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Alex laughed. “Yeah, a kid’s birthday is kind of important.”
I sighed as I sank into a chair. “I have no clue, Alex. What the hell am I going to do? I seriously cannot take care of a baby.”
Alex set the empty bottle down and put the baby upon his shoulder, patting his back as he moved his body slightly back and forth in a rocking motion. “It might seem overwhelming right now, Trev, but I promise it will get easier. You’ll figure it out, and I already told you that Lexi and I could help.”
“You want to take the baby home with you?” I asked, only half joking.
Alex grinned. “Lexi would probably love it if she weren’t so tired already, although I promise that we will help you. Does she have other things for the baby, or is this it?”
“She said that Carol had stuff for him, but I have to make arrangements to meet with her to get it.”
“Did she at least bring a car seat?”
I shook my head. “No, she said it’s at Carol’s.”
“Well, shit,” Alex muttered and walked toward me. “Stand up and take him.”
“Why?” I asked suddenly, afraid that he would bolt out the door as Davina had.
“Relax, buddy. I’m going to call Lexi and see if she can stop by the store and grab a car seat for you. Legally, you need to have one to get him home.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” I stood and stared at the small infant in his arms. “Jesus, he’s so tiny.”
“He is small, and I’m going to guess that he’s only a couple weeks old.” He held him out to me. “Keep him on your shoulder and pat his back so that he burps.”
“What if I pat him too hard?”
Alex grinned. “He’s tougher than he looks, but don’t go slap-happy, just firm taps on his back, rub it a little like I was doing and move around.”
“You sure you don’t want to take him home to practice with? You could give him back to me in a few years.”
“Yeah, no,” Alex said with a laugh.
I took the baby and put him on my shoulder like Alex had and began to pat his back. He wiggled in my arms, rubbing his head on my shoulder, and against my collarbone. I lifted him a little higher, and he nuzzled into my neck. Man, he was a warm little thing, and so damn soft.
Alex got on his cellphone and called Lexi. I could tell that she was asking a lot of questions, but he told her he’d explain when she arrived later today.
After he hung up, he turned to me. “You’re lucky she was off this afternoon. She’s heading to the store now to get the stuff.”
“Stuff? What else do I need besides a car seat?”
“Well, how about someplace for the baby to sleep?”
“Can’t I just put him in my bed with me? Maybe prop some pillows around him so that he doesn’t roll off?”
“No,” Alex stated firmly. “You absolutely cannot do that. Letting the baby sleep with you or on your bed is not a good idea. You could roll over on him, or he could get caught against a pillow and suffocate.”
I winced. Yeah, I wasn’t attached to the little guy, but I sure didn’t want to hurt him.
The kid let out a loud belch that surprised both Alex and me, and then Alex grinned my way. “He’s just like his old man.”
“Hey, watch that.”
He shrugged and took a seat. “Is he asleep now?”
I pulled my head back, trying to see his face, and he looked like he was asleep. “I think so.”
“Why don’t you lay him down in his stroller?”
