The Secret (Single in Seattle 1)

“There’s no good segue from that,” she says with a laugh. “We have an appointment, and it’s the nanny’s day off. It’ll only be for about an hour or so.”

“You know I don’t mind spending time with Paisley. What time?”

“Around noon?” Kelly says.

“I’ll be ready for her. At least, I can hang out with one girl who likes me.”

“Aw, poor Vaughn,” Jamal says as he pays the tab. “He just got dumped for the first time in his life. It’s a milestone, man. Like the first time you shave or when you get your driver’s license. We should take a picture of you for the scrapbook.”

“Suck it,” I suggest, making him laugh. “How an ugly jerk like you produced the most perfect baby in the world is beyond me.”

“The baby is all her mother,” Jamal says. “And thank Jesus for it.”

“You’re not kidding.”

Kelly and Jamal should be here with the baby anytime. I have Paisley’s play area set up in the casual family room, and I have her favorite snacks.

I’m ready.

Now, I’m just pacing the house while waiting for them. Kelly wasn’t off the mark last night when she’d asked me if I was bored.

I’m out of my freaking mind with boredom. I love Seattle, but I don’t have a community here like I do in LA. But my best friends are here, and LA isn’t exactly good for me.

The circle of people that I know there contains a lot of toxic people.

And, to be honest, I get bored of them, too.

I don’t know why I’m not content in my life. And that’s a lame comment because I have an awesome one.

The kind that people dream of.

I check my phone for the twentieth time and then decide fuck it and open a text to Olivia.

Me: Hey. I realize I did or said something to piss you off. That wasn’t my intention. Would you please just let me know that you’re okay? I just want to know that you’re safe. Thanks.

I hit send just as the doorbell rings.

“Hey, Uncle Vaughn,” Kelly says and kisses her daughter on the cheek. “We’re here to destroy your pretty house.”

“How dare you imply that my perfect goddaughter would destroy anything?” I reply as I take the little girl from Kelly and whisper in her ear, “You’re a perfect angel, right?”

“Bon!” she announces, and I stare at Kelly in shock.

“She said my name!”

“We’ve been practicing,” Kelly says as we wait for Jamal to bring the baby bag in from the car. “I thought you’d get a kick out of that.”

“You’re a genius,” I inform the little girl. “Absolutely brilliant.”

“Bon,” she repeats happily.

“I don’t know why we have to drag all of this sh—stuff all the way over here for just an hour, but I do what I’m told,” Jamal says as he sets the bag on my dining table. “You’ll never need all of this.”

“I just changed her,” Kelly informs me. “And she had lunch about thirty minutes ago, so she’s fed and happy. But there are snacks in there, just in case.”

“I bought snacks,” I inform them.

“What kind?” Kelly wants to know and marches into the kitchen.

“Oh, you know…chips and beer. Popcorn. All of the things babies love.”

“Good one.” Jamal gives me a fist bump.

“Aw, how did you know what all of her favorite things are?” Kelly calls from the kitchen.

“I pay attention. It’s not like it’s a big baby mystery or something. Even I like Cheerios. We’ll share. Won’t we, princess?”

“Bon,” she repeats and pats my cheek. “My Bon.”

Well, if that doesn’t melt a person’s heart, I don’t know what will.

“My Paisley,” I reply and kiss her forehead. “You guys go on. We’ll be great here. I’ve babysat before.”

“I know, but she’s getting more mobile, and I don’t want her to overwhelm you,” Kelly says.

“Go away,” I repeat, shooing them to the door. “Tell Mommy and Daddy to go, P. Say, ‘bye-bye.’”

“Bye-bye,” Paisley says and then grins at me, scrunching her adorable nose. “Bye-bye, Bon.”

“No, you’re staying with Bon,” I say and kiss her as I close the door behind my friends. “We’re going to have some fun, right?”

She sobers when she realizes that her parents just left without her. “Mama?”

“They’ll be back soon. I promise. We’re just gonna hang for a little while. Do you want snacks?”

“Nack,” she confirms.

Jesus, she’s one. Why is she already talking? I’m not ready for this.

“Okay, let’s get a snack. Then we can check out all the fun toys I bought for you. We can play and snack at the same time.”

I dance her around the kitchen as I pour some Cheerios into a small bowl, then I grab her sippy cup from her bag. With both my hands and my arms full, I take her to her makeshift playroom.

“Oh!” she exclaims with joy and kicks her legs to get down. She crawls over to a play kitchen and starts to bang a pot on the little stove.