I start unpacking the box and pull out some mixing bowls, a couple of glass baking dishes, and a full set of glasses. “Are you sure you don’t need this stuff?”
“Positive. Between everything from my apartment and what Chase already had, we’re overflowing.”
“These are new.” I point to the glasses.
“Yeah, I bought them on clearance right before I had to move. We like the ones that Chase had better so, there you go.” She grins. “I’m going to lay him down and then start helping you wash and put all this away. Do you have a preference of where it goes?”
“No. The cabinets are clean and bare. You do what you think makes the most sense, and we’ll go with that. Thank you, Gabby.” My brother did damn good finding his forever.
“We’re family.” She leaves the room to place Milo in his Pack ’n Play and then reappears and gets right to work.
“I thought we were hauling all this shit in? As in, you and me, brother? Instead, I find you in here chatting up my wife.”
“My sister,” I counter, and he smiles despite his words. “And I was just taking the time to thank her for all of this.”
“I’m taking it all back if you don’t get your ass out here and help me.”
“That means you have to load it all back up in your SUV,” I counter, and he curses under his breath, making Gabby giggle. “Come on, you big baby.” It takes us two more trips to get it all unloaded.
Once the bags and boxes are unpacked, my house doesn’t feel so bare anymore. The kitchen is stocked. From baking dishes, glasses, to plates and bowls, even silverware. I have a stack of linens, a throw blanket, and an end table and a lamp that fits perfectly next to the new couch that was delivered earlier this week. There’s now a rug lying in front of the front door, and there are two empty laundry baskets ready to be filled in the small laundry room.
“If you need me to watch Milo while you go out and grab whatever else you need, just let me know.”
“Thanks. I need to get some paint for his room, and get it all fixed up.”
“Oh, I can definitely help with that.” She smiles, and her eyes light up at the possibility.
“How about you pick it all out? I’m not good with that stuff.” I’m sure I could figure it out, but I know Gabby, and this is right up her alley.
“You have no idea what you just agreed to,” Chase jokes. “She’s been shopping online every night for our baby’s nursery. Who knew there were so many options, and that a tiny little human would need so much?”
“Well, they don’t really need to have all of it,” Gabby chimes in. “But, it’s cute, and you want them to have a place of their own, and babies need routine and security.”
“I already told you. Tell me what you want, and it’s yours.” Chase leans in and presses his lips to hers.
“I knew I loved you for a reason,” she quips.
“My baby-making skills,” Chase offers with a smirk.
“Well, I mean, I guess there is that,” Gabby says, barely able to contain her laughter.
“Woman.” He slides his hand behind her neck and crushes his lips to hers. I have to look away. I don’t need to see all that. Especially since I’ve been in a dry spell. So dry, in fact, the night Milo was conceived was the last time my baby-making skills were utilized.
“Keep it PG, brother,” I chide Chase.
“Have you seen my wife?” he retorts, pulling away from her.
“Put us to work, babe,” Chase tells her.
She doesn’t hesitate as she points out dishes and which cabinet to put them in. I do as I’m told. Sure, this is my house, but it’s overwhelming. Besides, Gabby loves this stuff. Might as well give her this, for as much as she’s done for Milo and me.
“That’s the last of it.” Gabby wipes her hands on a hand towel that she must have brought with her as well. “At least you’re set up for meals, and Milo has what he needs as well.”
“Thanks to the two of you. I can’t ever repay you for all you’ve done for me, and for Milo.”
“You would have done the same thing,” Chase tells me.
He’s right, and I would have. I’m just about to tell him that when Milo’s whimper stops me. “He didn’t sleep long.”
“It’s a new place, and we weren’t exactly quiet.”
“You told me not to be quiet.”
She nods. “You want him to get used to sleeping through everyday sounds. Keeping a serene quiet house is hard to do, and you and Milo are both going to be sleep-deprived if that’s the path you try to take.”
“I’m in over my head, aren’t I?” I ask them. Milo’s whimper turns into a full-on cry. Making my way toward the living room, I lift him in my arms, and I can smell immediately why he was crying. “We’ll get you cleaned up, little man.” His cries quiet once he’s in my arms. “Phew, you stink,” I tell him, and his cries quiet further.
The doorbell rings. “That must be him. Time to meet our new roomie.” I pull open the door, just as I feel wetness seep through on my hand. Taking a better look, I see my hand is now covered in shit, and my son, well, let’s just say his current situation gives new meaning to covered head to toe. “Come on in,” I say, not bothering to look up. “I’ve kind of got a situation on my hands.” I turn to head to the bathroom. That’s the only solution to this mess.
“I can see that.” A soft angelic voice greets my ears and has me stopping in my tracks.
I turn to look over my shoulder, and the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen is standing just inside the doorway. Long brown hair, tan skin, and big green eyes that are regarding me with amusement.
“I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“You’re Colton Callahan, right?”
“I’m Colton.” My mind is going through every woman I’ve ever met, but I’m pretty sure I would remember her.
She takes a step forward and holds out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Hollis, your new roommate.”
“Colt, everything okay?” Chase enters the room, but I don’t look at him. I can’t seem to pull my eyes from the goddess standing in front of me.
My new roommate.
Fuck me.
“Y-You’re Hollis? You’re a woman.” A sexy as hell, mouthwatering temptation is more like it. To a man who’s been in the desert a good portion of this last year, she’s a tall, cold drink of water. I can hear Chase laughing, but my eyes remain on her.
“Is that a problem?” she asks, tilting her head to the side.
“Babe, wh— Oh, hi.” Gabby offers her hand to Hollis. “I’m Gabby, Chase’s wife.”
“Hollis.”
Gabby’s mouth forms the perfect O. “You’re Hollis?”
“I am.” She turns to me and grins, then scrunches up her nose. “What on earth?” She moves toward me, and that’s when I remember that not only is my hand covered in my son's shit, but he’s covered as well.
“Right. I need to handle this.” I turn on my heel and rush toward the bathroom. Once Milo and I are behind the locked door, for good measure, I take a deep breath. “This isn’t what I was expecting, bud. We’re going to have to tell her to leave, right? She can’t live here with us. No way. Sleeping with our tenant is not a good idea. Daddy’s just going to have to tell her there was a mix-up, and she needs to find a new place. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.”