Page 5

Chapter Five

BODE

Bode

Tell me I’m being dramatic

Jasper

You’re being dramatic

Dax

About what?

Is it wrong that I want to stay in my room and hide out like a high schooler?

Dax

Are you really afraid of your grandma that much?

No

Jasper

He totally is

Noah

I mean, I am

Noah

She’ll take you down with a glare

It’s not my grandma

Graham

Then who is it?

Stevie

Jasper

Who is Stevie?

Jasper

Did we trade for a new player?

Dax

Yeah, we cut you last week

Dax

Didn’t you hear?

Jasper

Dax

You’re too easy

Noah

Seriously though…did we get a new guy?

Graham

No

Graham

We would know

Stevie is Deb’s granddaughter

My new roommate

Marcus

Wait, did I miss something?

Noah

We all missed something

Yeah, me too

Because now Deb’s granddaughter is staying with us

Dax

Oh shit

Yeah

Marcus

Are you in trouble? Do you need to come stay with us?

Would Harper let us?

Marcus

I mean, she loves babies

Marcus

So yes

I appreciate it

But I think I can handle her

Jasper

Can you?

Why couldn’t I?

Graham

The fact that you’re texting us about it raises a red flag

Noah

I believe the exact words were hide out in your room like a high schooler

I don’t know why I bother with you idiots sometimes

Dax

It’s because you love us

Marcus

And sometimes we give good advice

Sometimes…

Marcus

Harper got you set up for Caleb

That was Harper, not you, Cap

Marcus

She’s my wife. It counts toward my good deed points

Marcus

Be a grownup and grow a pair

Graham

Damn. That’s some advice

Jasper

Advice I agree with

I can’t wait to see your ugly mugs soon

Marcus

Aww, you miss us

I miss hockey

I need to strap on some skates before I forget how

Dax

We’ve got a cup to win, so you better not, Playmaker

Noah

Hey, he’s not the only one that can make plays

Graham

Yeah, but when he sets you up, it’s a thing of beauty

Graham

Sorry, babe

Noah

It’s a good thing you’re cute

And now I’m going to go hide out because you’re getting mushy

Noah

And here I thought you were growing in expressing your feelings

S o much for trying to feel better. Lately, whenever I need something, I text the guys. Ever since Caleb came into my life, if I need anything—no matter how big or small—they’re there for me.

Except now.

Is it so wrong that I want to hide out in my room?

Not from any responsibility of life. No. I’m past that.

It’s because of my new roommate.

Stevie.

Three days.

She’s only been here three days, but already it’s been three long days. Everywhere she goes in the house, her scent lingers. Like peaches and flowers. I can’t pin it down, but every time she’s near me, I’m wanting more of it.

Craving it.

Like I could survive off that alone.

Grabbing a T-shirt from my drawer, I throw it on and grab Caleb from his swing.

“I guess we can’t hide out here all day.” He giggles at me. “Are you going to be nice to Stevie? She’s going to be here for a while, and we don’t want to scare her off.”

Caleb smiles up at me. I love seeing his smile. The one that looks like mine, right down to the slight quirk in the corner. Shutting my door behind me, I head downstairs but come to a dead stop.

Because the last thing I expect to see is staring me in the face.

Stevie. In a towel. In nothing but a towel.

Water sluices over her shoulders, and what I wouldn’t give to be that water droplet disappearing beneath the towel.

Holy shit.

“Oh. Sorry.” Stevie points to the door behind her. “I couldn’t get the shower to work in my bathroom, so I used this one. I hope it’s okay.”

“Fine. Good. Yeah.” Fuck. “It’s fine. No problem at all.” Caleb’s happy squealing cuts the awkwardness. “Right. Need to feed him.”

“Don’t let me interrupt.”

Stevie walks into her room and closes her door with a soft click.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I really don’t need to add images of Stevie in a towel to my mental torment. I barely know the woman who moved in down the hall, but I can’t seem to stop thinking about her.

That’s something new for me.

Settling Caleb into his high chair, I give him a toy to play with while I fix his breakfast. Sports news is playing softly in the background. With football season around the corner, it’s mostly on which players are looking the best at training camp. I don’t pay much attention. Until we start talking about which team is in the running to win the cup, I try to shut off that part of my brain.

Although, maybe it could be a good distraction right about now. Because no matter how hard I try, my mind keeps going back to the woman living in my guest room.

Her schedule and mine—well, Caleb’s—clash. If Caleb is napping, you bet your ass I’m sleeping. If he’s going to be up in the dead of night, I at least want to catch some z’s when I can. No one tells you this when you have a kid.

Well, maybe they do, But no one would have told me because I didn’t plan on having kids. I guess I’m learning as I go.

