Page 84 of Puck Prince

“What the hell does that mean?” I bark.

She turns to my sister, instead. “I think Nicky is teething. His gums are red, and he’s drooling a lot, which could also be why he’s congested and has a runny nose.”

“That doesn’t explain the fever.” I still have one hand on my keys, ready to steal Nicky and bolt for the elevators.

“It could,” Callie insists. “Summer, you said the fever and stomach rash started after his nap? After he’d been crying for a while?”

Summer chews on her bottom lip as she nods. Her messy bun bounces wildly. “Yeah. It was late last night.”

“It could be stress.”

“It could also be leprosy,” I snap. “I mean, look at his head. That looks disgusting.”

Summer shoves me in the shoulder. “Hey! He’s had that for, like, two weeks, asshole. Don’t call my baby disgusting.”

“It’s cradle cap,” Callie says evenly.

“Shit,” Summer hisses. “That sounds— Is that bad? Is it my fault?”

Callie smiles, and the knot in my chest loosens ever-so-slightly. “No. It’s totally normal. It’s— Well, I don’t actually know what it is, but it’s like really bad dandruff.”

“Do they make baby Head and Shoulders?” Summer turns and slaps me in the chest. “Google it, O. ‘Baby Head and Shoulders.’ Now.”

I pull out my phone, but Callie shakes her head. “I think coconut oil might work.”

Summer slaps me in the chest again. “You’re Mr. Visible Abs. Do you have coconut oil or not?”

I’m almost ashamed to say that I do, but in the interest of being even slightly useful, I nod.

“What are you waiting for? Get it!” Summer is making every attempt to incinerate me with her eyes right now.

I snatch the oil out of the pantry and hand it to Callie. Meanwhile, Nicky lets out another ear-assaulting cry. “What else do we need?”

“If you give him a warm bath and lather this on his head, you can use a comb to scrape the cradle cap off,” Callie explains. “It’s kind of gross, but it works and it’s gentle on his scalp. It will probably help with the tummy rash, too.”

“And the fever?”

“It’ll go down after his bath, some milk, and some sleep,” Callie reassures us.

Callie pulls up a few tutorial videos on YouTube for Summer to watch. Then my sister pulls Callie into a long, tight hug.

When they finally break apart, Summer turns to me. “Keep this one around. She’s an angel.”

Then my sister disappears into the bathroom with Nicky, and Callie and I are alone in my apartment. Again.

I stare at the closed door, replaying the last ten minutes in my mind. I haven’t frozen like that in years. I thought I outgrew it, but… I guess not.

Nicky is still screaming, but Summer’s voice is soft and soothing. She’s not nearly as panicked as she was when we found her. And that’s all thanks to Callie.

“He’s going to be okay, you know.” It’s only when Callie speaks that I can finally break eye contact with the door. “And your friend is just really exhausted.”

She’s prodding me for info, just like she was on the plane. But I’m not ready for a deep conversation yet.

“I need a drink. Do you need a drink?” I’m already heading to the kitchen. “I need one.”

“I’d take some water.”

Getting the drinks gives me forty-five seconds to think about what to do next. It’s nowhere near long enough, but it’s what I’ve got.

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