I fucking know why Austin invited me over.

Annabelle and I stare at each other and it's hard to determine who is more confused. We're both still struggling to form any sensible sentence.

I am the first one to recover from this and I hand Devon out to her "Could you...?"

Like a robot, she automatically reaches out and places the baby on her lap as I thank her "Thanks."

I never said the recovery was awesome, by the way.

I leave the living room backwards, so I end up in the hallway again, in the middle of which Austin is still standing and glaring at me blankly.

I stomp towards him and when I speak, I sound like a Gestapo, completely merciless "Are you trying to set me up with your girlfriend's sister?!"

Austin shrinks in his shoulders and sighs "I saw how well you and Annabelle pulled it off when we went out."

Oh yeah, Annabelle and I also braided each other's hair that evening!

"Which part of 'I don't do dates' is hard to understand, Austin? I did you a favour when I went out with you and the girls." I try to keep it quiet. I don't want Annabelle and Caitlin to hear this conversation. I don't know which one of them would have a worse reaction.

"It was Caitlin's idea!" Austin erupts. Not does he only ruins my plan to keep this low key, his defence also lures his girlfriend from the kitchen.

Caitlin's cold eyes spot me and when they hook with mine, she draws her lips in a suggestive smile "I didn't hear you arrive! How are you?"

She throws her arms around me and I wonder if the Caitlin I met at the restaurant was a different one. "I-uh" I give her a quick and brief hug and shoot a glare at Austin "Been better."

I can see the lack of empathy and sympathy on Caitlin's face, which only proves she really is a psychopath "Awh, but now you're here and you'll cheer up."

Did you have to practice that whole evening?

"You, guys, get comfortable and I'll be back shortly," With that, she goes back to the kitchen and I'm alone with Austin once again.

He's peering at me with guilty dog's puppy eyes "I'm sorry, man, but Caitlin's been worried about Annabelle. She wouldn't tell me, but-"

"Yeah, she's lonely, it's not that hard to notice. Inviting me and giving her false hope won't help! I want your girlfriend to realise that and I want her to break the news to Annabelle! I won't be the bad guy again or accused of playing with people's feelings!"

With a fabulous move I turn on my heel and like a boss, I go to the living room where I face Annabelle.

I walk through the door and slam my head against the frame.

This fucking arch gets me every fucking time!

Could it be worse? Yes! How? Someone could see it. Has someone seen it? Annabelle!

This isn't a case where I am embarrassed because I did something stupid in front of a girl I like it. This is a case where I did a stupid thing and now I have a fucking witness to that!

Annabelle knits her eyebrows worryingly and asks softly "Off, you okay? it must've hurt."

"What? no, I'm used to it." With that response, I want to talk under that frame thirty times more and slam my head just as many times. 

Maybe then I'd realise I need to shut up. Now, she probably thinks I have a chronic disease that gives me an irresistible urge to hit every arch with my forehead. With a woman of her calibre, I can imagine her saying something like that to me. 

I see her smile. That exact innocent grin evolves into gentle chuckling and here I am, expecting this woman to take it out on me just like Carly did earlier "Tall people problems, hm?"

The moment she doesn't spit venom at me and sympathises with my pain, I make a lion jump to the couch next to her. I don't mind conversing with her now!

I nod in her way and shrug "I thought I grew out of it. You should've seen me when I first grew as a teen."

Annabelle giggles and presses one of her hands to her mouth "Was it that bad someone could mix those hits in Bangarang song?"

Okay, that even makes me laugh. I snort so strongly, I think I swallow something along the way "Almost."

"Why almost?" She asks and looks at me from the side, sensing there's a storm coming.

I shrug nonchalantly and proceed with being satisfied with myself "They'd actually need the tapes to do that."

Annabelle snorts and shakes her head in disbelief. Finally, someone laughed at my immature and narcissistic joke!

When she looks at me next, she looks almost disappointed "I think you're incredibly boring. You could've become the next Youtube celebrity!"

