Never Been Kissed(17)

The kid settles himself on the couch, wiggling his butt into it, smacking the seat next to him loudly with his palm. I roll my eyes. So demanding.

When I sit, the little bugger leans close and gives me a wet kiss on my cheek. I feel like I’ve been given a gold medal for doing the dishes. I look at him funny.

“I forgot to tell you. You look better than a princess!” Matty exclaims with a smile. I don’t believe in compliments. Words don’t really mean anything. Bad people can hide behind sweet words. Good people can maim with harsh ones.

“What do I look like, then?” I’m not sure I want to know.

“Princesses have big poofy dresses that you can get lost in.” This is true to a four-year-old. “I might get them dirty. You don’t mind getting dirty. You let me wipe my finger on your shorts.” Hunter’s girlfriend is probably more civilized. She’d likely get a napkin. He shrugs like that should explain everything. “You’re beautiful.”

I don’t think he’s lying. I hope not. They’re the sweetest words I’ve ever heard.

A knock comes at the door. I go to the peephole and open the door to let Katie in.

She smiles at me, stumbling in when she catches a glimpse of Matty on my couch.

The little guy tilts his head to the side, inquisitive and curious.

“Who are you?” Matty asks.





“What?!” Katie squawks. The bowl of guacamole in her left hand wobbles and I lunge for it. I tamp down my need to raise my hands in the air in triumph. “What just happened?” Katie asks. She can’t seem to look away from the little guy, like I conjured him into existence with a spell.

“Hunter is in the hospital. I offered to watch Matty for the weekend. End of story.”

Katie shakes her head, like she needs to clear it. I take in her flawless make-up, her long dark hair cascading down her shoulders, over her boobs to hit her ribs. Matty seems fascinated. And there goes whatever small measure of affection he has for me.

Katie snaps her fingers. “Details. I need details. What happened to him, is he okay? And why in hell would you offer to watch after a kid for a couple of days?”

I roll my eyes, and wave Matty over. I watch him glide towards me on his sock-feet, holding onto my leg as he stares up at my best friend.

“This is my best friend, Katie, Matty. And yeah; it’s not a big deal. I’m just helping Hunter out - he has no one else to watch Matty, alright?”

I look down at Matty, his neck crooked back to take all of Katie in. She’s still wearing her stilettos from work, and I have no idea how she can stand to walk in them all day long.

“What’s in the bowl?” Matty asks, pointing to the guacamole in my hands.

“Guacamole. I always bring guacamole. It’s my specialty,” Katie says, still looking at Matty like he’s a Blast-Ended Skrewt about to tap-dance.

“Special-tee,” Matty repeats, smiling. “Does it have vegetables in it?” He sticks his tongue out in disgust.

“Yeah, but you get to eat it with chips. So it’s a win-win.”

I motion Katie to deposit her stuff on the counter, and lean down to get at Matty’s eye-level. “If you ever feel scared or nervous, you can tell me. I can keep a secret.”

He just nods, and doesn’t say anything. “You’re going to tell me when you’re tired, right?” I get another nod. Christ, I should’ve asked Hunter when I was on the phone with him. I should have asked him what to do if Matty wakes up tired, or if his sugar drops, or how often it does, and a whole bunch of other details that are important.

The bastard had to go and piss me off, and I forgot about Matty; all I thought about was myself. That can’t happen again.

The boys come together. I swear they should’ve been born quadruplets. All only children, it’s like they found each other for the sole purpose of being a brother to one another. They all come bloody dressed similarly, too. The slacks, shirts and suit jackets – they look like they could all be working for Harvey Specter.

“Hey, Sera!” Josh says, voice booming. Italian as he is, he has two settings: loud and oh-my-god-my-eardrums. “Uh... why do you have a kid in your apartment?” His eyebrows pop high on his forehead, and his chocolate brown eyes rocket from me to the kid to Katie.

“Nice to see you too, buddy. I’m fine, thanks,” I say, patting his cheek.

Josh blinks at me, then swoops in to give me a kiss on each cheek, hard enough that we smack cheekbones. Violence by affection.“I brought Rickard’s. And I want dessert right now.”

Matty giggles behind me, clutching one of my legs.

Josh looks down at him, and if he’s thinking something that Matty is clutched so tight to my leg, he doesn’t say it.“Don’t you want to eat dessert first thing? Yeah? Then why you laughing at me, kid?”