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He glanced at me over his shoulder with a grin from where he was holding the pan handle, ready to flip a pancake. “Only a little bit,” he admitted. “I decided I couldn’t live on frozen food and take out and sandwiches forever. Or you could say my meddling friends decided it, and they took it upon themselves to tech me how to make a few things.”
I yawned as I moved to sit at the island and watch him.
“Sorry I got up so late. I wanted to make breakfast…”
He shrugged without turning around. “It’s fine. It was your turn to be with Makas last night, and he woke me up with the crying a few times. I figured you could use the break.”
Dan finished up with breakfast, then set the food on the table. I laughed a bit, because it was what I’d made for him before; pancakes, bacon and eggs, with some milk and coffee on the side.
We chatted a bit about inconsequential things. There were plenty of important topics we needed to discuss, but we had time.
Besides, in the few days I’d been living with him, I’d realized the connection we’d felt before was still there, even with a baby in the middle. We were giving the whole living together thing a try and falling into it pretty easily, like we’d done it for a while, because we were so comfortable around each other. I’d missed that with my family as they all left, one by one, but it was different with Dan.
For one, when I went to bed, alone, in his large bed, I sometimes fantasized about what it would be like if he could be in the bed with me.
Breakfast lasted longer than it should have, and an hour later we were at the sink finishing up on washing the dishes. The bell ringing interrupted us, and Dan groaned.
“Who is it?” I asked, curious.
He sighed. “My meddlesome friends have equally meddlesome wives. They insisted on coming over to talk to you.”
“Oh.”
I bit down on my lip. I’d been properly introduced to his friends, and I knew they all had kids. But, I hadn't met their spouses yet.
“You don’t have to look like that, it’s not like they’re going to eat you. If anything, they’re upset at me. Trust me, they’re friendly.”
I frowned at him. “If they’re so friendly, then why are you backing away from the front door?”
He winced. “Like I said, they’re upset with me. Just go open the door and tell them I’m with the baby if they ask.”
He turned tail and ran back to the bedroom. I sighed, and headed for the front door. I was nervous, but if I was going to be staying with Dan, then I would meet them at some point. I took a deep breath and let it out, before I opened the door. Two women stood there, both of them pregnant with one of them being further along by a few months going by size, both with friendly smiles on their faces.
“Hi,” I said quietly, giving them a small wave, and probably giving away my nervousness as well.
“Hi there,” one of them said, the heavily pregnant one. “I’m Kylie, Noah’s wife. And this is Ivy, Chad’s wife,” she pointed at the other woman. “Do you mind if we come in?”
I smiled at them and hoped it looked natural. “Of course I don’t mind. Dan is playing with Makas right now, though.”
“Oh, that’s just fine,” Ivy said. “He should be helping you look after the baby after all. We left our own kids with our husbands. Children need both their parents, after all, not just their moms.”
Kylie nodded solemnly at her words, though she ruined it by smiling. We moved to the living room, and the two of them took the couch, while I sat on the single seat catty corner from theirs. It felt too much like I was in an interview with the both of them turned to stare at me.
“Is there anything I can get for you?” I asked, my years in the service business kicking in. “Something to drink, or…”
“We really just came to talk to you,” Kylie said, shaking her head.
“We heard the whole story from the guys,” Ivy said. “And we wanted to come talk to you, and let you know that if you need anything, we’re here for you.”
Kylie nodded. “Martin’s wife will probably be along soon. She just got the news she was pregnant and her morning sickness keeps her down the first couple months after it starts.”
I nodded. I’d gone through it myself, so I knew how awful it could be. I’d talked to my neighbor, and realized I was pretty lucky, because it could have been a lot worse.
I also calmed down, realizing from their words and their smiles that they were nice, like Dan had said. With the way they were looking at me, I felt a little more at home and comfortable around them, and my own smile became firmer. It had been a while since I’d had friends, but I needed someone to confide in urgently.
“Thanks for that. I kinda feel like I’m in way over my head,” I admitted. “I’ve never even thought of having kids. And living with Dan is just…” I frowned, trying to find a way to describe it. “I don’t know. I mean, we’re okay, but one moment he’s hot, and the next he’s just ice cold and I don’t even know if he really wants me here…”
He’d asked me to move in impulsively, but I was worried he’d tell me to leave eventually.
“You don’t have to worry about Dan,” Kylie said, waving a dismissive hand.
Ivy hummed in agreement. “He doesn’t go back on his word, ever. He’s probably just as worried as you are. The guy´s a total pussycat, deep down. Believe me, none of them have had easy rides when it came to parenthood.”
I was just about to ask what she meant, when Kylie interrupted and said, “Don’t let him bully you, though!”
I could tell them my story. That my whole life, I´d been dumped on by my family and maybe that was why a part of me felt a bit stronger. That and knowing that I was a mom. Knowing that Makas relied on me to make decisions for him. I didn´t say a word as they went on to giving me tips and pointers, on how to deal with the baby, and Dan, and I felt like I should have been taking notes, because I had a lot to learn.
Chapter Seventeen
Dan
It had been my decision to ask Scarlett to move in with me. I’d all but said I would support her.
Days later, and I was sort of having second thoughts.
A while after I’d retreated into the bedroom to hide from my friends’ wives, Makas had woken up, and immediately started crying. Because Scarlett was busy, I’d picked him up to try and calm him down, at the same time trying to figure out what had him in a bad mood.
I checked what I feared most, first. But there was no smell, and his diaper didn’t seem heavy, so it wasn’t soiled. I breathed a sigh of relief and rocked him gently. There was a bottle on the nightstand by the bed I knew Scarlett had left for last night. Scarlett had told me she breastfed him, but Martin had told me it wouldn’t hurt to give the baby some formula as long as she didn’t stop nursing him.
The bottle still had some formula in it, so she must have added more after she fed him last night. I figured it would be fine, and I tried to give him the bottle. He wouldn’t take it, though.
It took me an hour to get him to quiet down, and I was pretty sure the only reason he fell asleep was because he grew tired, not because I actually calmed him down.
“I know the guys told me about it already, but…” I sighed, slumping on the bed.
Crying babies were exhausting. I’d woken up early this morning because he was crying, and I’d had to change his diaper. I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I’d spent some time on my computer, and when the day started to brighten, I made food. After soothing him through another crying binge, I was tired enough to fall asleep. And I did.
I was woken up by more crying, and I groaned as I sat up, my eyes squinting open. Before I could go to the crib, though, Scarlett was walking into the room.
“Hey,” she said, shooting me a smile. She went and picked the little guy up. “I figured you could use a break. I would have come earlier if I’d known you were sleeping.”
I rubbed my eyes. “What´s the time?”
