Page 64 of Kid
“She quit.” Jeremy closed his laptop and followed me into the open kitchen. “Her and aunty Chelsea have plans. Between you and I, she needed the breather after what happened with me.”
I got a premade protein shake from the fridge and shook it. “She loves having you around.”
“I know she loves me, but sometimes, I can be a bit much—are you her boyfriend?”
I almost choked. “Um…Ask your aunt.”
Jeremy laughed. “She said she wants you to be.”
My heart lurched. “She said that?”
Jeremy nodded. “What do you want?”
“I want that too.” I admitted. “But right now, your aunt has a lot on her plate. She wants to spend some time with you.”
“She doesn’t have to.”
“No—are you hungry?”
“Yes, please.”
Offering him a smile, I started working on lunch—fish sticks and homemade fries. “You’re right, she doesn’t have to spend time with you. But aside from the fact almost losing you scared her, she loves you.”
Jeremy began helping me with food as we talked.
I wasn’t sure I was the best person to be a father figure to anyone.
Hell, I didn’t even think I would know what to do with a baby. But talking to Jeremy was easy—smart, contemplative, intellectual.
After I finished the tester French fry, I blew on it and offered it to him. Jeremy accepted it with his mouth and chewed. He grinned and offered me a thumbs up.
“Awesome.” I laughed while sprinkling a mixture of salt and chili powder on the fries before dumping them carefully in the fryer on the car corner of the counter.
While they cooked away, I gave him the ingredients for the homemade tartar sauce.
“Are you sure this will work?” Jeremy asked while he added the lemon juice.
“I’m sure.” I grinned. “Stick your pinky finger in and taste.”
“Um…” Jeremy didn’t look convinced.
One he did, his eye slit up.
“Told you.” I laughed.
“You two having fun?” Nella asked from behind us.
“Aunty, you have to taste this.” Jeremy used a spoon to gather some of the sauce and brought it over to her.
I watched as she took a taste then moaned.
“That’s good.” Nella told him. “Tartar sauce?”
“Yup.” Jeremy replied. “Wash your hands and we can have lunch.”
Another few days passed, and Jeremy finally left my place to go for a walk. Nella stood at the door watching him until he was a dot in the distance. I wrapped my arms around here and eased her back into the house.
She was terrified of letting him out of her sight.
