“Pal. Come here,” Aiden says, and Braeden hops up onto the couch on top of him. Aiden grunts. I think Braeden may have hopped onto Aiden’s man-parts. Yikes.
Aiden lifts the plate with the cupcake and passes it.
“You eat yours, too.”
Aiden takes a big bite at the same time Braeden does.
“Mmm,” Braeden says. “You make good cupcakes, Car-ee.”
“Ally with the pink hair made those.”
“Oh. Can you make cupcakes?”
“Yep. But probably not as good as those.”
“They’re weally good,” Braeden says.
Aiden’s eating his, his eyes on the screen.
Braeden takes a finger and dips it into his icing and smears the icing on Aiden’s nose and then cackles with laughter.
Aiden gives a mock angry face and growls “Now I gotta eat yer nose!”
“Noooo!” Braeden squeals with joy.
I take that opportunity to dash back to my room and shut the door.
***
It’s about nine o’clock and I’m running on empty. Two cupcakes and one coffee all day long just aren’t gonna cut it.
I decide to go out to find food somewhere local. I’ve got my keys, phone, and shoes, and I see Aiden and Braeden crashed on the couch, a Spiderman movie playing. Aiden is on his back, out. Braeden is sleeping on Aiden’s chest, holding a Winnie the Pooh blanket. Thumb in his mouth.
And… boom. My ovaries explode.
I tiptoe out, closing the door carefully, then locking it.
When I get to the lobby, I spot Seth at the desk. Does this guy have a life outside this place?
He sees me and gets this creepy look on his face.
“Carly.”
“Seth.” I keep going past his desk.
“How’s it going?” he calls out.
“Fine,” I keep walking.
“Covering all weekend. Worked twelve days in a row. One of the guys quit. Waitin’ for my relief. He’s late.”
“Oh. Sorry to hear that. Hope you get some time off soon. Gotta run.” I’m out the door. I want away from him as fast as possible.
He’s out there with me.
“You’re with Aiden Carmichael? That’s too bad.”
I stop in front of the building.