She laughs at her own remark and despite it is pretty funny, I reply to it rather seriously "My failure would get famous, not me."

Annabelle's smile is still present, but it's not reflecting anything, it's just there "You don't like to fail, do you, Nathan? Even if you're allowed to make a mistake."

"I'm a winner. I don't lose and I don't make mistakes." I say back and Annabelle and I look into each other's eyes for a few brief moments. 

Caitlin and Austin join us. 

The former stops and glares at Annabelle, until she finally recovers and speaks up "A kid? That was fast."

Annabelle smiles and rolls her eyes in response. She's nice to her sister, Queen of Cold, and doesn't push it to the point of argument. Hm, can't relate. 

Meanwhile, Austin makes an unhealthy remark that makes me count if I wore a condom every time or if a girl was on proper contraception pills "Some girls would confirm nathan could get them pregnant with his eyes."

Caitling laughs at his joke from her heart. Soon, he starts chuckling proudly too, but all I can see right now are thirty punks appearing at my doorsteps and claiming I'm their biological father. I honestly hope my friend over here won't make another joke like that this evening. Or ever. 

The love doves laugh for too long for my liking. Yes, it was a joke, but it wasn't a really good one, so the situation quickly gets awkward for me and Annabelle. 

She breaks the silence by turning to me and smiling softly "Well, since we were talking about you winning and never losing," My heart clenched when I expect her to make a move on me - again "You sadly lost this time. I'm keeping him." 

Who? Me?

The retard I am, it's later that my reasoning comprehends Annabelle is talking about Devon. I want to tell her she can gladly keep him, but with me being so serious about it, I doubt I'd get a response I wanted to go for. 

Before I respond her, Annabelle cuddles Devon closer to her and tell him he's a big handsome boy. To my surprise and luck, Devon's reaction consists of cheeky smiles. With that, my suspicion he didn't like Carly is confirmed. 

"He is really cute." Caitlin surprises me, but... God, that cold attitude!

Austin looks at Devon and at her like he's to see if Devon is a guy with whom he'll have to compete for Caitlin's attention.

When his girlfriend doesn't tear her eyes off the kid, he stands up and speaks so loudly, Devon flinches in Annabelle's hands "What would you all like to drink, guys? Coke, wine, beer?"

It's obvious Austin is in a huge rush, especially for Caitlin. She sure made him happier and more relaxed, but perhaps without even being aware of it, she turned him in a dependable puppy. 

To help him out and not leave him hanging, I ask him to me a beer. From the sideways I see Annabelle giving me a glare. 

I irritatedly turn and ask "Is there a problem?"

She looks at me, not surprised by my question at all. After a moment she shrugs, cover's Devon's hands and plays with his fingers "Beer contains alcohol and you're still to drive tonight."

"One beer in two hours won't make me run into a store with my car," I reply nicer this time. She does make a point, though, so I better stay on just one bottle of beer. We want no angry gingers over here!

"If you say so." Annabelle remarks silently like she doesn't believe. Who am I kidding, of course, she doesn't believe me!

With that, we're all silent. Austin is in the kitchen doing god knows what and Caitlin is just sitting there, looking at me like a robot. Annabelle is the only one who has something to do, that being playing with Devon. 

"I'll go help Austin and see what's taking him so long," Caitlin says at last and leaves me alone in the room with Annabelle. 

When she's out of the picture, Annabelle's smile falls and looks down at the baby in her arms. She continues to play with him by pinching the tips of his tiny fingers or letting him pull on hers, which look gigantic compared to his. 

Since Austin is not seriously occupied and will probably come back with a bottle for me in a few moments, I seize this opportunity to explain Annabelle how this evening was all planned by the evil couple "I-uh wanted to talk to you about something."

 A smile slowly grows on her face and when she looks at me, her eyes are all-knowing "I know. You don't need to explain yourself."

