Page 70 of Vince
Vince
I’m dragging ass today.I have no freaking clue how Sydney works these hours and still functions throughout the day. Thank fuck, I studied as well as I did; the exam in my first class is handled with ease. The rest of my day slugs on, and I can’t wait until I can see Sydney again.
For the most part, I know Julia’s pretty easy to handle, but I hope she’s on her best behavior for Sydney. Like any three-year-old, she’s unpredictable at times, but if Sydney can handle drunk frat boys, I’m sure she can handle Jules.
When my last class finally ends, I rush home. The thought of seeing Sydney has my drowsiness disappearing. I drove to campus today so I could get home quicker. I’m sure she would’ve texted if there was a problem, but still… I worry.
When I enter through the garage door, the house is unusually quiet. I call out, but there’s no answer. From the living room, I can hear the sound of a television faintly from my bedroom. Knowing that’s Julia’s favorite place to watch a movie, I smile as I shorten the distance between us.
Wondering if Julia’s sleeping, I peek around the corner.
My heart melts when I see not only Julia is fast asleep, but Sydney as well. Julia’s done one of her sleep-ninja moves. She’s lying with her feet intertwined with Sydney as one arm flops over Syd’s belly. I almost feel sorry for Syd; sleeping with Julia’s like sleeping next to a category-three hurricane. The covers are tossed over Sydney, so if I had to guess, I’d say she started with no covers on her. Otherwise, they’d likely be pooled on the floor.
Syd’s long, red hair sprawls out behind her across my pillow.
Is her hair wet?
Glancing at my bathroom, I see her bag and clothes piled on top from what looks like a run. No wonder they’re sleeping.
She must sense me staring, because her lids flutter open, and her green eyes find me at the doorway in an instant.
“Hey, you,” I whisper.
Wordlessly, she smiles at me, then takes in the situation with Julia entangled with her and looks to me helplessly.
I cover my mouth to stifle a laugh. They’re such a tangled mess, I have no idea how she’ll get out of there if left on her own.
Holding up my finger to stop her movement, I walk to Julia’s side of the bed. In a well-practiced move, I expertly untangle her legs from Syd’s without any disruption. I can’t even count how many times I’ve had to untangle Julia from Vanessa to let her get some well-needed sleep. I swear from the moment she was born, this girl’s like an octopus and grows extra limbs in the night.
As soon as she’s extricated, I’m blessed with the most beautiful smile as Sydney mouths, “Thank you.”
She slips off the other side of the bed with cat-like reflexes.
As soon as she’s standing, I motion for her to follow me out of the room.
Reaching for her hand, I close the door behind us. As soon as we’re out of earshot in the living room, I stop and face Sydney, and I can’t help the smile that plays on my lips.
“How was your day?” I ask, barely above a whisper.
“Good.” Then she shakes her head as if another thought has struck her. “I can’t believe I fell asleep, though. Sorry. When she insisted I lie down, that was my demise.”
“Jules is persuasive,” I admit. “Besides, you must’ve needed it. Van and I often fall asleep with her if she’ll actually lie down. You’re a miracle worker just getting her to rest in the first place. How did you manage to wear her out?”
Syd pulls in a deep breath and slowly releases it. “Let’s see…” She ticks things off on her fingers. “We made pancakes for breakfast.”
“Seriously? She ate cereal before you got here.”
Sydney shrugs. “She said she was hungry. Then we played with Legos, did a few puzzles, and when it was warm enough, she rode her bike, and I ran beside her for about four miles if I had to guess. She said it was a route you often take with her, so I went with it. When we got back, I made her some soup and sandwiches.”
“Wow, that’s a lot.”
“I hope you don’t mind. I used your shower after she, in so many words, said I stink.”
Ohmigod… Julia didn’t.
Sydney’s wrinkled nose says I couldn’t be so lucky. “I’m so sorry…” I start.
But Sydney cuts me off with a shake of her head, “No… she wasn’t wrong. I was a hot mess and in desperate need of a shower. No offense was taken—trust me.”
