Page 11 of His for the Taking

I get the text sent, wait until the message appears as read, and hit the call button.

“Hello,” Kody’s answers quietly. I hear the door open and then closing in the background. Probably stepping into the bathroom or walking out front to take my call.

“Hey, sorry to call. I figured it’d be easier than relaying everything through text.” I had the truck running when I pulled up to the site and while Matthew was inside. Now that he’s gone, I turn my vehicle off, take the key out of the ignition, and drop them in the cupholder.

“It’s not a problem. I’m technically working for you. You can call whenever,” she replies. I’m sure by now, she saw the baby monitor I leave in the living room, a display with a live feed to Josephine’s room. Even still, I should have gone over things a bit more.

“Thanks, I appreciate that. I was calling to see if you would mind staying late?” I wince out the question, worried I’m scaring her off before she really has a chance to settle in and agree to potentially watch JoJo a few days a week.

“Not at all. Do you mean late as in dinner time or late as in get her ready for bed?” Once again, Kody is saving me ass when I don’t deserve an ounce of her help.

“Fuck, the way work is going,” I grumble, “It’ll probably be around bedtime, which I know I didn’t give you a lot of information to begin with, so I will now. The monitor is in the living room. She can sleep in my bed or hers, probably better in her own bed, but I’ve been letting her decide.” A decision that will no doubt kick me in the ass when I wake her up on one of my bouts of insomnia or I when I get home too late and end up making more noise than a pack of wolves. Then she’ll be up for hours, completely fucking me.

“Noted. What about dinner ideas, bath time, and bedtime?” She takes me asking her to stay late with grace. Jesus, she’s perfect but also off fucking limits.

“She’ll eat whatever, but there are chicken nuggets in the freezer I use in a pinch. Josephine likes salad, and she’ll want either macaroni and cheese or rice. Whichever you feel up to. Bath time before bed, which is around seven, depending on how tired she is. She’ll want a bedtime story, too. Shit, I feel like I’m asking entirely too much. Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I ask, worry sitting in the pit of my gut.

“I’ve got this. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t currently have a job, and Josephine is not a hardship. One last question, then you can get back to work. A sippy cup at bedtime, and if so, what does she get in it?” Josephine isn’t in a crib anymore. Emma caught her trying to climb out of hers. I take that back, nottryingto; she had her whole body over the side of the rail, her stomach on the top bar and her legs kicking for traction. She transitioned her into a big girl bed that night. I did the same the next time she was at my house.

“Sometimes, she’ll take water, but for the most part, she’ll only get up if she’s thirsty. Obviously, you know she’s potty trained by now, which I didn’t tell you this morning. I promise I usually have my act together,” I tell her honestly. If it weren’t for Shaun and my mom telling me all of her experience with kids, I’d have never asked Kody to watch her in the first place.

“It’s okay. I learned it pretty fast this morning. Kudos, by the way. Not even a trainer at night, and she’s Little Miss Independent. Okay, I think that covers everything. I can always call my mom if something comes up and you’re not available. I better get back in the house. Josephine is starting to squirm on the monitor. I’m assuming nap time is about over.” I’m still wondering where she’s at in or outside of my house.

“Yeah, you’d be right. Thanks again, Kody. I really appreciate all your help.”

“You’re welcome. See you tonight. I’ll have her FaceTime you before bed,” Kody offers, and fuck me, that means more than I’d like to admit.

“That’d be great.” I’ve been spoiled being home with JoJo every night except the occasional one night a week she spends with my parents. It makes me feel like I’m missing out or she’ll have some kind of trauma with losing Emma as abruptly as she did. I know it’s guilt. Doesn’t mean acknowledging the subject makes it any better.

“Alright, well, duty calls. Bye, Jameson.”

“Later, Kody.” The phone clicks off on the other end, and it signals me to get my ass out of the truck. It’s time to get this clusterfuck of a day over and done with. I’ve got a little girl to get home to tonight.