"I think I do," I scoot closer with an intent to give us some more privacy in case one of those clowns come back from the picture. But as I do that, I can only smell Annabelle's perfume, which dazzles me for a second or two. "I did suspect something was unusual when Austin asked me to spend the Memorial Day evening with him and Caitlin, but you know, I went with it, why not! But  I had no idea they'd try to... You know, play cupids again." 

Annabelle listens to me, but rarely meets my eyes or glances my way. When I'm done talking, she gives me her significant smile - a soft one "Maybe, in that case, I should be the one apologising to you. I didn't know Cait would all of a sudden try to find me a boyfriend with a plot like that. I thought she just wanted to go out with Austin like I knew she'd notice what kind of mood I was in. I didn't think it was necessary to tell her what happened when our ways parted, I think that's completely between us, you and me. And I certainly didn't expect her to take my review of the night 'It was great, I had a fun time.' as a confession of love. So, don't feel bad or guilty about tonight."

That certainly was something. 

I beam at her, still contemplating her explanation. After hearing she hasn't told psycho-girl a thing, I am strangely happy about the news. At least I know she doesn't tell everyone everything, which counts for something too. 

"I think it was partly my fault too." I don't tell her that because it makes me look sweet and sincere, but because I could've saved us all the trouble of today's evening. "I could've told Austin I wasn't interested in anything, but I just kept my mouth shut. Even when conversation brought up your name-"

"You talked about me?" She lifts both brows and gives me a suggestive smile that speaks to... It's just a mating call, okay? 

I can almost feel myself blush. I haven't blushed since Dad's wedding when I saw Deidre put on the light pink garter. 

I look down and swallow hard, which gives me enough pause for me to form a sentence and to speak without any unpleasant interruptions "You are his girlfriend's sister and he mostly speaks just about Caitlin."

Annabelle leaves the sexy smile on, which makes it hard for me to concentrate. Women aren't even aware of what this does to a man, or you are, but just play dumb. 

"What I wanted to say was-" I try to get to the point again "We both screwed up. We kept our mouth shut and this is the result."

She ticks her head to both sides as she weighs my words, trying to see if the meaning of those fits her perspective as well "Agree. We can still have fun, though."

"Yeah, we can just chi-" 

My eyes widen in horror, my jaw drops as I want to scream a big fat 'NO' when Devon rises from the dead and sticks both of his hands in Annabelle's shirt, demanding her tits to be at his disposal. 

"NO!" I yell, but on the inside, I want to pat his head and tell him to keep going. 

I grab him for his hips and try to pull him away. Annabelle tries to get his hands off her shirt, but our action to save her breasts from the evil baby only results in her shirt to come to the point of ripping apart and I am worthy of the marvellous view. 

Annabelle laughs and takes him from my hands with a swift move "Oh, leave him!" 

The kid's pressed against her chest one more time and still digging into it to the point he exposes her entire chest that is luckily or sadly - depends how you look at it, wrapped in a bra. 

I've seen so many breasts of all sizes and shapes, exposed and hidden behind the fabric, but not once did I feel awkward looking at them. Now, that Annabelle has been so rudely exposed, I want to cover her with something and look away. I do the latter, still feeling like everything that's in her direction isn't for my eyes. 

"He's just hungry. Tell you brought something for him." Why are you so okay with this?!

Speechless, I reach for the baby bag I carry along wherever I go with Devon and look for baby formula I've prepared in advance. Thank the Lord, I have. Imagine me disturbing Austin and Caitlin in the kitchen to get the fucking milk ready! 

I want to pass her the bottle, but she quickly reaches into the bag before I do, gets the formula and gives it to Devon. Annabelle shifts, so the kid is lying in her arms. She's still struggling with him and his hands until she places the bottle in his mouth. Then everything gets calm and quiet. 

The baby is happy, sucking on the bottle of milk, but the happiest person seems to be Annabelle. The kid has melted her heart. She can't stop looking at him or caressing his softness. Whenever she smiles, her smile is soft and warm, but now, that she's looking down at Devon, she's glowing with heartful love. 