Glancing over my shoulder, a happy smile sits on Caleb’s face as he watches me. Do parents ever get tired of looking at their kid and thinking how cute they are? Because Caleb is fucking adorable. I love that he looks like me. His light brown hair sticks out in every direction and, even when fussy, he never seems to be truly unhappy.

As far as kids go, I lucked out.

“Here you go, bud.”

I set down the bowl of oatmeal and spoon on his highchair tray, turning back to grab his bib so I can start feeding him.

Except we don’t get that far. Because the warm food collides with my neck.

“Fuck me,” I mutter.

I turn to look at Caleb, who is grinning from ear to ear. The bowl is upended, with a mess all over his high chair tray.

“Everything okay in here?”

Of course Stevie chooses this moment to walk in.

“Apparently not.” Oatmeal drips down the back of my neck. “You’d think I’d have learned by now not to leave things within arms’ reach of Caleb that he could grab.”

“And now it’s all over you.” Stevie smiles at me. “Let me help.”

Stevie grabs a handful of paper towels and hands them to me before taking another one and wiping up Caleb’s food.

“Thanks.” I wipe the sticky oats off my neck, dropping the towels into the trash bin.

On top of needing to make another breakfast for Caleb, I’m going to have to shower and do another load of laundry now.

Why is that something no one ever tells you about kids? It’s an endless cycle of laundry.

Lesson learned. Don’t leave food in front of a baby.

“Mind if I grab a cup before I leave?” Stevie asks, pulling my attention back to her.

She really is stunning. Her blonde hair is swept up into a high ponytail. The pants she’s wearing are doing nothing for her, but that black tank top? It clings to her every curve. Her shoulders? Who knew shoulders could be such a turn-on.

“Sure.”

I grab the half-full pot and a fresh mug and pour her a cup, then start to make a new bowl of oatmeal for Caleb.

“Thanks.”

“Where do you work?” I ask. It’s about as interesting as asking about the weather, but I know nothing about this woman.

“I’m an aesthetician.”

I blink at her. “Umm, what?”

She smiles. “I work at a spa. Southern Bliss? It’s downtown, but I specialize in facials.”

“Really? That’s interesting.”

Stevie winces as she sips on her coffee. “You don’t have to pretend to be interested in it. Most aren’t.”

“I am. I’ve never met anyone that does it. Can’t say I’ve ever gotten a facial.”

She smiles at me. “Well, you have really good skin.”

“And you’d know because you’re the professional.” I wink at her, causing a blush to creep up her cheeks.

“I should probably get going. I don’t want to be late.” She gulps down the rest of her hot drink. “And don’t worry. I’ll find a new place to live by the end of the week.”

“You will? Why?”

“Look, I know you didn’t sign up to have some random stranger stay with you and your son.”

I point at her around my mug, leaning into the back of the counter. “Technically not a stranger. You’re my grandma’s friend’s granddaughter.”

That earns me a smile. “Well, I’m sure you don’t want me around with your son.”

“I honestly don’t mind you staying.” It’s not a lie, but also, not quite the truth.

“Really?”

“It’d be nice to have another adult around here.”

Stevie snickers. “What about our grandmas?”

I roll my eyes. “Well, ones that act like adults then. Someone more my age.”

Even though having her here can be painful at times. A sexy woman that I have no right to be lusting after? Yeah, maybe I should let her leave. It’d be a hell of a lot easier on me.

“If you’re sure…”

“I am.”

Stevie breathes a sigh of relief. “I really do appreciate it. And look, if you need help with Caleb at all, I’m happy to help. I want to pay my share of rent too.”

“You’re not paying rent.” I laugh. “My gran would rip me a new one if you paid me.”

“So it’s your house, but she rules the roost?”

I burst out laughing, accidentally knocking the spoon I was using the stir the oatmeal to the floor. Oatmeal splatters everywhere. I sigh. I guess no matter what I do, mealtime is always going to be a disaster.

“You could say that, yes.”

“How about we don’t tell them? I wouldn’t feel right staying here without paying my way.” Stevie rinses her mug out in the sink before hiding it away in the dishwasher. “It might not be much, but please let me.”

There’s an earnestness to her voice that I can’t say no to. “Fine. But we don’t tell them because I really don’t want to be on the receiving end if they find out.”

“Thank you. I’ll pay you after work tonight.”

“Take your time.” It’s not like I need the money for the house, but I’ll take it if it makes her feel better.”

“See you later.”

“Bye,” I call out after her. She’s gone in the blink of an eye.

A laugh sounds from where Caleb is sitting. The look on his face is conniving, almost like he knows what I’m thinking when it comes to our latest houseguest.

“What is wrong with me? Get a grip, Bode,” I chide myself.

I have more important things to worry about. Like my kid.

Stevie and whatever feelings I might have for her can go on the back burner.

Feelings? What feelings?

See? I can do it.