Page 18 of Run, Little Bunny

“You have to tell us, how was it being the Easter Bunny?” Kelly asks, pacing as she rocks her two-month-old son. “I’m so mad we missed it. These boys are terrible sleepers right now, and I was too drained to go.”

“The costume itself was terrible. So hot to wear. But it was a great event.”

“I’m sad I missed seeing you as the bunny.” My brother-in-law Noah leans on the wall in the living room. “But honestly, if I’d lost fantasy, I’m not sure I could’ve gone through with it.”

“Oh, we would’ve made sure of it,” I say, smirking. “Rules are rules.”

“You guys gave me a lot of ideas for my fantasy league,” says James, my soon-to-be brother-in-law.

“Next season, are you joining our league or not?” I ask him.

“Depends on what the loser has to do. I think we’ve been way too nice to each other in our league.” He gives Ashley a kiss before sitting on the recliner.

My sisters picked good guys. I know they’re right about me needing to take dating more seriously. With how well the bar banter was on Saturday, I’m excited to take Anna out on Tuesday.

“The bunny costume is how I broke the ice with Anna,” I admit to the group.

“What do you mean?” Heather perks up, fully invested now as she sits cross-legged on the rug in front of the couch.

“I invited her to High Five to have a drink with ‘Buttons the Bunny.’”

“This poor girl,” Kelly says, although she’s smiling. “Wait—are you saying you wore the costume at the bar?”

“Just the mask.”

“And she was into it?” Ashley asks skeptically, taking a seat next to me on the couch.

“Yeah.” I shrug. “Apparently.”

“Well, you two sound like a match already.” Heather laughs.

“I would’ve been, like, ‘take off that mask, weirdo.’” Ashley chuckles, nudging me with her elbow.

“Do you want to hold him?” Kelly asks now that baby Theo is asleep in her arms.

“Give me the little man!” I reach over, taking him carefully. He’s tiny, but I’m still cautious with him. “He’s big, right? Like longer than most babies this age?”

“He’s in the eightieth percentile for height and weight.”

“I do not want a ten-pound baby, but it feels inevitable at this point,” Ashley says, leaning over and reaching for Theo's hand.

“Inevitable before or after the wedding?” I tease.

“After.” She nudges her shoulder into me.

“I’m a little scared of babies when they’re this small,” I share. “But once they're Oliver’s age, it’s adventure time with Uncle Chad. Let me know when I can take him off your hands sometime.”

“Will do.” Kelly smiles at me. “You know, if you took dating more seriously, you could have your own family by now.”

I give her a sarcastic look. “Is that how it works?”

But something in her comment sticks with me.

Monday, April 21st

Chad Braun

How is my little bunny doing today?

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