Dad Next Door: Volume 1 (Under Editing Soon)

Fourteen

Harry P.O.V

Today, Louis said he'd take me and the kids to the pool.

Okay, he actually told me he'd take us yesterday but he kind of forgot school happens on a Friday. He tried to convince me to let the kids off but I refused, I want them to learn, not to bunk.

It's seven in the morning, Louis has just snuck his way into the house, finding the spare key under the door mat. He's wearing his black swim shorts with a blue hoodie over the top. First splash of colour I've seen on him to be honest, it's nice, it's refreshing but I won't tell him that.

"You really shouldn't keep it in such an obvious place, Harold," he tells me, striding into the kitchen and opening the fridge.

"You really shouldn't break into people's homes, Lewis," I snap back with a grin.

"Not a break in if you have the key." He holds the key up and leaves it on the side. "What we got for breakfast then? 'M starving!"

I shake my head. "Still need to get the kids up, first."

He slams the fridge door shut, tossing eggs onto the counter. "You make some sort of egg breakfast, I'll get them up." He pats me lightly on the cheek and skips up the stairs and out of sight.

I shake my head, amused at his persistence. I crack the eggs into a bowl and decide to whip up some egg benedicts for us and french toast for the little angels.

I just finish drizzling syrup onto the bread when the sound of tumbling footsteps and laughter comes down the stairs.

I turn to be met by the children running into the room, smiles on their faces. Darcy pulls her yellow dress up to reveal her yellow swimsuit on.

"I have my swimsuit on, daddy!" She points out, letting the skirt of her dress fall down, coming over for a morning hug.

"That's good, we're going to the pool today."

She nods, sitting at the table. Natalie shows me her swimsuit too, under her blue dress and perches onto the chair. Robin has his swim shorts on and a stripe top. Louis helps him into the high chair.

I push their bread in front of them and they dive in, swinging legs contently. Louis too, swings his legs as he eats his egg benedicts.

"These are good," he admits through a mouthful, some yolk sticking to the corner of his lip. He slowly thumbs it away and I watch his suck on the pad of his thumb to rid of the yolk.

I look down to my plate for a moment. "We need to teach you how to cook. Cannot believe you burn pretty much everything."

He gasps. "Excuse me, I do not burn pretty much everything!"

I hum. "Sureee. Considering there was burnt pasta at the bottom of the pan, burnt porridge exploded in the microwave Wednesday when I came over and the burnt smell of toast yesterday!"

He points a finger at me. "The toast was Dotty's fault, she ordered for it to be whacked up to the fullest."

"You need to learn not to listen to instructions on how to make toast by a four year old."

"Four and a half!" Darcy corrects, rolling her eyes and squirting more syrup onto her french toast.

I drag it away from her before she dies of cavities and a sugar rush. "Sorry, and a half."

Louis does the dishes whilst I pack a bag of waterproof nappies and the arm bands. I pack some water bottles and a few snacks for afterward.

"Right, munchkin, I'm sure Louis hasn't put you into a waterproof nappy yet so let's quickly get that done before sunscreen." I scoop Robin up before he can run away and jog him upstairs to change his nappy.