My cheeks heat. Oh my God. I thought the ceilings were sound-proofed. “Well, yes,” I stammer. “I am unemployed. But you’re not Alan Sugar. You can’t just sayyou’re hired.What hours do you want me to work? How much will you pay? How do you want her to be looked after?”
He blinks. “There’s different ways?”
“There’s a million different parenting styles. Usually parents pick one that they like, and then send me, like, a million blog articles about them.”
He shrugs, fixing his cufflinks. “I’m sure you know best. We’ll discuss the details of your employment when I come home this afternoon. I had my assistant order all of the items on your list. They should be here in a few hours.” He glances down at Cami. “For today, I’d like to prioritise her paternity test and immunisations. I’ve called up a private infant doctor, you have an appointment this morning.”
I nod. “Will you all be coming along?”
He frowns. “Why would I come?”
“You might be her father,” I remind him.
“I’m not the father. Can’t you take her alone?”
“It’s probably not a good idea for me to turn up with a random baby, and be like, ‘yeah, I just found this kid. I don’t know anything about her except her name. I swear I didn’t steal her.’”
He hums, looking out over the view. “I’ll call ahead and inform them of the issue. I’m sure a donation to the surgery will make them more sympathetic.”
I choke on my spit. “Even so—she just got here, Sebastian. She’s in a new place with lots of strangers. You should come along and help acclimatise her. Maybe she’ll be calmer with one of you with her.”
He shakes his head. “Ask the others.”
“The others aren’t here.” I point out. “There’s only you.”
Right on cue, there’s a clatter outside the flat door. We both turn to see Cyrus stumbling inside the apartment. His dark hair is ruffled, and he’s still in last night’s clothes. He’s very clearly just rolled out of some girl’s bed.
He pulls up abruptly, eyes widening when he sees me. “Still here, sugar?”
“We had a midnight emergency,” I say drily.
The smile wipes off his face. “What? What’s happened?”
“Jack freaked himself out. Don’t worry. I settled him down, back in his room. He’s sleeping now.”
Cy’s lip twists. He shrugs off his leather jacket. “What about me?” He asks. His voice is huskier than I remember it, like he’s spent all night shouting. “Any chance you could settle me down in my bed, as well?” His eyes run down my front, catching on Jack’s sweatshirt. His eyebrow quirks.
“I’m sure you can manage yourself,” I say sweetly.
Seb nods at Cyrus. “Excellent timing. You’ll go with Beth to Camilla’s doctor’s appointment this morning.”
Cyrus groans, loping over to the kitchen area and pulling out a glass. “Ijustgot in,” he complains, filling it with water and chugging it down in one go.
Seb checks his watch. “The appointment isn’t for six hours. That gives you plenty of time to sleep.” He glances down at the sleeping baby in my arms. “She’s most likely yours, anyway.”
Cy just rolls his eyes. “Whatever. Guess I’ll see you then, sugar.”
Nine
Cyrus
Six hours later, I step into the paediatrician’s clinic, closely followed by Beth and a very grouchy Cami. I’m still foggy from my nap, and my whole body aches. I had a long shift last night.
It’s pretty in here; the walls are pale yellow and covered in decals of animals. There’s a little playhouse in one corner of the room. Two blonde toddlers are running in and out of it, waving at each other through the windows.
I grit my teeth, my shoulders tensing.
I hate places like this. I spent most of my childhood getting dragged through doctors’ offices by my parents. Now the brightly coloured posters and smiling woodland creatures on the walls just look sinister, not cheerful.