Grandpa Nelson chuckles to himself. “Will it be farting and burping time next?”
Milo and I both let out a groan, which sends the parentals into hysterics. We wave goodbye and head back upstairs.
“Shall we feed him in my bedroom?” Milo asks. “Or, your bedroom, I guess.”
“Let’s call it your bedroom. I don’t want to feel like I’m stealing your space.”
Milo smirks. “You kinda are, though. Anyway, I’ll show you your space.”
Seventeen
“Iclearedmostofmy stuff from the desk so you can work,” Milo says, lowering the baby carrier to his bedroom floor. “There’s some space in the wardrobe for you to hang your clothes, and the bed sheets and cover are all fresh. I hope it’s not super weird for you to stay here.”
“I feel bad for kicking you out of your space,” I say with genuine remorse.
When I spy the action figures, D&D miniatures, and other nerdy pieces lining the bookshelves on the wall, I can’t help smirking.
“I don’t mind giving you my room. It’s sharing with Kai that feels like punishment.”
I look down at the pristine carpet without a piece of fallen clothing. “He’s not exactly a neat-freak like you.”
“I thinkfreakis a bit strong.”
I grin, unable to resist teasing him. “How will you react if you walk by and I’ve littered the floor with clothes, cleats, rollerblades, and a soccer ball?”
Milo sucks in an apprehensive breath, his chest expanding. He deflates, avoiding eye contact. “It’ll be fine. I can clean once you’re gone.”
I giggle. “Worried about my cooties?”
He looks back, a faint pink hue coloring his cheeks. “No.”
Unintentionally, I rub my lips together. My eyes run along the frames of his glasses and lock onto his welcoming hazel eyes. I clear my throat and move toward my bags.
“I should get a start on my homework,” I say, lifting the bag with school gear inside and shifting it closer to the desk.
“Oh, I almost forgot to grab this,” Milo says, lifting a book from the desk. He tilts the cover, showing me the title. “I got it with your gift card.”
“Oh, cool. Do you like it?”
“Yeah, it’s interesting. It’s about Hatshepsut. She was an Egyptian pharaoh, but something happened to her and most of the carvings and statues about her were destroyed,” Milo explains. “Pieces of her life are still being put together, so I can’t get enough of finding out more about her.”
I smile at the excitement buzzing off him. “I’m seeing a pattern. Learning about ancient civilizations gets you intrigued.”
Milo tucks the book under his arm. “It’s just so different from everyday life. I like escaping into history.” He motions at my books. “Do you want help with anything?”
“No, I’ll be fine. If I get time away from the baby, I should be able to knock out one assignment.”
Milo picks up the carrier housing Gandalf and moves toward the doorway. “Okay. Good luck.”
“Thanks,” I say as he disappears into the living room.
When Milo descends the staircase, I get ready to work. I set my laptop on the desk and as well as a wad of books. I search through the pile for my history notes, and stumble on my mom’s diary. I don’t even know why I packed it. I still haven’t read a full page. Maybe I’ll get rid of these jitters and crack it open once the baby project is over.
I set the diary aside and position my history textbook and essay notes next to the laptop. I figure the best option is getting the most boring assignment out of the way first. It’s just reciting facts. Math takes too much brain power and definitely requires Milo’s help. And decoding what’s going on in KingLear still stresses me out. I can’t wait until we move onto another book that actually uses normal English.
I look over my history notes. There’s a lot of underlining and highlighting, but not a proper timeline for my paper. Before I start typing, I grab a pen and sit on the bed, making a plan in my notebook of what order to discuss each historical fact. If Milo thinks history is fun, maybe I can get into it too.
I take my time, carefully writing each line with purpose. There’s a tingle in my fingers as I grip the pen. I’ve never felt this level of pride about homework prep before. It’s oddly satisfying.
