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Oh, uh, didn’t mean to get you excited here. I’m not doing it tonight. I was serious. I need time to analyze this one. Wish me luck.
CHAPTER26
HOISTING THE PUCK
CALLIE
Lifting the puck off the ice by flipping it with the blade of the stick.
I knewonce the season began, things would change between Leo and me. Probably because he can drink, and I can’t. I’m kidding. Maybe I’m resentful because while he’s off playing hockey, I’m here, with a baby attached to my nipple.
I run my fingers over his cheek as he sucks, desperately trying to drink more than my tits are willing to give him.
“Take it easy on me, buddy.”
He doesn’t, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think he rolled his eyes. Or he’s starting to fall asleep. Probably the latter. “Auntie is on her way over,” I tell him, rocking gently.
If it hadn’t been for Ami this last month, my sanity would have been gone completely. I’m dreading going back to work in a month for the simple fact that I don’t want to leave Caleb with a babysitter. Leo’s schedule is all over the place, and even when he is home, I won’t be able to rely on him to watch Caleb. He’ll likely have either practice or some sort of publicity event. Also, I don’t trust him alone with him. Last week I went to the store and came back, and Leo had set his car seat on the robotic vacuum to get him to stop crying. It worked but confirmed my theory that maybe he wasn’t ready to be left alone just yet.
“We’re here!” Ami announces when she comes into the condo.
I look down at Caleb, who practically rolls himself over with my nipple in his mouth at the sound of Ami’s voice. I’m convinced he likes her better.
“We?” I ask, prying Caleb off my nipple and starting to burp him.
“Where’s that baby?” she coos, strutting into the living room where I’m still burping him.
“Over here,” I smile, rubbing his back gently.
Granny B scoops him out of my arms and takes him away. “Oh, Leo… you stink.”
My brows furrow at Ami as I watch Granny B carry my baby into the other room. “She does know that’s not Leo, right?”
Ami laughs and sits next to me. “I… don’t know. Let’s hope so.”
“So… how’s it going? Mase still acting weird?”
Ami groans and slouches into the couch next to me. “Yes. Ever since the season got underway, he’s been weird. Distant, or whatever.”
“It’s a lot for them when training camp is underway. Lots of pressure.”
“I get it, but it’s still weird. He wasn’t like this last season.”
I pat her leg. “You don’t have anything to worry about. He loves you.”
“Code brown!” Granny B yells from the bedroom.
Ami and I smile, walking into Caleb’s room to see Granny B changing him, like she’s a pro or something. “What do you mean code brown?” I ask, leaning into the doorframe and knowing damn well what code brown is. I’ve changed this kid’s diaper.
Granny B examines the diaper, flips it over, and lifts Caleb up by his ankles, then places the diaper on his butt. See? Pro-level here. Reaching over to the diapers, Granny B takes another and does the same thing.
I stare at her. “Why are you using two?”
“You’re supposed to use two diapers if they’re disposable.”
“Why?” Ami asks, giving me a look like even she knows that can’t be right.
“It’s how they were made.” Granny B seems to be so convinced this is the way you do it, we don’t question it. Makes perfect sense to me.