She looks up at me and smiles wider, sporting her spotless teeth when she notices I still haven't recovered from her exposure "It's nothing you haven't seen before."

And now the image is in my head. Thank you. 

I chuckle nervously, inhaling sharply and not once do I meet her eyes "Uh, yeah," 

I know I have to say something to her, for both of our sakes. I am thankful for whatever the fuck is happening in the kitchen that is taking Austin and Caitlin so long. 

"Still, I gotta teach him to stop doing that." I smile and finally bring myself to look at her. I realise how awful that must've sounded, so I quickly try to fix the situation "He's done that once before, though, so you know, before anything like that happens again."

Annabelle fixes the bottle and places his hands on each side of it in order for him to help himself "That's nothing strange. He's a baby, not a grown man." 

And there's the glare, directed right at me, gathering all my sins in one place and judging me for all of them. 

She shifts in her seat and looks back at the baby "Believe it or not breasts are meant for feeding."

I'm hungry. 

Annabelle looks at me next, like she's solving a mysterious puzzle that needs to be cracked and asks me "You said he is around 7 months old?"

For a moment I furrow my brows because I don't know where this is going, but nonetheless, I answer her "Yeah, something like that." 

Her eyes peer down at Devon who has swallowed almost every drop of milk and she takes the bottle away from him. I know for sure Annabelle has no children, but the way she treats Devon really surprises me, she clearly knows what she's doing. 

"He's definitely been breastfed before if he recognises breasts as his food supply." She says and cradles him deeper in her arms until he nearly disappears among them. "Do you know what happened to his biological parents?"

I shrug "I have no idea. When the social worker gave me Devon, I questioned myself, not the real parents." 

Annabelle laughs from her heart, but she tries to do so quietly. The boy is falling asleep in her arms, but she doesn't let go of him to put him in the baby basket. She wants to hold him and I let her. I doubt she'll eat him or tear one of his limbs off. 

Austin finally appears with my bottle of beer and hands it to me. My eyes scan his outfit for any signs of his shirt being buttoned up real quick or for messy sex hair syndrome. I can't find any, so my assumption that they were having sex in the kitchen is overruled. What were they doing there, then?

"Thanks," I whisper to him and point to Devon in Annabelle's arms. 

Austin nods in understanding and when Caitlin shows up too shows her the baby has fallen asleep. 

We don't keep our voices too quiet, though. We do chat so it's not too loud and in a manner in which we can all understand what the other one is saying. 

Caitlin, of course - who else, tells Annabelle and me on what kind of dates Austin took her. Those included driving in a carriage and other cheesy nonsensical stuff that make you want to puke and choke yourself. 

As they proceed with their storytelling and crazily romantic ideas, I spot a shade of blush on Annabelle's cheeks. She probably likes the described scenarios and I have mixed feelings about it. That lovey-dovey bullcrap is ugh and really anyone can pull it off. A bouquet of flowers, chocolate pralines in the shape of hearts and a balloon that says 'I love you' is all you need for that type of cliche duke-in-love kind of love story. It takes a real man, a real irresistible stud to show a woman what romance means. But, alas, not all women experience that, since my supplies of sensuality are limited. 

The conversation never dies down. There is always a topic we find and decide to discuss, it variates from school programmes to the era of superheroes movies and our jobs. I stay quiet on the latter subject for two reasons - I'm in a higher position than Austin and I have no idea what project I'm supposed to be working on. 

From what I've gathered, Caitlin is a damn proud restaurant manager. It's more of a calm and nice diner, but she calls it a restaurant. The next few twenty minutes or os, I listen to her boasting how she won this position and how envious everybody else was. I bet that as a restaurant manager she had some face-to-face with weird people with all sorts of attitued. Who knows, maybe that's why she appears to be a cold-blooded killer. 

