Page 37 of Already Callin’ You Mine

10

JACE

“Alright, sir, it’s bedtime,” Presley announces, shifting to face Otis and me on the couch.

Little Man groans, snuggling up against me more, nuzzling his head against my chest. How on earth am I supposed to withstand this? I am not strong enough. Not even close. My insides melt, instantly becoming goo with each new little murmur that escapes this kid.

“’Nother?” he counters, his words vibrating gently against my chest.

There’s no holding back my smile—the damn thing has a mind of its own, spreading across my face, every inch of me loving that response.

We’ve already watched both Rescuers movies, my discovery that Otis hadn’t seen the original either making a double feature the obvious choice. There was a brief interlude shortly after starting the Rescuers Down Under for a sick break, this one thankfully coming with an advanced warning, so that all three of us didn’t end up covered in vomit. Had I realized that not being a sympathetic puker was going to come in handy post college graduation, I would have listed it on my resume. Maybe I still should.

It's been a couple of hours though, and he successfully kept the soup I heated up for him down, so maybe we’re on the backside of this thing. Or maybe that’s famous last words.

“Not tonight,” Presley says.

Otis grumbles something unintelligible, but unmistakably an argument against bedtime.

“Listen to your mama,” I tell him.

Running my hand over his head, I fight the urge to press a kiss against his soft hair, the same way Auggie or Miss Belle would when I was his age. I know full well that I shouldn’t feel this attached to a kid I’ve met twice, but there is something about him. Some kind of connection between us. There’s no stopping the need I feel to protect him and make sure he’s taken care of.

“Jace do bedtime?”

Well, hell…

That’s a request I didn’t see coming. Three words to crack my heart wide open, that’s all it took. And they weren’t even those three words. The three big ones. These feel bigger though. Weightier. Deeper. Then again, I’ve never said that other three, so what do I know.

Still, I don’t know that they’ll compare.

Because if I thought I was goo before, I’m molten now. And I absolutely know there is no recovery from this. I am going to be in this kid’s life for good now. How, I don’t know. Details can be figured out later. But I’m not giving up this feeling.

I start to respond, but Presley cuts me off. “We should let Jace go home. Enjoy his Friday night.”

She peels him off, his tired body going willingly.

“I don’t mind,” I offer, the words out of me before I can think better of it.

Presley stops, holding Otis against her, giving me a look that could stop traffic. It’s not quite as perfected as the one my own mama gives, but it’s close. Give Presley time and I think she might rival Miss Belle with that look.

Note to self—don’t let them trade notes…

“I’ve got this. Bedtime is a whole routine.”

There’s no missing all the things she isn’t saying—I don’t know the routine, I’m not a parent, I’m still technically a stranger, and despite this cozy night at home, she doesn’t fully trust me with her kid.

You’re not even an uncle…

I nod, letting her ruling stand. I can’t blame her—because she’s not wrong. I don’t know the bedtime routine. Beyond that, her own wariness of who she is letting around her kid is commendable. Despite all the shit I’ve given her for being a bad parent, tonight has proved me dead wrong.

Meaning she’s probably right about the stranger danger series being a sure-fire hit.

“I have no other plans tonight. So once you get him down, if you want to go over the stuff for the project…” I offer, trying to sound casual.

Presley looks at me, surprise written all over her. Understandable, since I fought tooth and nail to not do this thing in the first place. Still don’t want to, if I’m honest. But I don’t want this evening to end, and this is a way to drag it out a little more.

“Sure.” She pushes up off the couch, the extra it takes while holding Otis rippling through her. I hold back, knowing that offering again to take him would not be helpful right now. “If you want to take a look at some of the videos I sent, that’s the dance trend I think we should start with.”