“Because of your mom?”
I shake my head. “No. It just feels off.”
“He can just be Baby, if you prefer.”
“No, name him something, so it’s not confusing.”
Milo tilts the baby in his arms so I can see his face. “Don’t you think he looks like a Gandalf?”
I splutter a laugh. “Like the wizard?”
Milo grins. “Yeah.”
“He’s a baby, not ancient.”
“Maybe if we give him a magical name, he’ll be a good baby for us.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose as my shoulders shake from my laugh. “Oh Milo, you’re such a nerd.”
“So, is that a no on Gandalf?”
I laugh and can’t help but smile at Milo’s silly suggestion. “No, let’s go with it. We have baby Gandalf.”
Milo sits back with a happy grin. “All right, awesome.”
Oh my gosh, Milo looks so adorable cradling that baby. Whoa, wait. Adorable? Milo? No, I’m just in a good mood because of the baby’s wacky name. That’s it. I don’t think Milo’s cute. It’s his suggestion that was cute. Not that Milo was being cute. Ugh.Jamie, stop going round in circles!
“Are you okay?” Milo asks, looking up from the baby.
“Yeah,” I say, swatting a hand as if I’m cool as a cucumber. “Just got a million things running through my head.”
He nods. “I know. This isn’t ideal timing with your aunt going away.”
“I still have her help tonight.”
“So you’ll be okay taking him overnight?”
I nod. “Yeah, I need the boost in grades the most. Plus, I feel like I got us into this mess.”
“We wouldn’t have been out on the field if I hadn’t asked you for help.”
“You heard about yesterday. I would’ve found a way out there, with or without you.”
“I’m sorry you’re off the team,” Milo says sincerely. “I know I’d hate it if I was banned from doing something I love.”
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about. No one will ban you from reading anytime soon.”
Milo smirks and looks back down at the baby. “Yeah, that’s all I do for fun.”
Before I can ask him to elaborate, because I literally don’t know any of Milo’s other hobbies, Aunt Maddy comes over.
“How’s everything going, guys?” she asks, bending at the knees by Milo’s side. “Are you comfortable holding him?”
“Seems okay at the moment,” Milo replies.
Aunt Maddy checks how Milo holds the baby and nods her approval. “Nice. His neck is all secure, and he looks cozy. Does the little guy have a name yet?”
At that, Milo and I burst into laughter.
