“Yeah, I will.”
He caresses my cheekbone gently. “Promise me something.”
“What?”
“Whether you leave the house before me or vice versa, we tell each other, whether we’re fighting or not. I’m used to you being there.”
“I didn’t mean to worry you,” I say, although I probably did.
***
I hang up the receiver, having left Kevin the news on voicemail, too cowardly to wait to speak to him first. My cell blares on the desk. He’s going to be pissed about it, but I really can’t dwell on it.
“Hello?”
“Darcy?”
I recognize that voice. “Jasmine?”
“Yes! Oh, good! I did get the right number. I just asked Benjamin for it.”
“It’s great to hear from you. How are you?”
“I’m good. Look, Ben told John…about the baby.”
“He did?” I’m surprised.
“Yes, which leads me to this huge favor I have to ask of you.”
“Favor?”
“Yes.”She chuckles.“I was wondering if maybe you and Benjamin could babysit for us sometime in the next couple of weeks. We haven’t had a night out without Dante yet, and John thought this would be a great chance for you, but mostly Benjamin, to get some practice. He’s sure it will be a good thing for him.”
“I’d happily do it. I’ll have to ask Benjamin if it’s okay but—”
“No need. He said yes.”
“Seriously?”
She laughs at my disbelief.“Well, I kind of had to guilt him into it, but he eventually gave in. I told him it would be good practice to see how you two do with Dante. Besides, Benjamin needs to start owning up to his godfather duties at some point.”
We hurry through our goodbyes, me because she’s pulled the floor out from under my feet…in the best way.
Benjamin agreed.
He’s trying.
***
“Knock knock,” I announce, opening Benjamin’s office door. I smile shyly before noticing another person at the cluttered conference table.
“Oh, I’m sorry. No one was in the front…I’ll wait out—”
“Darcy, come in,” he says while I hastily try to exit. “We’re almost finished.”
I’m the shade of a beet, but I push through the embarrassment and enter the room. The man beside Benjamin is short and stumpy and clearly intimidated.
Benjamin rises from his seat when I approach. “Mr. Chapman, this is my wife—”
