I finish pulling my hair partially up with a slight pouf on the top and scoop him up into my arms. “Jeez what have you been eating squirt you’re so heavy! Let’s go down to Auntie Allys room for a minute and then I’ll flip it on for you, sound good?” “Yup!”
I wander down to Allys room, peeking my head in. I notice she’s on the phone and grin over at her. “Okay sweets....I’ll see you in a bit. Okay, yup got it. Got to run, Ms. Leah is in need of my assistance.” From the expression on her face I can already tell who that was without even asking. Ally had met a guy named Skylar at some of kind of animal rights petition that she had helped to organize on campus. He was the quintessential hippy in my eyes with his long blonde dreads, multiple facial piercings, and frayed jeans, but he seemed to make Ally really happy and they had spent almost every minute together since meeting. I think I saw less of Ally now when we were actually living together, then in our whole last summer back in our hometown together.
Ally throws herself back onto her bed, “Ahh I think I’m in love,” as she clutches her hands to her chest dramatically. “ He is totally my soul mate. Now all we need to do is find your soul mate and we can do double dates, a double wedding, have kiddos who will be instant bff’s for life. I think I even found the perfect match for you.”
I raise an eyebrow and flop down next to her and Caleb climbs up next to us resting his head on my outstretched stomach. “Simmer down Ms. Matchmaker, I think I can only handle this little guy right now.” I run my hand through Calebs still baby soft hair. I can’t believe he’s already three years old.
“Besides I don’t plan on getting married for about 20 more years, I don’t want to keep you and Skylar from running off into the sunset and making your love babies.” I reach over and grab her hand to pull her up.”Do you think you can stop daydreaming for two seconds and help me figure out what the heck I should wear tonight?” She pops up and starts flipping through her closet which is an array of bright neon’s and flowing skirts. “Um…. Als? All that looks great on you but I don’t think anything you have going on in here will help me fit in. Can you come down to my room? I have a few outfits picked out.”
Ally makes her way into my room and stands with her arms crossed over her chest, a finger under her chin. “Hmm well I think this might be a little bit too dressy,” she tosses a navy blue shift dress off to the side. “Here this will look great together.” I grab the outfit she hands to me and head towards my bathroom to change quickly. I hook my bra on the back of the door, definitely can’t wear one with this outfit. I dab on some lip gloss and spritz my body with some wildflower body spray.
“Does it look alright?” I ask Ally as I pad back into my room.”You look pretty Mommy!” Caleb exclaims as he races his cars around every surface in our room.
Ally had selected a black pencil skirt paired with a silky ivory ruffled halter top that tied around the base of my neck and had a low cut on my back. “Perfect! Classy with a little bit of sexiness mixed in. Gage won’t be able to keep his hands off your hot body in this.” She shoves a pair of black peep toe heels at me and I slide my feet in.
“Well he better keep his hands off. I’ve clearly explained to him friends only. It took a lot of convincing for him to get me to agree to going to alumni dinner his frats putting on.”
“Bye sweetie be good for Auntie Al,” I lean down and plant a kiss on Calebs sweet baby cheek.
“’Kay Mommy I be good.” He waves at me with his small hand before Ally starts to tickle his belly and they start rolling around on the floor, both of them giggling.
I roll my eyes and pull out my keys to lock the door behind myself so I can meet Gage out front. I figured that would be best instead of him coming up since I hadn’t explained the whole Caleb situation to him yet. Even though I told him this was strictly a friends thing, I wasn’t sure how a college aged guy would react to me having a kid.
Just as I stick my keys into my black clutch, the door across the hall from ours pops open and out steps tattoo guy, Allys quickie from the first night we had went out. Jeez he really gets around, is he trying to conquer his way through all of the single tenants in the building? He locks his bright green eyes on to me and flashes his dimples at me.“Oh hey Leah. Wow you look really good.”
Even his voice is sexy, kind of low and gruff like he just woke up. Or just got done having wild ah-mazing animal sex. Get your head out of the gutter Leah. I bite my bottom lip anxiously-how does this guy know my name? I don’t remember introducing myself and I certainly didn’t catch his name. Ally must have mentioned it to him. “Uh, hi….thanks. Sorry I’m in a bit of hurry. Good to see you again,” I wave over my shoulder as I hurry away and see him staring after me with his hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans and an amused look plastered on that oh so amazing face of his. I really need to get out of here before I suddenly find my panties on the floor and am added to his list of conquests.