After she and her job have been in the spotlight for so long, I zone out by checking out how Devon is doing. He's sleeping, safe and sound, and by being so at peace, he gives off a feeling he's the happiest baby that has ever existed. Observing him like this and consciously blocking Caitlin's boasting, I remember Annabelle saying he's been breastfed before. That kind of info shockeed me, to say the least. Something must've have been up with Devon's parents, maybe he was taken from the by force. That is possible, right?

I'm surprised by my reaction to that. I feel deeply worried about Devon. He may be just a baby, but to experience something as dreadful as to being taken from your parents for all the bad reasons... That leaves some kind of scar on you, whether you're aware of it or not. Maybe that is one of the reasons he got so comfortable at my apartment and, of course, with me. Maybe when I held him and when I placed him in his crib or when I fed him and took him out to the mall with me was the first time since he was born that he didn't have to be a witness and a victim to violence, screaming or hunger. 

The moment I got him, he became the centre of my world. He is a baby, it's how it's supposed to be and to think or imagine a helpless child like him has been neglected and ripped of peaceful infancy, it's heartbreaking to the point where I am glad sometimes I come up with stupid-ass decisions.

But now that I see how careful, gentle and graceful Annabelle is with him, how she shows obvious feeling for the kid, I can see it clearly he'd be better off with her. 

To express my feelings more vividly, it makes me feel both self-conscious and, well... A little jealous. I envy her how naturally good she is at making a small child feel safe, but again I admire her. I remember the time at the store when the punk couldn't control himself and just attacked the cashier with his grabby hands. Oh, I remember that. The cashier's face is burnt in my brains. Which brings me back to Annabelle. She was nowhere close to freaking out. If I understand it right, she was even overjoyed Devon reached for her. I don't remember him being so interested in Carly or... my mother.

"-Nathan?"

I snap from the stream of my thoughts at the mention of my name "Hm?"

Caitlin, Austin and Annabelle all glare at me expectingly. I explain I got lost in my thoughts for a moment and Caitlin presses her lips together like I should be whipped for this.

"She asked how was it when your bosses invited you and Austin for a lunch," Annabelle sums it up kindly, very unlike her sister.

We've been invited to do so two days ago and I nearly completely forgot about it already - including Carly.

But hey, no blue balls for me!

I chuckle with a start then shift on the couch so I'm more comfortable "It was very uncalled for. I don't remember them inviting anyone else to lunch with them before."

Caitlin turns to look at Austin. She places her hand on his jaw and caresses him "He's been working so hard..."

The display of Caitlin's feelings is just as disturbing as when she doesn't show any at all. I don't know which one freaks me out more.

"It finally paid off, huh?" She asks him and never let him go of her sight, which is by the way very loving.

While they're busy being so in love with each other and happy with both of their jobs, I hear Annabelle mutter something under her breath, something that only I can hear "At least for him."

God, I want to dig deeper into that, but I rather leave it as it is. If she said so quietly, it's because she doesn't want to draw too much attention to it. It'd also look really weird if I asked her what was that all about, while she didn't want me to hear anything in the first place.

The awkwardness that stretches between us and reaches everyone is thankfully interrupted. Here comes the part I'm not so thankful for.

"Oh, honey!" Annabelle is catapulted from the couch to tend to Devon's needs. He shows that pretty loudly and obviously.

I stand up as well, but not as eagerly as her. I'm not so needed if Annabelle is taking care him, now am I?

She weighs him in her arms and places her hand on the diaper before she looks at me "I think he needs a new diaper."

NOPE.

"Here," I say, passing her the bag with all the needed things. If she wanted to hold him whole evening and even fed him, she might as well get gased by him.

Both sisters glare at me in surprise. The only sound that can be heard is Austin's facepalm.

Is it so hard to believe I hate having shit on my hands? "I mean, I can take care of the situation, y'know. Jist wanted to show you I came prepared."

Austin facepalms again and I consider breaking that wrist.

Annabelle smiles and pats Devon's diaper again "Don't bother. Let me handle this."

Off with you, then!

