11 - Jessica

Jessica

Having to be face to face with Matthew Parkinson in the next three weeks came with its perks. I get to stay in one of their guest rooms – rent free. A guest room with closet the size of my entire bedroom, mind you. And Audrey always had this fridge that never goes out of stock – thanks to Kylie – whereas mine is just a cold, misting display of despair.

Free living space.

Free food.

The latter has even more delightful ring to it. So, as I fluff Miles' pillows and spread the sheets over his bed, I figured the whole co-parenting thing can't be all that bad.

Just think of food.

And all will be well.

"Mile-sy, you done brushing your teeth?" I called out, hoping he hears me from his bathroom. I volunteered to tuck him to bed. The rest of the routine will be lots of alternating. I've been in the living room with the guy for what felt like forever, watching cartoon, because no one wanted to move.

His head popped out from the gape of his bathroom door, toothbrush still sticking to his mouth. "Just one more minute."

"Okay." I walk over his window and draw the curtains, faltering when I see a silhouette outside by the swimming pool. It steps onto the faint light, and dear lord, the silhouette was soooo fine in his swimming shorts.

I squinted my eyes, leaning closer to the window, hoping to get more than just the slightest preview of broad shoulders and possible ripped abs. Absently, I leaned forward, yelping in pain when I hit my forehead on the glass window instead. "Shit," I cursed under my breath.

"Aunt Jess? Why are you standing so close to the window?"

I turn all the way around, my hand going over my forehead where the throbbing didn't stop. "Hey, Mile-sy. I was just checking the pool."

He marched toward me in his banana-printed PJs and looked out the window. "It's just Uncle Matty. He always goes for a swim at night whenever he sleeps over."

"Oh, so there will be other nights," I murmured.

"Huh?"

"Nothing." I beamed.

My phone rings in my pocket. We both lit up.

"It's your mommy."

"It's my mommy."

I slid it off from the pocket of my denim jacket, and sure enough, it was Audrey. "Hi, how's everything?" I chirped.

"I have no idea. We're still somewhere over the freaking nowhere, I don't really know. Someone is refusing to disclose that information to me," she grumbles.

I can imagine her throwing a black look to her husband.

"Where's my baby?"

"He's here. We've been eagerly waiting for you to call."

I hear Vren on the background, giddily asking if it was Miles on the phone.

"Really?" Her voice softened.

I handed my phone over to him. Miles practically shoved it to his ear, his blue eyes twinkling delightfully. He hopped to the edge of his bed and swung his legs while he talks to his parents.

Miles has on that one happy smile that made his eyes a beautiful midnight blue. That one happy smile that hinted how much of a wonderful parent my best friend has become alongside Vren.

I turned to the window to give them privacy. And I also want to see more of the impressive "silhouette." I grab Miles' binoculars from his toy chest and went back to the window fully armed to watch like a perv.

Miles is still talking to his parents behind me. I keep track of the one-sided conversation. That's why when Miles said his uncle Matt is swimming in the pool and I'm watching him with his binoculars, I snapped back around, my face on fire.

I keep forgetting how honest kids are.

Ice settled in the pit of my stomach when Miles hands over my cellphone. "Mommy wants to talk to you."

I plastered on a smile and took the phone.

He grins, turning to his bookshelves to choose his bedtime story.

"Hey, you guys gotta go?"

"No. I think I'm gonna stay on the line a little bit."

I laugh nervously.

"My dad gave Miles those binoculars last Christmas. Like what you see?" There was a hint of humor in her voice, but I would love it better if it wasn't me on the hotseat.

"You know, I don't think it works. I saw nothing," I gushed.

She laughs slightly on the other line. "Whatever you say. Did you see the calendar on Miles' nightstand?"

I glance toward Miles who's now rummaging through his drawer for a pair of socks. He had a bunch of those from his Aunt Kylie.

"What's the calendar for?" I turn to the nightstand and spot a notebook-sized calendar with notes and remarks written prominently. I'm surprised I haven't seen it until now. The remarks were in glittered pen, the others were delicately given emphasis with a broad highlighter pen. "I didn't know you're so artsy, Audrey Danler," I teased. "I literally had no idea you're the glitter kind of gal."

"Georgie, gave me the glitter pens."

"Oh, I see."

"Anyways, the glitter is for Matty, the highlights are for you," she instructed which wrinkled my brow.

Phew. We're given separate chores.

"Why wasn't the glitter for me?"

"Because highlighters make the letters far more salient even from across the room," she said pointedly.

"Hey, I won't forget about it. Even with a hungover brain I certainly wouldn't forget my godmother duties."

"Couldn't hurt to take extra precautions. Can you lend Matty the calendar? As you can see, first chore for tomorrow is in glitters and that means it's Matty's."

My insides squirm uncomfortably. Do I have to?

"Jessica?"

"Of course. I will. You don't have to worry about anything. At all."

"Okay. Can I say good night to my baby?"

Said baby was putting on a pair of banana-printed socks – one of Kylie's many gifts. "Mile-sy, your mommy wants to say goodbye before she hangs up."

A toothy grin plastered on his cute face.

I handed him the phone. "I'll just give this calendar to your uncle Matthew, okay?"

He nodded eagerly and took the phone.

I walked across the room, giving him another glance over my shoulder before exiting the door. As I reached the bottom of the stair, I thought not going straight to Matthew Parkinson – to the task at hand – might be a good idea since I needed some courage to be face-to-face with the 'task.' I took a detour toward the kitchen.

To others a sip of whiskey might be the right way to muster some of that courage, but in my case, the box of donuts I mentally taken a note of left unattended on the counter was the way to go. Turns out, my version of an invigorating alcohol is sweet carbs and occasionally fatty and sometimes the oiliest crap. So long as its edible.

I opened the box and grinned at the sight of three leftover donuts. The poor apple, blueberry and strawberry jelly donuts everyone refused to pick earlier because they were too messy to eat. Which is a shame because messy can be good too.

Clutching the calendar securely in my right hand, I began the interior struggle of choosing which jelly donut to eat first. I pick up the strawberry one.

I took my first bite, the jelly filling exploding decadently on my tongue, some spilling just slightly on the corners of my mouth. I'll wipe them clean after I finished all three. Halfway through my first donut, the sliding doors rattled, and I almost choke when Matthew came in a fluffy white bathrobe.

He freezes when he saw me.

I stared with a half-eaten donut on my other hand and the calendar on the other.

Shit. I should've finished the donuts. Now I stand there with premature courage and a jelly filling in my mouth. Probably on the corners too.

"Hi." He steps further inside.

I cleared my throat. "Hey, I, um," I stammered.

Come on, you idiot. Say something coherent!

"Audrey," I begin again, "she wanted me to give you this." I shove my left hand at him.

His blue eyes flick briefly down to my hand and then back to my face. "A half-eaten donut?"

My face burned. "Oh, sorry. This calendar." I shove it forward.

He took it.

And then there was silence.

One hell of an awkward silence.

Hi, guys! What do you think of the chapter? :)

Gosh, it's been so long. Hope I'll be able to update the next chapter sooner. Stay safe, lovelies. ❤️