Page 130 of Surprisingly Us

Watching Lettie with Poppy and Finley, she’s a natural.

“Do you want kids?” The question leaves my mouth before I can reconsider.

She’s quiet a moment. “I think so. I want to dance for as long as I can, though, so that will take priority, but yeah, I can see myself having a family.” She turns to find me staring at her. “What about you?”

“Do you even have to ask?” My sharp remark comes out just as easily.

A smile tugs at her lips. “You were good with the kids at the hospital.”

“Yeah, but this,” I motion to the helpless babies cooing on the floor, “is terrifying.”

“Because you don’t want to have a family or because you don’t know what to do?”

I shrug. “I don’t know, maybe both.”

“You’re not going to learn anything sitting up there.”

“Fine.” I lower to the floor, trying to stretch out my long legs, but every position is uncomfortable. “Adults are not meant to sit on the floor. I’ve got tight hip flexors.”

Lettie easily leans forward, her ass lifting behind her.

“That’s not natural.” I motion to her. “No one but you and other elite athletes with highly flexible hips can do that.”

A loud farting sound comes from one of the babies.

“Oh my goodness. Was that you?” Lettie coos, tickling the baby’s belly. “Smells like someone needs a change.”

Lettie scoops up the baby in question. I have no idea which one is which or how to tell them apart.

“You need to watch Finley while I change Poppy.”

She motions toward the remaining baby.

“Is it going to move?” I ask.

Lettie blinks at me. “Sheis Finley and she doesn’t know how to crawl yet.”

I nod. “Okay.”

Lettie’s still talking as she walks down the hallway.

The baby that was left in my care must have good intuition. She quickly realizes she’s been left in the hands of an unqualified caregiver. Her eyes that had been tracking Lettie and her sister leave the room shift to take one look at me and her bottom lip begins to tremble. Her big blue eyes turn glassy. From the looks of it, those tears are going to be huge.

“No, no, no, no.” I attempt to head off the meltdown but I think my deep voice only serves to scare her more. Her mouth opens but there’s no sound. Then, a moment later, the crying starts.

“Lettie!” I call, but I doubt she can hear me over the wailing. “Shit.”

I lift to my knees in front of the baby and reach for a stuffed toy. I bounce it up and down in front of her hoping it will be a distraction.

“Look. It’s a giraffe.” I stare at the giraffe, trying to think of silly things to say about it. “It’s got a long neck.”

The giraffe does nothing so I toss it aside.

“Look, I don’t know what you need, but they’ll be back soon and Lettie will figure it out, so let’s stop crying while we wait.”

She only cries harder. Her tiny hands balling into fists, her face turning bright red.

“Okay, should I pick you up? Is that it?”

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