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Chapter 11
Natalie started her nanny job the next day, and I was treated to lots of pictures and videos of Preston, who was absolutely cute as hell. Total sweetheart.
She brought him by the office on Friday and he toddled in and smiled at me.
“Hi, Preston, it’s nice to meet you,” I said, and he held his hand up for a high five.
“We’re heading to the library for story hour, and then it’s time for his nap.”
When Preston heard the word “nap,” he frowned.
“No nap,” he said.
“Yes nap,” Natalie said, making a face at him.
He laughed and then said “no nap” again.
Natalie and I both laughed.
“Looks like you’ve got your hands full,” I said, and then realized it was time for the weekly team-building exercise—a.k.a., torture. My brother always managed to be out of the office when this stuff went down.
“I have to go, but have a good day, Preston. Fight the system,” I said.
Natalie covered his ears.
“Don’t tell him that,” she whispered.
I put the phone on voice mail and locked my computer.
“See you tomorrow,” I said.
We were hanging out at Linley’s apartment with her and Gray. Paige and Esme already had a weekend getaway planned, so they wouldn’t be there.
“Sounds good. Say bye-bye, Preston,” Natalie said, and Preston waved at me as Natalie carried him out of the office.
* * *
“It’s open,” Linley called, when I showed up with Natalie at her apartment with a bottle of wine and Natalie’s present. She’d wanted to open it earlier, but I hadn’t let her.
“Hey, Gray,” I said, walking in and giving him a hug. Linley was in the kitchen, doing her thing. There was no use trying to bring food or baked goods to her place, because she always had that covered.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” Natalie said to Gray.
“It’s great to meet you, too. And I hope this isn’t weird, but I brought you a little something.” He handed her a tiny box with a bow on it.
“You really didn’t have to give me anything,” Natalie said, her face getting red.
“He does this to everyone,” I said. “Just accept it.”
Gray ginned and motioned for Natalie to open the present.
Inside the box was a tiny carved dragon, curled up with its eyes closed as if it was sleeping.
“Oh my god, it’s beautiful,” Natalie said. “Thank you so much.”
Now it was Gray’s turn to be embarrassed.
“It’s nothing,” he said.
