“You have his birth certificate,” he says, staring at Bentley like he’s some sort of infestation in his office.
“Yes. But I don’t have his Social Security card. Or info on which pediatrician he goes to. Or his medical history or–”
“I got it, I got it,” Nigel nods and waves a hand to cut me off. “Still, Zane. We can’t have a baby in the office all the time.”
“I’ll figure something out,” I say, stifling Bentley’s cries with a bottle of milk. He calms down, I sit down, and Nigel lets out a frustrated breath.
“Alright,” he says. “But that still doesn’t solve the other issues we have right now.”
“Let me guess. Me and Ashlyn splitting up is bad for my image.”
“Actually, you becoming a single father has shot the ratings through the roof. The only thing hotter than you being a family man in love is you being a hot single dad.”
“So what’s the problem then?” I ask, even though I hate all of that.
“The problem is that doing beachfront photoshoots of you or any kind of photoshoot for that matter is going to be impossible if you don’t have someone to watch the baby.”
“I’ll find someone,” I snap. Not that I know how, who, or anything else. Honestly, I’ve grown a bit protective of the Little Man. And Ashlyn was the only person I trusted with him. Her and maybe Demi.
“So what happened between you two, anyways?” he asks.
“It’s complicated,” I say.
“Obviously. The two of you have always been complicated. But what made her pack her bags?” he asks.
“I broke it off,” I say, and Nigel’s eyes widen.
“You sent her packing? Jesus. Don’t let the press know that. The single dad gig is only hot if it looks like you were left.”
“She took those photos,” I say in my defense, and Nigel gives me the same look Cal did.
“How could she have? She’s in some of them.”
“Maybe she hired someone,” I say, and Nigel lets out an unconvinced Mm sound in reply.
“Listen, Zane. I don’t know this girl other than the fact she works for Sigma. But from what I have seen in photos people have taken of you two out and about, it doesn’t look fake to me. It doesn’t look like she’s just playing the part.”
“How can you tell?” I ask. “Women can fake feelings.”
“They can fake chemistry or adoration, sure. Especially if they have an ulterior motive. But candid, unfiltered love? That’s a little harder to do. If not impossible.”
I shoot Nigel a look. Because who does he think he is? Bentley starts to wriggle and fuss. He needs to be burped and changed, and Nigel’s expression returns to normal.
“Listen, do what you want about the Ashlyn situation. We can recover, but you need to find childcare. Because this…” he points at Bentley with a ballpoint pen, “isn’t going to work.”
As irritated as I am with him, I know he’s right. It’s not working for me either. I need to figure something out and fast.
That night, I meet up with Cal and his sister Natalie, Bentley in tow. We go to a burger joint that luckily has great salads. All this stress has knocked me off the wagon, and I’m going to have to run and jump to get back on. Photoshop and filters can only do so much.
“This little boy is just precious,” Natalie says, holding a happily cooing Bentley. I hate to admit it, but it’s very obvious he needs a woman’s touch.
I feel a sudden tinge of guilt. Poor little guy must be so confused.
“So have you talked to her?” Cal asks, and my smile turns a little.
“No,” I say.
“Why not?” he asks.
