minutes.
Had it been that long since we’d left the bar?
I wasn’t sure and didn’t want the kid getting sick. When I’d had the nuclear diaper experience, Barclay’s sister told me it could’ve been vomit all over me instead. She mentioned how easily babies barfed, so I decided to play it safe and fixed a new bottle.
The kid screamed as I moved away from her toward the sink, then quieted as I came back into her sight. Coco was God only knew where, and she had no idea who I was, so I understood her feeling scared. To keep her from freaking out, I turned her so she could follow me to the sink. This baby thing was fucking exhausting.
I used the small sink in the island and dug in the bag to find a can of what I hoped was milk. It didn’t feel like there was liquid in it. I popped off the top and saw a white powdery substance. I read the directions on the label. Mix two unpacked scoops with every four ounces of water.
I examined the sides of the bottle to see how many ounces the lady had made earlier. The milk line went to eight. The kid started to shriek as I moved the bottle out of her vision to clean out the old milk.
“It’s going to be all right,” I said to her, and myself, in the most calming voice I could muster, hoping it was true.
Once the bottle was cleaned out with the hottest water I could stand to touch, I filled it with the right amount of water and scoops, then replaced the top part and shook it. Milk started spewing out of a hole in the rubbery part. I covered it with my finger and mixed it again.
I debated taking the kid out of her seat but wasn’t sure if that was the best idea. What if she wiggled in my arms and I dropped her? Taking no chances, she would stay in the seat for as long as possible.
I moved into the dining room with the baby seat in one hand, a bottle in the other. I set the carrier down on the expansive wooden table and brought the bottle to her lips. She opened her mouth wide, hands waving in excitement. She latched onto it and sucked away. Her lips and cheeks worked fast together. Slurps and swallows followed too. She knotted her fists tight like she was ready to throw a punch if I took the bottle away.
The kid must’ve been starving. I exhaled a long sigh, easing away some of the tension from the last couple hours.
I held the bottle as she drank it with gusto. When she finished the last drop, I pulled it away from her mouth and was greeted with that same toothless grin as before. I smiled back. It was impossible not too.
“Think you’re so cute, don’t you?” She grinned even bigger. “You’re going to give your father…”
I didn’t finish my sentence as everything about tonight hit me in the gut. Here was a guiltless child, being left with a man guilty of so many sins. For the kid’s sake, I hoped I wasn’t her dad.
13
Maggie
After the most perfect meet-cute with Herb ended up being a dud, I jumped back into the dating pool, suspending my stupid boycott. I’d fired up my Bumble and Tinder apps, updating my profiles to reflect a wiser me.
I’d be lying if I said I was fine with Herb not asking for my phone number. I’d moped around my apartment for two days eating Ben & Jerry’s while watching John Hughes’ movies. I couldn’t shake that spark of attraction I’d felt with him. It had given me hope that a decent guy might be out there for me, but I needed to take the first step for him to find me.