“He certainly moves fast,” I murmur.
“He’s not going to be the godfather,” Natalie says darkly. “I’d sooner give the honor to the pizza delivery guy.”
“He’s not going to stop trying.” I get up and take out the bowls, setting them on the island counter. “He’s very persistent. We have a wager. If he doesn’t win you over by the time the baby is born and you make him the godfather, he is on diaper duty during any and all family events.”
“And if he wins.”
“He gets to see the baby first.”
I see the gleam in Natalie’s eyes. “Diaper duty, huh?”
I can’t help but chuckle. But before I can say anything, there is a knock on the door.
“I’ll get it. It must be the food.” She sets her phone down and gets up from the couch.
“Wait—”
If it was the food delivery guy, he would have asked to be buzzed up. But Natalie is already opening the door. I’m behind her in an instant and blink when I see the person standing outside.
“Caleb?”
“Hey.” He grins, holding up the plastic bags of food. “Hope you don’t mind. My apartment got flooded. Mom and Dad are having one of their parties, and Elisha said I can’t stay at their place. I don’t even know where Jake is.”
“So get a hotel room.” I stare at him.
“Can I stay, Natalie?” He ignores me. “I hate sleeping in hotels. And three’s a party, you know?”
“No, three’s a crowd,” I say pointedly, but Natalie elbows me out of the way as I add, “He can’t stay.”
“Come in. Of course you can stay, Caleb.”
“You’re the best!” Caleb says cheerfully, sticking his tongue out at me when he’s sure she can’t see.
“I picked up some garlic bread as a peace offering, but you already have Chinese. The guy was outside the door, so I paid him.”
“Thanks.” Natalie beams at him. “I’ll go unpack this. Have you eaten?”
My younger brother ignores my glare, putting on the most pitiful look he could muster. “I didn’t get the chance. I even had to skip lunch.”
“I remember Clarice getting you fried chicken from that Korean place that you like.”
Caleb instantly switches gears. “I only ate a little.”
“Come eat with us. Ethan doesn’t mind. Do you, Ethan?”
Watching her treat this place like her own and making decisions has me giving in. “Fine. He can stay.”
“Don’t get too comfortable,” I mutter as he walks past me.
He just grins.
Caleb washes up and helps with the food, and I sit down beside Natalie. She hands me a plate and touches my thigh gently, grounding me. Her presence has a way of pulling me back from the edge.
We eat in silence for a while—steamed dumplings, sticky rice, and orange chicken, accompanied by the garlic bread that my brother was so gracious enough to get. Natalie can’t handle the garlic bread so Caleb steals the pieces on her plate. He is halfway through his second helping when I finally speak.
“Caleb’s joining the company next week. He has to wrap up a project before he joins.”
Natalie pauses with her fork halfway to her mouth. “I know. He came by my office around four.”