I shove the diaper in her hands so hard, she nearly trips, but when she recovers she soon disappears behind the bathroom door with Devon. He doesn't even look at me!

For his own good, Austin stays quiet, but when my and Caitlin's eyes meet, she looks... kinda embarrassed.

I don't need to ask her for her to tell me what's up "I'm sorry that she's like that. She gets really excited when it comes to children of all ages and sizes."

And what's wrong with that? "You make it sound like it's a bad thing."

She inhales sharply and looks around, almost at anything but at me "Don't get me wrong, I like children. I'd also like to have some of my own someday,"

Heaven forbid!

"But unlike Annabelle, I don't turn into a fangirl." Caitlin's eyes finally hook with mine, "Especially not in front of a guy I just met and see as a... potential mate."

Did... Did she really just that? Potential mate? Potential mate. Where's that facepalm now, Austin?

How the fuck do I, potential mate, respond to that? That I don't mind how her sister, the fertile female, likes children?

Despite not being aware of how stupid that sounded, she goes on "She was close to getting pregnant, but then she broke up with-"

I interrupt her "Let me guess, a potential mate?"

Caitlin's eyes dig into my soul judgementally and she responds most coldly "No, he wasn't potential, he was the mate. As I was saying, they broke up, but Annabelle has already had her mind set on the family life and she is stuck on that. Don't think she's a creep."

I'm not even remotely close to seeing Annabelle as a creep. You, Caitlin, are in the lead on this one.

"I never thought of her as a creep."

"I'm glad." Could you be faker?!

"She knows how to be with children, though," I say only to switch to a more pleasant subject from Caitlin being so damn glad.

She smiles - not creepily for which I'll give her a medal - and nods "It's admirable. She's always been great with kids, even before she has done research on everything."

Austin enters the conversation to after he is done boiling up from me being a potential mate "She has a good mother instinct, then."

His girlfriend shrugs, which I see as a situation where she doesn't really know whether to agree or disagree "Could be, or that's just the amount of practice she has had."

I furrow my brows at the statement "I thought she's a ballet teacher?"

"Yeah, she is," Caitlin confirms, but the knotting of her fingers doesn't go unnoticed by me "But during high school, we both looked for jobs. I wanted to find something similar to what I'm doing now or at least something that would help me get to this position, while Annabelle decided to babysit the whole neighbourhood."

I feel like I'm in a cartoon and a lightbulb appears above my head "She was a babysitter?"

Caitlin nods and laughs "And a champion at that! She babysitted up to six children at once and she handled all of them like a pro."

"Really?" I murmur like a Disney villain, while I form a plan in my head.

She's about to say more when Annabelle comes from the bathroom holding Devon in one hand and the dirty diaper in the other one "What are you talking about?"

While she gets rid of Devon's shitting bag, Caitlin tells her she told us more about her "We talked about you and how you babysitter the whole block during highschool."

"Oh," That is all she says, but along with it, she blushes. It's after she's done colouring her cheeks when she says more "I think working with children is delightful."

"You do?" I ask her and her attention focuses on me.

With a smile on her face, she nods "Yeah. I mean, just look at them! Little chubbyballs of love!"

Not exactly how I'd describe this punk, but sure.

When she speaks of children in general, her eyes light up before she looks at Devon and makes him giggle with one swift move. Jesus fuck, the kid loves her. He fucking adores her.

"It looks like he feels the same way about you," Caitlin says with a smile and observes them further.

I smile at the scenery as well, but having finished my beer a while back, I get up and announce Devon and I will be leaving. He needs to sleep and I need to figure out the babysitter thing. I'd ask Annabelle, but she'll probably be at work.

My God, that heartbroken look she gives me when I'm about to take Devon from her "Already?"

"Yeah, I gotta wake up early tomorrow," That should suffice as an answer and I don't think I am bound to reveal everything to this group.

Caitlin rolls her eyes - surprisingly not because of me - and scolds Annabelle in a chuckling manner "Sis, you're the only one who doesn't have to get up early, here. Let the poor kid go."

