Page 55 of Ms Perfectly Fine
“Not yet. He can say a few words,” Elijah told her. “Stay still a second, otherwise he’ll pull your hair.”
Autumn paused as he went to his desk and pulled out a hairband.
“Why do you have that in your desk?” she asked, wondering what else he was hiding in there that might surprise her.
“Because you have them littered all over the house and I pick them up before Brinkley can eat them,” he explained, standing behind her. She made a mental note not to leave them around anymore. She never knew where they went or ended up; they just seemed to vanish and then multiply.
He combed his fingers through her hair and against the sensitive skin at her neck. The pleasant sensation made her shiver.
“Makes sense. I thought you might have been sneaking women in while I sleep,” she joked, and he tugged gently on her hair. “Careful, I’m attached to that!”
His sigh made her smile. She enjoyed teasing him.
“Is that too tight?” he asked once he’d secured the band. The weight of his touch relaxed her as he rested his hands on her shoulders. She hadn’t realised she was so tense.
“It’s fine, thank you.” Her words came out far softer than she’d intended. Not wanting him to see the effect he had on her, she lowered Todd to the floor before her back could give out. “Can you say ‘Autumn?’” she asked him.
Todd frowned as he tried. “Ah…Aw…”
“It takes him a few tries. Todd, who’s this?” Elijah pointed to Brinkley, who was hiding under Elijah’s desk.
“Puppa,” Todd squealed, reaching for Brinkley, who quickly scampered out of the room before she could be made the plaything.
“Who’s this?” Elijah said, pointing at Autumn.
“Aw—Auttyyy,” he warbled, scrunching his face adorably.
“Very cute! Good luck. I have to get back to work,” Autumn said, trying to hide how choked up she was. Todd made a dash after Brinkley as she left only for Elijah to catch him and follow Autumn into the kitchen.
“Not so fast. We’re in this together now,” he called.
“Not a chance. Your godson, your responsibility,” Autumn told him, picking up her book.
Holding Todd in one arm, Elijah picked up a toddler seat with the other and placed it on one of the stools, strapping it in place before putting Todd in it. Autumn pretended to read, but from the corner of her eye, she watched Elijah chop up the overly generous portion of spaghetti bolognaise she’d prepared for dinner.
“Are you sure you aren’t giving him too much?” she asked, looking at the heaped plastic kid’s bowl.
“I thought you said my godson, my responsibility,” he retorted. “Unless you want to help, go back to your reading.” He warmed it up and checked it wasn’t too hot.
There is no way Todd is going to eat that much. I get the feeling this is the first time Elijah’s looked after him on his own before.Autumn was about to ask him if he was sure Todd was old enough to eat solids when Todd tossed the bowl of spaghetti. Brinkley ate it up happily from the floor.
Must resist the urge to say ‘told you so.’Elijah sighed, and she hid her amusement behind her book.
“Good job,” Elijah said, and Autumn’s head snapped up.
“I told you it was too much, and don’t encourage him to throw food. He’ll keep doing it, and I doubt his parents will thank you.”
“I was talking to Brinkley. I thought you were reading,” Elijah said, picking up the bowl.
Autumn closed her book. There was no way she was getting any reading done while Todd was here. She’d only been reading to distract herself from playing and rest her back. Now, with Elijah trying his best to handle an infant, it seemed she didn’t need the distraction. They were providing all the entertainment she needed.
“What are you going to feed him now? I only prepped tonight’s dinner with the groceries we had left, and Brinkley just enjoyed your portion,” Autumn said.
Elijah groaned, looking at the empty fridge. “I have to feed him,” he protested, taking off Todd’s dinosaur bib.
“We don’t have any food for him. You’ll have to go to the shop around the corner,” Autumn told him, but she didn’t want to be left alone with Todd. “Did Francis not give you anything?”
“No. I told him I’d figure it out,” Elijah said, stretching his arms behind his head in frustration, exposing where his T-shirt met his jeans. Autumn glanced away; it seemed only a hint of his skin affected her more than seeing him entirely shirtless.
