Part Ninety-Five

I was awoken by Kalen’s crying through the monitor and I dragged a hand over my face before getting out of bed. I padded barefoot to the kitchen in the middle of the night to make Kalen’s bottle. I yawned as I heated the bottle and I had no idea what time it was.

I hadn’t given the monitor to Katiya because, firstly, it was her first night and, secondly, I wanted to do it while I still could. I made the bottle and found Katiya in Kalen’s room busy changing her diaper. The soft glow of Kalen’s night light just enhanced everything about Katiya.

“Sorry she woke you,” I said and Katiya jumped slightly.

“Shit, I didn’t know you were up,” she said.

I averted my eyes because whatever the hell she was wearing was not pajamas. The shorts barely covered her ass and looked more like skin tight boy shorts and that top didn’t hide her cleavage at all or the fact that the AC was probably too low.

“Go back to sleep, I’ve got her,” I said softly.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Definitely,” I said and took Kalen from her arms.

My hand brushed against the top of her breast and we both stood staring at each other for a few seconds. “Sorry,” I said and she shook her head slightly.

“I … uh … I’ll just go,” she said and left the room.

I sat down on the rocking chair and fed Kalen, her little hand wrapped around my finger. After burping three times and with the smell of milk in my face, she closed her eyes and I lay her down gently. I stood watching her for a few minutes and closed her door softly.

“I made you coffee,” she said from the living room as I walked into the kitchen.

“Thanks,” I said as I picked up the cup and sat down opposite her in the living room.

“Can I ask about Kalen’s mother?” she asked me.

“I don’t talk about my family much.” I knew I had to tell her something. She was living in my house and looking after my daughter, I owed her something at least.

“I get that, I just want to know what happened. Why are you all alone with such a small baby?” she asked me.

“Madison and I got divorced and I sued for full custody,” I said.

“Not a lot of father’s would do that,” she said.

“Madison and I just came to a new agreement, and she’ll see Kalen on Saturday’s from next week. Things were really complicated between us, but the bottom line is, I’d never leave Kalen, no matter what,” I said.

“Foster care?” she asked me and it felt like she could see straight through me.

“Yeah, you?”

“Yep, only I was in foster care in Minnesota,” she said.

It was easy to talk to Katiya, easier than I thought it would be. It hadn’t even been this easy to talk to Madison. It was comforting sitting in the dark living room and just talking, no hidden agendas, even if her short shorts were distracting as hell.

“Did you outgrow the system?” I asked her.

“No, I was adopted when I was ten, but by that time the damage had already been done,” she said with a sadness to her voice that matched the old me.

“I was sixteen when I was adopted, at first I thought he was a lunatic, but he turned out to be the best damn thing to ever happen to me,” I said.

“Yeah my older brother was very protective of me, from the first day, I thought he was suffocating until I realized that what he was doing was loving me like a sister,” she said and smiled. “He’s still pretty protective over me.”

“I had four other brothers, you met Endri already, we’re pretty close given that we’re all adopted,” I said.

“Wow, I only had one and that was terrible enough, he’s a real player,” she said with a laugh.

“I have a friend like that,” I said.

“Your friend’s my brother,” she said.

“What?” I asked after I finally stopped coughing and wiped the coffee from my chin.

“Alexei’s my brother,” she repeated.

“Oh shit,” I said. I could already imagine the shit he’d give me if he knew what had happened between us. Locker room talk was one thing but screwing another team mate’s sister was almost against the law. Sisters were off limits.

“Does it bother you that you’re fantasizing about your friend’s sister?” she asked me and I actually choked on my coffee again.

“Are you always this straight forward?” I asked her.

“Yes.”

“It’s a good thing,” I said.

“You should try it.” She smiled at me again and I could feel myself liking her more and more.

“You should probably get some decent pajamas,” I said and she full out laughed at me.

“Everything important is covered,” she said and stood up to stretch.

The top of her shirt lifted and I looked at the small swallow tattooed close to her hip. She caught me staring again and sat down looking at me.

“I like the tattoo on your ribs,” she said.

“I got it to cover a stab wound I got when I was ten,” I said.

“Battle scars, too many of us have them,” she said.

“Where’s yours?”

“Oh wow, for that I’ll have to take off my clothes and since we’re now employer and employee I think that’ll violate a few terms in our contract,” she said and I laughed.

“I was thinking of taking Kalen to the park a bit later, you game?” I asked her.

“Your wish is my command, boss,” she said.

“Careful with that one,” I said. I almost slapped myself because I was flirting with her and I was being an idiot. Not only was she my employee but also Alexei’s sister and trouble with a capital T.

“Work related!” she said and started to laugh.

“I’ll see you in a bit, I need to get down to the gym,” I said.

“I’ll have breakfast ready when you come back, pancakes and bacon okay?”

“Sounds perfect.”

“Pretty much like me,” she said as I headed towards my room before I did something really stupid like agreeing with her.