Page 70 of Unexpectedly In Love

Angelica stops and looks back, sitting on her little pamper she begins to clap to the music playing.

Kai sees Angelica clapping, and crawls toward her. The two of them are on their diapers bobbing to the music.

“Looks like we have some of our little ones making friends at the races,” the announcer shouts.

Of course, he gets his charm from his daddy. Kai stops and begins to clap along with Angelica.

Her mother is screaming her name, and Angelica is just happy to be alive.

“Keep your eyes on number 4, Micah, and number 3, Hudson,” the announcer shouts.

My heart is pounding. I begin clapping trying to get Kai’s attention, but he is living his best life. Even Eryx is waving at Kai, pointing to me.

“Look, number 1 is huddling with numbers 2, 3, and 4.” The announcer was right, my baby is clapping with other babies forming a circle. In all the times he wants to act like a boss son, this is not it.

“Come to Mommy, Angelica!” The veins on her neck look like they are about to pop. If she continues screaming like this she will pass out.

Angelica looks around and begins to crawl to her mother.

“Oh, here we go, Angelica is crawling.”

Why is this baby so fast? Angelica’s red whisps of hair and that big light blue bow should slow her down.

Just as she makes it to the edge of the finish line, Angelica stops and throws herself back and begins to play with her toes.

“It’s pure chaos, but it’s adorable chaos,” the announcer says.

I look around at all the parents shouting and sweating and I realize …I want to win.

I clap my hands twice. “Kai, Andreas Demopoulos, come here,” I feel so sorry that my voice sounds so stern, but Kai stops and begins to crawl to me. I don’t clap, I just wait.

“Oh, the crowd is at fever pitch, but look out now, Kai is coming, passing Angelica.”

The moment his little hand touched the checkerboard near my feet. I scooped him up and laid kisses all over his cheek.

“We won!” I scream, Kai screams right along with me.

“We have our winner, and it is Kai from Charleswood,” the announcer shouts.

* * *

ERYX

Pride, that’s what is running through my veins. The moment my son got lifted up into the air by his mom, I jumped with one fist in the air.

That’s my boy. My son is a born winner. It’s his genetics, he can’t help but win. I stop at a red light, tapping my fingers to the music playing softly in the car. Maybe he can become an athlete. Or an Olympic athlete. We gave the prizes to Hudson and Angelica’s moms. We just kept the gold-plated medal that says number one. It’s currently around my neck. My son’s first trophy. Although I may not have had the chance to spend time with my dad, I am determined not to have history repeat itself. I am committed to being there for my son.

First fucking place!

Driving back home both Kai and his mom are knocked out. Khaos is sitting in the front seat with me. Vigilant, present, the other two are in the car behind. Stopping by a red light, I see a mother pushing her baby stroller as she crosses inside of the car.

I have so many questions for Annie. Was the pregnancy difficult? Were you nervous? Did you have morning sickness? What were her cravings? Were you afraid? Was Kai born healthy?

As the light turns green, I realize that I may live with my wife, but I still have so much to learn about her. I may not know her that well but I do know something spooked her today. She tried to act like everything was all right. But even after the baby race, instead of staying for the whole small party she was ready to get home.

The gates of our home open and I maneuver my car up the driveway.

“?χεις ?δη τελει?σει αυτ? το πρ?γμα? (You got that thing done already)?” I whisper.

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