Page 24 of Mouse
“Oh, no,” I said, shaking my head frantically. “Not a good idea.”
“You know if Laurel is around? I was hoping she could watch him for a bit until I figured something else out.”
I shook my head because I didn’t have a clue. Though, I imagined that she and B-ry were probably spending time together celebrating their good news.
“Come here, buddy,” I said moving over and taking him from Ky. “Did you eat breakfast yet?”
“Shit,” Ky said, then winced. “I knew I was forgetting something.”
I laughed.
“I got it, brother. I’m sure Ingram has something in here.”
I took the huge bag off his shoulder and set it on the table.
“Oh, how about some oatmeal,” I said with excitement in my tone as I pulled a package out of the bag.
“Oatmeal, yucky,” Amber said as she scrunched up her nose in disgust. “How about some cupcakes!” She looked at Chry with excitement on her face.
“Don’t do that,” I said as I cut my eyes to look at her. “You can’t teach him things like that. He’s young and the examples that we set for him are going to stick. Oatmeal is good for him and you shouldn’t lead him to think that it’s gross.”
Her head whipped back like I’d slapped her.
“Um, yeah. Okay,” she replied. I didn’t get why she was pissed. “I’ve got to get to work. Later.” Then she was gone.
“What?” I said looking at Ky who was doing his best to hold back a chuckle.
“I think she’s pissed.”
“Well, I didn’t mean for that to happen. But we can’t have him thinking that the best way to start the day off is by eating cupcakes. How do you think Ingram would feel about that?” I gave him a pointed look.
“I’m not disagreeing with you. You just, maybe, could have been a little more delicate than that.”
“You think?” I asked, feeling a little bad about it.
“You went all mama bear there.”
“Sh-crap.” See, I wasn’t perfect. I almost saidshitin front of the kid.
“You sure you got him?” he asked looking a little skeptical.
“Yeah. Go on. What time is Ingram off?”
“She’ll be here a little after three.”
“Cool.”
He left, but not before taking one long look at me that made me feel a little weird. Like he was pulling out that big brother-slash-uncle protective side.
I fed Chry and it wasn’t as hard as I imagined. Sure, it was messy as hell, but that was partially my fault because I couldn’t stop myself from making him laugh and smile.
We had a good day hanging out, but the dude did wear me out. How the hell did Ingram do this all day, every day? I got a little break after he ate lunch and took about an hour long nap. I was tempted to lay down beside him and close my eyes, too.
Ingram showed up a little after three and found us in my room. I was reading a book to him while he was trying to turn the pages before I was done.
“Hey,” I said as I opened the door, letting it swing wide so it would stay that way.
“Oh, gosh, Mouse,” she said breezing into the room and going over to Chry. I stayed rooted in place right in the open doorway. “How can I ever repay you for this?”
