kids. Despite my sister’s asinine assertations that I hated kids, I didn’t. I loved kids.
I just… didn’t like them very much.
Other people’s kids, that was.
I was almost certain I’d like mine just fine. Until they were teenagers, then all bets were off.
“I do,” Tori answered, looking almost dreamily out of the window. “Two boys, because God knows the world has enough me to deal with a mini one.”
“Amen to that.”
“Hey!”
I grabbed her hand and brought her fingers to my lips while trying not to laugh. She was pouting in the way she did when she was pretending that she was mad but wasn’t actually annoyed.
It was cute.
“You’re not mad. Stop it.”
She dropped the act and sat up straight. “You were supposed to say that the world would be a better place with more of me in it.”
“I can’t lie to you. That wouldn’t be fair.”
“Colton!” She reached over to hit me, but I caught her and pulled her instead. I shifted myself up a few inches until she was almost sitting on my lap with her thighs resting over mine, then I pulled her into me.
She feigned a fight but gave in, resting her head on my shoulder, and I wrapped my arms around her to lock her in place.
I couldn’t fucking believe we were here.
That she’d roped me into babysitting.
That neither of us had tried to murder the other yet.
“How do you see your future?” I asked, linking my fingers together at her waist.
I felt her brow furrow. “What do you mean?”
“House or apartment? Do you think you’ll still be doing what you do? Do you think Genevieve would ever accept a puppy for a housemate?”
Her shoulders shook. “There’s no chance Gen would ever accept a dog. She barely accepts me and I’m the one who feeds her and houses her and loves her.”
“That’s very true,” I agreed. “It’s a little alarming how much she hates everyone.”
“Yeah, but she’s basically a marshmallow, so it’s a bit of a moot point.” She sighed. “I guess a house over an apartment,” Tori continued. “And I can’t imagine not doing what I do now. It’s flexible, it’s fun, it’s stressful at times, sure, but so is every job.”
“Makes sense.”
“What about you?”
“The house is a given,” I replied. “I don’t know if it’s where I see myself living forever. Depends if my sister moves in with Josh after he proposes.”
Tori gasped.
“Forget that,” I said quickly. “I didn’t say that.”
“You said that!”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Colton!” She grabbed my t-shirt and leaned in. “You can’t not tell me now.”
Oh, shit.
I was in trouble.
“You can’t say a thing to Kinsley.”
“I would never.”
I stared at her for a moment. “I don’t believe you.”
“Okay, about stupid stuff, yeah, but not about this. Tell me!”
“There’s not a lot to tell. He’s trying to figure out how to propose to her and is overthinking it. It might actually help to have you to talk to. He’s just talking himself in circles at this point.”
“That’s exciting!”
“Is it? Isn’t it just another day where I have to wear a stupid suit? But this time have to be in all the pictures?”
Tori swatted at my chest. “Basically, but if you ask me nicely, I’ll be your date.”
My lips pulled to one side. “I’ll have to circle back to that.”
“Rude.”
“The worst.” I leaned in and kissed her, gently nibbling at her lower lip. “You know, it’s really inconvenient there’s a baby here.”
“And that it’s not our house,” she responded. “And it would be highly inappropriate to do anything like that here.”
“Very true.” I pulled back from her. “Did you say dinner was paid for?”
She grinned. “I wrangled Kai into buying all the food. Since they’re not paying me, it was only fair. Now I’m not happy that I have to share with you, but I’ll live.”
“I’ll make it worth your while. Tomorrow.”
***
“Penisssss!”
“Agatha, that’s just not appropriate,” Dylan said from the front of the room.
“But I can see his penis.” She was pointing at one of the new residents who had lost his shorts.
And who was not wearing any underpants.
The old guy looked down at his bare legs. “Oh, dear.”
“That’s all right, Mr. Canon. Why don’t I give you a hand with those?” One of the young nurses rushed over to help him while I grimaced from the corner. She quickly attended to him, even making sure to do up the tie at his waist so it didn’t happen again.
She was a better person than I was.
“This is bullshit,” Grandpa muttered from the chair next