With a heavy sigh and hand perched on hip, my eyes roamed over the room that I'd been staying in for the last three days. I was up early doing some last minute packing, making sure that I hadn't forgotten anything. My mini 'vacation' was now over, and soon I would be moving to the hotel for the week, until I sorted out a new flat.
I honestly didn't want to leave Joseph's apartment, which turned out to be so much better than I had imagined, and I never realised how lonely I was until I was with him. I felt safe here - even though I knew this was probably the least safe place that I could have stayed at. I loved the décor, I loved the evening view, I loved the late night chats and I loved Joseph's company if I was to be completely honest with myself.
My attention turned to Isaiah who was laying on his tummy, just about able to hold himself up with his elbows. His big brown eyes stared up at me as he wore the cheekiest, toothless grin on his face. He never used to smile this much, but these days that's all he did. Especially when he saw Remy or Joseph.
"Hi," I cooed at him causing him to laugh and dip his head before lifting it back up, looking at me again.
I continued packing his clothes and nappies into a large life bag that I stole from Joseph's kitchen. There was no way that I could take everything with me to the hotel, so I only packed the essential stuff.
"Is this it?"
I turned back to see Joseph walk in with one of Isaiah's sterilised dummies in his hand. I nodded a thanks and watched as Isaiah's smile grew and his legs kicked at the sight of him. Unlike yesterday when he was well-dressed, he had toned it down today with a dark grey Moncler crew neck sweater and matching tracksuit bottoms. He looked good yesterday, but he looked even better in his comfortable attire.
I licked my lips and straightened up, suddenly self-conscious with his new presence. My braids weren't tied up and fell over one side, falling down to the beginning of my thighs. I hadn't showered yet, and was still in my lose tank top and jogging shorts - which weren't as loose on me as they should have been.
"I swear he loves me, more than you," Joseph mumbled as he approached an excited Zay and guided his dummy into his mouth. From the furrow in his brow, I could see he had a slightly confused expression as he looked at him. Even I couldn't explain Zay's fondness of him.
I laughed, shaking my head at his statement, "Never that."
This morning when I had woken up, I heard the front door close, telling me that jumpsuit girl had left. I was surprised when shortly after I heard Joseph's shower running, meaning that he hadn't offered to take her home. We had bumped heads in the kitchen when I was making Zay's morning bottle, and I had expected for the air to be thick and awkward. But it wasn't. He greeted me a good morning, and as usual the conversation went on from there.
It made me wonder if his tummy dipped or breathing hitched or heart pounded the way mine had done last night - or if he even remembered the intense moment at all.
But I was glad that things were still okay.
I watched as he kept his gaze on Zay, surprising me by sitting down at the corner of the bed. His amazing, specific, scent drifted up my nose as he passed. Zay automatically clutched onto Joseph's hand, engrossed with the shiny silver watch attached to his wrist.
I shifted and kept my eyes trained on what I was packing, when I saw Joseph's head turn and him look up at me. The gaze was just as intense as yesterday's, and still managed to leave me in a nervous mess.
"What time are you checking in?" he asked in his deep tone.
"I'm not sure." I shrugged lightly. "I think you have to get there by two."
