Infinity | H.S.

4

Please read the authors note at the end, thank you!

-

When I wake up a few days later, I stretch out my long, tired limbs and let out a loud yawn. I sit up in bed, sitting there for a few minutes until I decide to get up. When my feet touch the floor, I'm thankful I had this room carpeted because even the carpet is chilly to the touch. I can only imagine what tiled floor would feel like.

I make my way through the house, turning up the heating before walking into the kitchen. I pull open the refrigerator door to see it pretty much fully stocked from where I went to the grocery store the other day. I get the carton of eggs out so I can prepare some breakfast for me as a way to get my day started.

After breakfast, I walk back to my room and unplug my phone from where it was charging overnight. I check to see that I have a few missed messages from Nicole.

Nicole 8:49 A.M.
Hey, hey, hEY

Nicole 8:49 A.M.
I need you to babysit

Nicole 8:51 A.M.
Pleaseeeee

Harry 8:53 A.M.
You want me to babysit?

Nicole 8:53 A.M.
Shit, wrong number. I meant to text Jen.

Harry 8:54 A.M.
Well, I'm free to babysit if she can't

Nicole 8:55 A.M.
That would be fantastic, Harry. And I'd owe you big time.

Nicole 8:55 A.M.
Just let me see if Natalia will go.

Harry 8:56 A.M.
Alright

I patiently wait for a response from her and it only takes a few minutes for her to reply again.

Nicole 8:59 A.M.
Okay, we'll be at your house shortly. Thank you so much for this. I'll really owe you big time.

Harry 9:00 A.M.
Let me take you on a date and we can call it even

Nicole: 9:02 A.M.
Deal :) We'll be there soon

I get up from the bed and throw on a t-shirt to go over my bare chest before tidying up the house. I throw away any bottles that I may have left lying around by accident and throw them away, along with any papers that I have no use for. By the time I have the house neat, there's a knock at my door. I go to the door and open it, revealing Nicole holding Natalia along with three separate bags slung across her shoulder.

"You come prepared, don't you?" I chuckle, taking the bags from her. "Please, come in."

"Everything that you'll need and more are in those three bags. One bag is her favorite snacks, another bag is a bunch of toys that she insisted on bringing and wouldn't leave without, and the last bag is her clothes, diapers, and wipes." She explains to me. "You've babysat before, right?"

"Yes, Nicole. Don't worry, we'll be fine." I say as she sits Natalia down on the floor. "She doesn't have any health issues, right? Like, she isn't allergic to anything or has asthma, stuff like that."

"Nope, she's all good." She replies. "You guys have fun today." She bends down to Natalia's height and gives the child a large hug. "Mommy loves you."

"Nat loves you, Mommy." Natalia says once she's released from the hug.

"Give me a goodbye kiss." Nicole tells her, in which Nicole pokes out her lips and Natalia lightly pecks them. Nicole gets up from where she was on the ground, waves to the both of us, then heads to leave but Natalia calls out to her.