Annabelle pouts and gets up to escort the baby boy to the door. When Austin and Caitlin both say their goodbies, I can barely register it due to the info I learnt about Annabelle's schedule. Her shift probably just starts two hours later, than ours.

Though, when I'm putting on my shoes and she's busy saying good bye to Devon, I can't help but ask her what did her sister mean "What was Caitlin talking about with you starting later?"

She shoots her eyes up at me, probably surprised by my question. She smiles and goes back to fixing Devon's shirt "I have an afternoon shift as a dance teacher. Why, don't you look handsome in this outfit, my tiny gentleman!"

Afternoon shift?! "So, you're free most of the day? Especially in the morning?"

Annabelle thinks for a moment and calculates the hours "I have different schedules for every day, but I usually never start before 5.30PM."

"Babysit Devon."

Can someone give me a gun so I can shoot myself?

I am supposed to be Nathan Charming, Irresistible, Hot, Smooth, Fuck Price. Not Nathan Retard Price. God, why can't I control some things I say?!

Annabelle is confused with all the damn right, but what's more interesting is how she shows concern for me after I cringe at myself. Yeah, I even cringe at myself. Is there a way I could make things for me even worse?

"Are you feeling alright?" She asks and I'm not sure to what she's reffering to - cringing or the request.

Abort mission! Abort mission!

"Yeah, nevermind! It's been a long day and this fella needs to sleep." I rip Devon from her and if I didn't have any dignity left, I'd have sprinted my way down that hallway. I find time to properly say goodbye "See you around? Yeah? Great!" And no, she doesn't have time to answer.

With a huge torture by walking slowly, I make my way to the elevator.

I'm about to enter when quick footsteps behind me close in on me and Annabelle's voice calls my name "Nathan!"

I looo back over my shoulder and I hold the evelator doors open.

She rushes to my side and stops, trying to catch her breath as she speaks "Did... Did... Did you say something about babysitting?"

Oh God, she heard me.

"Y-yeah, something like that, but I didn't really think it through. You have your life too, so-"

"I can do it," Annabelle interrupts and shocks me. Don't get me wrong, she doesn't fall on her knees and begs me, though that's quite an interesting scenario...

Anyway!

I knit my eyebrows, still not believing I heard her right "You'd... babysit him?"

Annabelle shrugs nonchalantly and offers me one of her sweet smiles "Yeah. The boy's really sweet and if I have time, why not?"

I glare at her in disbelief and among all the things I could say, I go straight to bussines. I better seal this deal quick! "Can you do it tomorrow?"

I am awarded another smile of hers "Sure, when should I drop by?"

"How does 8.30 sound?" I suggest and plan everything in advance so I'll have enough time to show her around and still go to work peacefully.

Annabelle nods, clearly agreeing with the suggested time "Okay. Will you text me your address?"

Devon starts drooling in my arms, so to preserve my shirt, I quickly nod "Once I get home, you'll get it."

I'm not sure she hears me. Maybe she does, but she doesn't decide to react. Her eyes are fixed on Devon, still looking at him in awe, before she wipes the drool off his lips.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then?" She says and after I nod and we bid each other farewell, Devon and I enter the elevator to leave this place already.

It's a long drive down, so I use the time to look at the kid and start talking to him like I'm some kind of loon "You better be happy with this one or I will lose my shit and you don't want me to do that, got it?"

"Eghh," Devon makes one of his sounds and peers up at me before he snuggles to me under my neck and doesn't move again.

I smile as warmly as I feel and whisper "Sleep tight, kiddo."

A/N: Okay, we're here to celebrate my story getting ranked! I laughed out loud when Nathan ranked on a quite a high position of a tag Father 😂Do you find that hilarious too?

I also just surpassed 3.5k reads on Wattpad and that made me feel so proud! But all the thanks goes to you, my fellow readers. You were ready to give my writing 'skills' and Nathan a chance! And I thank you for that!

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~Blackie