wait. It’ll happen to you one day.” And I was going to make damn sure it did. Even if I had to spill some sugar water on his shirt while he was holding his own child.
“I don’t know why in the hell you’re staring at my chest like that, but if you think you’re going to pierce my nipples while I’m asleep or some shit, you better think again, Little Brother.”
I shook my head with a small smile on my face. “Nah, nothing like that.”
He pivoted on his heel and returned to his seat behind his desk. “Is there anything else?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact there is. Blue would like to know when her white unicorn will be delivered. She said Uncle Copper promised to get her one she could keep at Grammy Leigh’s house,” I said, moving out the door as I spoke. Once I hit the hallway, I picked up my pace.
“If you’ve had a fucking horse delivered to Leigh’s barn and said it was from me, you’re going to come home to find a front yard full of fucking sheep!” Copper yelled, following after me.
“How are you going to get them to fuck?” I laughed and picked up my pace.
“What did you do, fucker?” he demanded as he continued to chase me.
“Nothing to worry about. It’s not a horse; it’s a pony!” I shouted just as my bike roared to life. “Peace!” I called out and held up two fingers while I rode away, smiling when I glanced in my mirror and saw him standing in the forecourt fuming. I had to leave him pissed off at me about something so that I didn’t leave him worried about me. Because I knew he was going to worry. Knowing how moody Copper could be when something was bothering him, I decided to call Layla and give her a heads up.
She giggled into the phone. “I know how your brother is too, and I can assure you that I know how to help Copper work through his moods.”
“Stop! Stop! Stop!” I shouted into the phone.
“What? Are you afraid I’m going to tell you your brother fucks me like he hates me when he’s upset?” she asked with faux innocence.
“Fuck this shit. I’m coming to get my baby. I think you might be a bad influence on her,” I playfully scolded.
“Pssh. You forget who you’re talking to. I’ve heard plenty of stories and seen enough with my own eyes to know that I’m most certainly not even one of the top ten worst influences around her,” Layla said confidently. “You’re welcome to come pick her up, but she just went down for her afternoon nap. You want me to call you when she wakes up?”
“That’d be great. Thanks, Layla.” With that, we ended the call, and I headed in the direction of the baby supply store. If I busted my ass, I might be able to buy everything I needed before Blue woke up from her nap.
Layla called just as I arrived at the gym to unload my purchases. When I told her I’d be there as soon as I finished unloading at the gym, she offered to bring Blue to me since she had plans to meet Josie at the bookstore next door.
“What in the world are you doing?” Layla asked when she found me in the basement putting together various pieces of baby equipment.
“Setting up duplicates of the essentials we have at home so Blue can comfortably spend more time here with me,” I explained.
“You know I don’t mind watching her,” Layla said for the umpteenth time.
“I know, and that means the world to me, but I don’t like being away from her more than I have to.”
“How am I going to keep spoiling her if you’re cutting my hours?” Layla asked playfully, though I could tell a part of her was truly disappointed at the thought of losing time with Blue.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something. I’m going to need a babysitter for a Friday or Saturday night here and there over the next few months. Would you be interested in letting Blue spend the night with you on those nights?” I asked, laying the groundwork perfectly.
“Of course I would!” she answered excitedly before pinning me with a look and arching an eyebrow. “Wait a minute. Are you asking me to babysit so you can let her potential siblings go for a swim in the rubber pool?”