Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
"Maybe we could just spot clean him,” I suggested over Liam's increasingly dramatic protests. “I don’t think he’s in the mood for a bath.”
"Paul said he usually loves them." Diego had the little boy now and was bouncing him on his knee. Every so often, he’d scoop his hand in the tub, letting the water flow over his fingers to show Liam how fun it was.
Liam wasn’t buying it.
I grabbed one of the rubber ducks from the edge of the tub and squeaked it hopefully. "Look, Liam! A duckie!"
Liam paused mid-scream to stare at the yellow toy, then reached for it with both hands. I put it in the water, and he went right back to crying. “Maybe one of us should get in there with him?”
“Good thing we brought our bathing suits,” Diego muttered, because of course we hadn’t. But that was enough to get me thinking what he’d look like in one—and what he had looked like shirtless after he went for a run.
Which definitely wasn’t where my mind should be right now.
“Maybe we don’t need bathing suits,” I mused, an idea coming to mind. Then I flushed at Diego’s raised eyebrow. He looked like he was envisioning me the way I’d just envisioned him—although likely with less clothing, given my comment.
Blushing, I slipped off my shoes, then rolled up my pants. Putting my feet in the water, I sat down on the edge of the tub.
“Here you go.” Diego handed Liam over, looking hopeful. I bounced the little boy on my knee, like Diego had done, while Diego used a cup to pour water over the little boy’s legs.
It got all over both of our legs, but hey, at least neither one of us was screaming.
Ten minutes later, Liam was happily sitting in the tub, slapping at the water with his little palms. We’d gotten his hair washed and his soft skin clean, though I was nearly as damp as he was.
Then we couldn’t coax him out of the water. Finally, Diego picked him up and I did my best to dry him off as he happily babbled in Diego’s arms.
Getting the diaper on him was the next ordeal, but finally, we reached a point where it didn’t fall off when we picked him up.
Surprisingly, Liam wasn’t averse to getting into his crib, but I was loath to say goodbye to him. As Diego held him, I kissed his chubby little cheeks and squeezed his little foot. “It was nice to meet you, Liam.”
Liam evidently didn’t want to part from me either, because he grabbed a handful of my hair and wouldn’t let go.
Diego talked him down. "Hey buddy, let's not scalp Auntie Mia, okay?"
Auntie Mia. I wasn’t his aunt, and likely wouldn’t see the little boy again, but wow, that term smacked me right in the ovaries. This whole evening had felt so domestic and cozy. Like we were a mom and a dad with an adorable little boy.
With all my heart, I wanted Liam to have the kind of childhood that Diego and I hadn’t. And as Diego lowered the little boy into the crib, I looked at all the toys on the shelves. The paintings of circus animals on the walls. The books. The mobile.
Liam looked well-loved and cared for, as every baby should.
We tiptoed out and I figured out how to work the baby monitor, which fortunately wasn’t hard to do.
Diego leaned over my shoulder as we studied the black and white image of the little guy.
“Is he already asleep?”
“I don’t know, but at least he’s not screaming.” I started to head into the living room, but Diego caught my arm.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I just… I want him to have a happy childhood.”
Diego’s expression softened. “Me too.” He let me go and got a beer out of the fridge and some ice water for me. “You’re good with him,” he said when he joined me on the sofa.
“So are you. Very good godfathering skills.” I clinked my glass against his bottle.
We decided we were too tired to do the homework we’d both brought, so Diego turned on the TV.
“This okay?” he asked. It was some action movie filmed before I was born, but I nodded. “Thanks for coming with me tonight.”
“You’re welcome. It was an experience.”
“And definitely a two-person job.” Diego took a long swig of his beer. “I’m sorry we haven’t had a chance to talk about your issue with Sara.”
“That’s okay. This took my mind off of it for a while, but I think that’s good. Babysitting is a healthier distraction than… some other kinds.” I looked away, not wanting him to see my face as the memory of sitting in Cody’s lap and kissing him at the movie night resurfaced. Followed by the memory of me sitting on Diego’s lap and kissing him at the Halloween party. Crap, was I going to do that with all my roommates? Hopefully not with Raymond.