Page 40 of More Than Friends

Maybe it’s my own lack of sleep and the sight of him shirtless and wearing glasses that’s giving me funny feelings I’m not used to getting around him.

That’s got to be it.

Jude turns around so he can look at me from his spot on the couch. He lifts Ava above his head, making her let out a happy squeal as he quickly lowers her closer to him. “Just spend time with my girl and hopefully squeeze in some work when she sleeps. Do you need any help getting packed or getting your things here?”

I shake my head. I want him to get as much time with Ava as he can. I hadn’t even thought about how he was going to factor in work with Ava. I know he doesn’t have a strict schedule for work, but I do know it keeps him fairly busy. I want to ask him how he plans on juggling both, but I don’t want to overwhelm him. Instead, I focus on answering his question. “No, I’m good. If everything’s good here, I’m going to run home now and pack, and then I’ll be back.”

Jude lifts Ava in the air again before repeating the same motion by dropping his arms. The smile she gives him is massive when he does it again. “Everything’s good. I know you stepped in last night with Ava, but I didn’t ask you to stay here for the summer because I wanted you to watch Ava for me. Hopefully, last night was a fluke. You’re free to come and go as much as you need. Ava isn’t your responsibility.”

I want to tell him that I don’t mind helping. Iwantto be here and help. But he’s so insistent on wanting to be able to do it on his own that I don’t argue. I pull open a cabinet I made some room in and place the clean bottles inside. I chew on my bottom lip, a little nervous to ask the question at the forefront of my mind. “Are you sure you’re okay with me moving in? I was going to let Devin know I’m leaving and it’ll be ready for the new renters, but I don’t want to tell him that until I’m sure I have somewhere to stay for the next few months.” My words come out hurried while I stare at the bottles in the cabinet because I’m nervous that he might have changed his mind

When he doesn’t answer right away, I turn around to look at him.

He cradles Ava to his chest before standing up. He rounds the couch and walks toward me with furrowed eyebrows. He looks almost confused that I even asked the question at all. “Of course I’m sure. I want you here. Now, go get your stuff, and I’ll make sure your room is ready for you when you get back.”

I stare at him for a few moments, searching for any clues that he doesn’t mean what he’s saying. From what I can tell, he’s genuine about not minding me crashing here for the summer.

I work my bottom lip between my teeth for a few moments before nodding. “Okay, I’ll go get my stuff, and I’ll be back.”

“Our first official day as roomies.” He winks, and I have to leave the kitchen before he can see the way my cheeks heat from the gesture.

TWENTY-FOUR

JUDE

My daughter givesme the biggest smile as I stare down at her with my mouth hanging open. “I think you’re going to need a bath.” I’m scared to even pick her up as she makes sounds I’ve never heard come from a tiny baby.

She happily kicks her legs up and down, completely unbothered that she just shit her pants…and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be everywhere.

I’ve changed plenty of her diapers, but this is the first poop.

And based on what I just heard, it seems like it might be a big one.

“We’re going straight to the bath, baby girl.” I carefully lift her from her playmat. There’s nothing on the playmat or on her back, but I’m still nervous to get to the bathroom and find out if Ava had a blowout or not.

I turn the bathtub on and set Ava down on the plush bathroom rug and unzip her pjs. We’ve had a great day together, just the two of us. Charlotte left to finish packing up her apartment hours ago. I didn’t think she’d be gone so long, and I’ve fought the urge to text her and check in, but I also don’t want her to get annoyed with me, so I refrained. I’ve kept myself busy playing with Ava and bonding with her.

After our rough night together, I needed today with her. We’ve had the best time. Every time she’s fussed, I’ve been able to figure out what she needs almost right away, and it’s been the confidence boost I didn’t even know I needed.

While she slept, I was even able to get some work done and get in touch with a highly recommended family lawyer. I don’t want to wait long at all on getting things sorted out about Ava being mine and only mine. My lawyer got me connected with a way to discreetly take a paternity test, and I should have it confirmed soon that Ava is biologically mine.

I carefully pull Ava’s feet out of the pjs, bracing myself for what I’m about to see.

“Holy shit,” I mutter, bringing my T-shirt over my nose to cover the smell.

I laugh. Literally, holyshit.

I realize as I pull Ava’s arms out of the sleeves that I don’t have wipes in the bathroom. I leave her on the rug and run into my room. Once I have the wipes, I work on quickly getting the diaper off her and wiping her down before putting her in the baby bath inside my large claw-foot tub.

She kicks her legs in the water before letting out a happy squeal.

I can’t help but smile as I kneel next to the tub. “Do you like the water?” I grab the basket of bath supplies from next to the tub and pull out a whale-shaped rinse cup. Ava continues to happily kick her legs and splash while I fill the cup with water.

Her smile gets even wider and her dimples deeper as I slowly pour the water from the cup over her little body.

“You really like the water.” My mom always said I was a water baby and it was where I was happiest. I love that it seems Ava might be the same way.

“Hello?” Charlotte’s voice comes from somewhere in the house.