AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Pwaige! Auntie Mel already said five books only.’
‘Most people say hi first Alf,’ Paige said as she offered out her fist.
Fist punched, Alfie continued, ‘Come on let’s go.’
Paige smiled as she followed this little man with his cute Star Wars-themed PJs back into the house.
‘Pwaige, come on,’ Alfie urged as he started climbing the stairs.
‘Hang on,’ Paige called back, making her way towards the kitchen. Melanie sat at the kitchen island, iPad already in hand. Paige bent down and kissed her cheek. ‘Here, Connie made us dinner. Pop this in the oven, really low heat. I hope you like mushrooms. Shall I go and start the reading?’
Paige ran off before Melanie could say anything else, embarrassment sweeping over her. She’d kissed her on the cheek. Again. She’d been here only seconds and already she couldn’t keep herself away. But she’d made a promise. And besides, she wasn’t worth it. Yeah, she wasn’t getting over that one any time soon.
‘Right then little man, what books have we got?’
Paige sat down on the floor cross-legged and watched as Alfie ran around picking up books and putting them back down again, until finally he had the chosen ones.
She grabbed the first book off him and expected him to sit next to her. Instead, he stood right in front of her waiting for something.
‘What?’ Paige asked.
‘I can’t sit on your knee with all the books.’
‘Er, OK.’ Paige moved the books to the side and suddenly Alfie made himself comfortable on her. His fingers held onto the rips in her jeans.
‘Better now?’
Alfie nodded.
‘Right then, book number one. Let’s do this . . .’
‘Pwaige why do your jeans have holes, did a bear get you?’
Paige snort laughed. ‘No Alf I just like them like that.’
‘Can I rip up my jeans?’
Paige didn’t know what to say so opened up the book and started reading. By book number three she’d noticed that Alfie’s head had gotten heavy on her shoulder, and he wasn’t saying as much. She didn’t get to the end of book three before she could hear little snores.
Once again, she didn’t really know what to do. Would he wake up if she tried to move him? She wasn’t sure she could get up even if she wanted to.
Shuffling until she could get her phone from next to her, she quietly texted Melanie.
Paige: Help
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to text because she could hear Melanie tear arse up the stairs and throw the door open.
Paige whispered, ‘I’m sorry. He fell asleep on me and I didn’t know what to do.’
‘Well maybe don’t text help. I thought something horrible had happened.’
Paige nodded. ‘Understood. But I can’t lift him up and my legs have gone dead.’
Melanie smiled. ‘I’ll grab him and settle him. You try and stand up.’
Melanie quickly reached down and pulled Alfie into her arms, as he murmured in his sleep. Paige slowly stretched her legs out. No, they were gone, but the agony of pins and needles was going to kick in any second.
‘Fuck,’ Paige whispered as she tried to ignore the pain and stand up.
