Right?
Dealla
Ashton is my nephew. Sort of. His mom is my ex-stepsister. I’m basically helping raise him.
Holden
Sounds like a lot of work
Dealla
He’s worth it, even though he takes up pretty much all my free time. He’s basically my favorite human on Earth.
Holden
That’s sweet :)
What are your plans for the night?
Dealla
I’m about to bust into some popcorn or something and watch TV until I fall asleep. Such a raging party over here.
Even as I continue texting Holden, I can’t help but wonder when he’s going to disappear. It isn’t unusual, unheard of, for people to abandon me once they see just how important Ashton is to me, how much time I spend with him instead of others. Between school and my responsibility as his aunt and secondary guardian, it’s hard to build friendships, and I’m always the one left holding the crumbling remains of acquaintanceship.
Chewing on my lower lip, I decide not to worry about the impending end. It’s too easy to talk to Holden, and for some inexplicable reason, I don’t want to let the doubts settle in. Not yet.
Holden
I’m bored
I grin at the text but get distracted by the book Ashton shoves against my cheek. He crawls into my lap, settling in, and I toss my phone aside. His solid weight on my legs is comforting, and I breathe in the scent of the baby lotion I’d slathered on his skin after his morning bath. Pressing my lips to his hair, I open the book and start to read the story about a boy and his stuffed velveteen rabbit. Ashton’s finger slides across the illustrations as I say the words, and he gives me a scrunched-faced grin when I tickle him.
“More!” he demands when I close the book on the last page, and I laugh.
“No more bunny, my little bookworm. It’s time for a snack.”
He wiggles off my legs and runs clumsily to the kitchen. I quickly follow, knowing his penchant for getting into the lower cupboards if I’m not there to stop him. Ashton’s giggle bursts free when I scoop him up rapidly, and he lets me set him in his highchair. Familiarity makes it easy to buckle him in without looking, and I grab the orange-and-white carton from off the top of the refrigerator. Once he’s distracted with his snack, I go back to the couch to grab my phone.
Dealla
Sorry, Ash wanted a story. And I’m sorry you’re bored.
Holden
Okay where did I say you should apologize about either of those things? Lol it’s not your fault. But I assume story time is over?
Dealla
Yep! Now it’s time to eat ALL THE FISHIES!!!
Holden
…what?
Dealla
Those fish-shaped snack crackers. They’re his favorite.