15

KODY

Ithink I may have screwed the pooch on my first day of watching Josephine, especially if Jameson asks me to watch her again. The bar is going to be set pretty high after the day we had. In the morning, we made breakfast, played dress-up, and then had lots of arts and crafts type fun. After lunch and a nap, she was back in action with an abundance of energy. There was still a lot of day left, so we spent the majority of our time outdoors. I went into the garage and found a wagon and a stroller, figuring the wagon would be better for Josephine. There was no doubt in my mind she’d want to walk for a while. I also knew she’d eventually get tired and would want to take a break. She lasted longer than I thought, and while walking, she picked up a plethora of items along the way. The flowers, well, more like weeds she picked we put in a glass of water for Jameson. The leaves, we traced her hands and feet and then glued the leaves around them, breaking them up until they fit. It was kind of a reverse effect since Josephine collected so many. We left the rocks for another day, where I promise she could paint them and disperse to her grandparents’ and uncle’s.

Needless to say, I’ve set the bar high, and I’m really going to put my thinking cap on for my next day with Josephine. Maybe I’ll stop at the store and pick up a few new puzzles and some other crafts since she really enjoys them. There’s no way I’m going to even attempt to take her to the park after last time. Jameson would probably kill me. I could see if he’d be up for putting her in those jungle gym classes once a week. The weather is only going to turn colder, and with the energy she has, keeping her inside is going to be impossible.

The sun is finally down. JoJo is fast asleep in her own room, which didn’t take much convincing either. After a FaceTime call to her dad and a few bedtime stories, she was out like a light. Now, I’m sitting on the couch while the television is quietly playing a mindless show, not that it’s holding my attention. Clearly, I’m tired. It’s been a long time since I’ve been as active as I was today. I guess it’s slowly catching up to me. One minute I’m trying to keep my eyes open, and the next thing I know, Jameson is whispering in my ear, “Kody, babe.” I hear his voice, but I’m warm, he’s being nice, and I want to enjoy the moment for a few minutes longer.

“Son of a bitch, I’ll call Shaun and let him know she’s staying here tonight.” I blink my eyes rapidly. They feel like sandpaper, but there’s no way I’m spending the night on Jameson’s couch.

“Jameson.” His name comes out in a croak. It does the job at getting his attention. I watch as he places his phone on the counter and waits for me to say more. “Sorry, I’m awake. I promise I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” I pull the blanket off my body. Maybe the cold air will wake me up from the fog that’s currently trying to take hold of me.

“Kody, I wasn’t worried about you sleeping. I’m more worried about you traveling home when you’re already exhausted.” He leans against the counter, crossing one ankle over the other, arms doing the same across his chest. He looks like he’s had a rough day. His hair is mused, there are dark circles beneath his eyes, and he has what is either dirt or oil smudged along his cheekbones and on what was once a clean outfit.

“Shaun only lives ten minutes away. I’ll be okay. Unless you need me early again tomorrow?” Now it’s me crossing my fingers, hoping it’s not another twelve-hour day. Okay, that sounds awful even in my head. Josephine was easy. The problem is me. I’m the problem. I’m no longer used to working twelve hours a day running after a toddler. Give me a photo shoot all day long. I’m tired the next day, but not nearly as badly as I currently am.

“Are you sure? The couch is yours if you want it.” I shake my head and stand up, hanging on to the blanket to fold it. After Josephine’s bath time, which was longer than usual, an absolute must after we ate spaghetti for dinner—I think she even had red sauce in her ears—she watched television for a few minutes, enjoying her tunes as I picked up the kitchen, preparing a plate and putting it in the fridge for Jameson. The last thing I wanted was for him to come home hungry and have to deal with a dirty house. Especially since it was clean when he left this morning.

“I’m positive.” I place the now folded blanket on the ledge of the couch before moving toward him. “Let me grab my stuff, and then I’ll be on my way. Oh, I promised Josephine you’d kiss her good night no matter what time you came home.” I need to get my bag and shoes, then get to Shaun’s. As sweet as it was for Jameson to offer me, I’d probably toss and turn. The last thing I want to do is explain to Josephine why I spent the night. No, thank you.

“Alright,” Jameson responds. “I’ll walk you out and then come back inside to tuck her in.” I nod then walk to the front door in a handful of steps. I loop my bag over my shoulder and slide my feet into my shoes.

“Ready when you are.” There’s no telling him I can walk myself out. He wouldn’t listen to me anyway, plus he’d probably bring my brother into the conversation and how he’d be doing me a disservice.