“How do I know if he’s done?” Milo asks.
Maddy bites her lip in a devilish way that Milo doesn’t catch. “Try taking the bottle away.”
Milo does and Gandalf lets out an ear-piercing scream.
“Geez,” Milo yelps, putting the bottle back.
Maddy holds her belly, laughing. “When he doesn’t do that, that’s when you know he’s done.”
“That was just mean,” Milo says.
Aunt Maddy pats his arm. “Sorry, kid. You’ll figure this out.”
Defeatedly, Milo lets out a chuckle, looking down at the baby in his arms. “Thanks.”
“Oh, I’m having a flashback,” Aunt Maddy says softly, cupping her mouth as she watches Milo with Gandalf.
“What do you mean?” I ask curiously.
Maddy shakes out of it. “Oh, no, nothing. It felt like déjà vu. Are you okay, Milo?”
He nods. “Yeah, I’ll call out if I need more help.”
Aunt Maddy beckons me to follow, and we head back to the prep area.
“Remember to burp him when he’s done,” I say, moving away from the table.
Milo raises an eyebrow as he watches me walk away. “Are you sure you don’t want to get involved?”
“No, you got this,” I say mischievously.
Milo shakes his head and returns his attention to Gandalf.
A while after I help Maddy finish the last pieces of the catering menu, Gandalf has been successfully fed and burped. Milo tried to put him back in his carrier, but Gandalf kept fussing. Aunt Maddy suggested Milo try his best to hold him close and soothe him to sleep.
It’s then that Kai walks through the front door.
“What happened to the skatepark?” I ask, walking up to him with folded arms.
“I wanted to make sure we’re cool,” Kai says in a low tone. His eyes have dulled and the corners of his mouth drag down.
I sigh, exhausted. “We’re cool. I’m just mad at my situation. I took it out on you, and I’m sorry.”
Kai pulls an arm around me, and I lift my chin onto his shoulder. “Don’t be sorry. I know I’ve got it a lot easier than you. You just always kid around about stuff. I didn’t realize you were struggling.”
I drop my chin, and Kai’s arm unravels. “I have to care about stuff that I never have before. It’s weird.”
“At least you’re staying with me for the next few days. We’ll play video games, go to the skatepark, and just be normal.”
“Just because it’s the weekend, and I won’t be with Aunt Maddy, doesn’t mean I can slack off. When I’m not at work, I have to do my homework assignments.”
Kai groans. “Boo.”
“This is what I’m talking about, Kai,” I complain. “This is make it or break it for me. Without my grades improving, I’m out of Ashworth Academy.”
“I know, I know,” he mutters. “But we can squeeze in a bit of fun time. Can’t we?”
I hold my thumb and index finger slightly apart. “A bit.”
