Chapter 31
Leo
I didn't want to get out of bed. If it hadn't been for Brenton jumping onto the mattress and demanding Corn Puffs at 9:45, I wouldn't have budged.
My little monkey is hanging from my limbs as I go down the stairs, one heavy step at a time. I pad into the kitchen and grab him a bowl then fill it with milk and cereal.
I drop into a chair across from him and I dig the heel of my hand into my burning eyes. I'm tired but I’ve found a new night time hobby that’s far more exciting than sleep. I’m spent after a night of loving up on my beautiful Reese then pouring my soul out to her in the wee hours of the morning. I fell into a near comatose state when she crawled out of bed for work before the crack of dawn. Even now, my eyes may be open but I’m still half-asleep.
It’s a startling bang at the front door that really wakes me up, though. I jump in my seat and Brent’s eyes widen as they zip over to me. Stumbling out of my chair, I make it to the door just as the banging starts again. Brent is practically leaning over the table with his eyes peeled on the door. I look through the side-light glass and find Charlie standing on my stoop.
“Hey—what’s up?” I say as I drag the door open. I should give him shit for showing up without warning again but I think that, in the grand scheme of things, banging his sister nightly is the bigger grievance against our friendship.
He barges right inside wearing faded jeans, a T-shirt and a lopsided smile. “Got tickets to the ball game. Wanted to see if you two wanna tag along.”
Stretching my arms above my head, I yawn. “I’m really not in the mood,” I tell him, “but if I could get Brenton off of my hands for a few hours, maybe I could make a dent in my to-do list.”
Brent swerves around a box in the middle of the floor and charges toward us. “Hi Uncle Charlie!”
“Hey buddy!” He crouches and Brenton leaps into his arms. “You wanna go watch some baseball, little man?”
My son bounces around. “Can we eat hot dogs?”
“All the hot dogs you want,” my friend promises.
I intervene quickly. “One hot dog.” I give Charlie a hard look so he knows I mean it.
“Can I go, daddy? Please?” He clasps his hands together in front of his little chest as he pleads.
“Fine,” I say. “Go change your clothes.”
The child shrieks excitedly as he scampers up the stairs.
“Make sure to brush your hair,” Charlie calls out. “Chicks dig kids with nice hair.”
He grins at me and I narrow my eyes. "You’re gonna use my kid to pick up chicks, aren’t you?" We make our way to the kitchen.
Charlie lifts a shoulder nonchalantly. "I’m paying him in hot dogs and ice cream. I'd say he's getting the better end of the deal."
“Easy on the junk food,” I tell him. “Don’t go overboard.”
He waves me off dismissively. “You worry too much.” He grabs a plastic bowl and pours himself some cereal. Then, he leans on the counter and surveys my face. “You look good, man. You been getting sleep?”
Uneasiness prickles the back of my neck. I shove my hand through my uncombed hair. “A bit, I guess.”
He nods a little. “Good.” His loud crunching fills the quiet kitchen for a long while, then he says. “I won’t ask you about anything else that’s going on in your life because you get all defensive when I check in on you. But you should use this kid-free day to clear your head.”
I chortle shortly. “Thanks. I’ll try.”
Brenton comes barreling down the stairs in jeans and a baseball shirt. He heads straight to the door. “Come on, Uncle Charlie. I don’t wanna be late.”
Grabbing his windbreaker from a chair near the door, I slip the sleeves up his arms and then pull his cap down on his head. I sink down to eye level with him. “You, be good,” I tell him.
“I’ll be good,” he promises as he gives me a high five. He runs out to Charlie’s truck.
My friend glances around at my chaotic surroundings. “Maybe you’ll have a few minutes to clean this place up.” He wears a concerned look on his face.
Not subtle at all. And yes, the place is a mess.
But as he climbs into the driver’s seat, a thought rolls into my mind. I know exactly what I want to do with my kid-free day. And cleaning is not it.