Baewatch - Xavier Neal Page 0,73
breathe. Strangely enough, I understand where he’s coming from because I go to extreme lengths to provide him with the same.
After braiding Autumn’s hair, singing Frozen songs into the hairbrush, and helping her into the dress April drunkenly suggests, the two of us exit their home with promises to see them for big midday afternoon meal tomorrow. Ax drives us across town to our own dinner at a restaurant called The Box where we share nachos and mozzarella sticks and burgers, making sure to avoid any seafood on the menu knowing it’s not going to be fresh enough in our opinions. Dessert at the diner is skipped due to Ax’s adamant insistence that I have a pre-planned one waiting for us back at our luxury hotel suite.
He swipes the card to grant us access at the same time he ponders, “You think Houndrix is alright, babe?”
I step inside with him right on my heels.
“This is,” our frames angle to face one another in the entryway, “the longest I’ve ever left him.”
“I told you we didn’t have to leave this morning. That I would’ve been fine with getting up early tomorrow and making the drive.”
“I know, I know, but…I wanted to show you the city I grew up in, give us a little down time before we mingle with my parents, and spend some real time with Harris and Autumn.”
“Speaking of…” my voice dips in nervousness, “is it…well…is it weird she calls me Anty Book?”
Ax doesn’t hesitate to nod. “A little.”
Yup.
Should’ve known the thoughts I was having earlier were just too fast for their own good and that he was simply trying to be polite around the little girl.
“She’ll grow out of that missing r thing, though.”
His latest addition to the conversation has me cocking my head to the side.
“It’s normal for two-year-olds to delete letters, or at least that’s what her nanny says who I trust since she’s had twenty years of experience.” My boyfriend’s fingers cross the small space between us to link to mine. “Autumn will eventually be able to say Aunty Brooklyn, which I know you would prefer to Aunty Brook.”
The affirmation of my earlier hopes spreads an unstoppable smile across my face.
“Seriously,” his tone shifts back to one of worry, “you think Houndrix is okay?”
I offer him a nod yet can’t fight the feeling that it’s not enough. “You want me to call my parents to check on him?”
He does his best not to eagerly chomp, “Would you?”
“Of course.”
“I mean I would, but I already texted them when we got to town, and they hadn’t even been over there yet. I don’t wanna come off too needy or untrusting.”
“It wouldn’t be either, but it’s fine, bae. I’ll ask how he is.”
Retrieving my phone from my purse, I’m not surprised by the amount of missed calls or messages. Despite the mass email I sent stating I would be unavailable and covering it in a staff meeting, I’ve still got an alarming amount of texts from work, although none appear to be crucial from first glance. There are two from Fatima reminding me we have drink plans together on Sunday and two from Rina who expresses her hurt feelings she wasn’t asked to watch the dog in the first one and asking to borrow gas money in the second. Her texts were proceeded by a set from my mom that I promptly open.
The content immediately shifts a smile back onto my face as I encourage Ax to come closer to view it with me. “Looks like he’s doing just fine.”
My boyfriend cranes his neck over to see photos of Houndrix playing fetch with my dad and grandfather on the beach, lying on my father’s chest on the couch, and being given some sort of meat treats by my mom.
His smile instantly softens at the sights. “Should’ve known he’d have them wrapped around his paws after they met over dinner last night…”
Having them over at our place felt so natural that it was hard to believe it was the first time. Even when Ax gave them a tour, having been forbidden from helping cook for fear of fires, it didn’t feel as though they had never stepped foot there. It was more like we had redecorated, and he was showing them the new features. I didn’t exactly change a shit ton of things when I moved in. Most of my furniture I sold or offered to store for Rina until she got her own place. The photos I kept