Daddy to Two

2.

I made my way into the kitchen while Noah kept making crazy noises into my ear. He saw his Gerber baby bites and he immediately turned his attention away from me and started reaching out towards the bottle. "Pa said you just ate," I said placing him on the counter. He and I came to an understanding long ago that when he sits on the counter he was not to move until I move over to him again. This time though, before I could turn around he was already getting ready to crawl over to the other counter to get his snack. "Noah," I said pointing my finger at him.

He completely ignored me and continued to advance towards the snack, "Noah, what are you doing?" Michael said walking into the kitchen with a towel wrapped around his neck.

"I thought you were going to sleep," I said holding one of Noah's fist in my hand.

"I was but," he said shrugging his shoulders, "can't do much of anything now a days." I actually had no idea what he was talking about. He had a rough job on base as a Marine but damn, if it was dragging over to his personal life like that I think he should take some time off. "You don't have any plans today?" He asked opening up the refrigerator.

"Nah, I just wanted to get out of the house," I couldn't help but stare at his back while he pulled things out from inside, "can Noah have some of these?" I asked showing off the snack that he was reaching for.

"Yes," he said turning around momentarily to look at it, "what would you do if I wasn't here?"

"I would've called you and asked," I said opening the bottle and handing it to Noah.

"It's okay," he said finally closing the door, "I trust what you're doing with him." Michael went over to a different counter to make a sandwich while I watched Noah snack away on his bites. I knew watching Noah would be easier with Michael here but it also felt more complicated knowing he was also watching how I was interacting with him.

"Pa," Noah said smacking his lips together while waving his fist, "Pa, pa, pa."

"Mhm," I said nodding my head each time he said pa. Michael walked over to us and the first thing I noticed was the hearty sandwich he had gripped in his hand. "Hungry?" I asked counting at least three different meats on his sandwich.

"Very," he said taking another bite, "do you want one?"

"No," I said with a smile on my face, "I'm okay." We both were watching Noah now and it was adorable to see his eyes and head moving between the both of us.

"Has he called you pa yet?" Michael asked.

"Yeah," I said poking Noah in his stomach earning a giggle, "does he call everyone that?"

"Well, he calls me that," he said laughing, "he called you pa when you showed up, kinda threw me off." I don't know if it was a bad thing that he was starting to call me pa but Michael didn't seem upset about it. "Am I gonna get my sweatshirt back by any chance?" he asked with small laugh.

"Oh this is yours," I said. "I had it in my closet."

"You go around stealing sweaters?" he asked.

"No, I just knew for a fact this one wasn't mine," I'll give it back to you when I come back, "I don't have anything under this."

"It says Mariner life," he said pointing at the font that was written on the shirt. "And look at that logo," he pressed against the marine symbol that was located a little under my nipple. I jumped a little from the contact and regret was written all over his face. "Sor-"

"Pa, pa, pa," Noah said again with his fist waving.

I nodded my head dismissing Michael's apology and turned my attention back to Noah. My phone began to ring, but the only person that usually called me was Michael. I pulled it out to see Lee's name highlighted across the screen. I declined the call and sent him a text asking what he wanted, "Who is that?" Michael asked looking at the phone in my hands.

"My dumbass roommate," I said waiting for his text back.

"'Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, they're just bugging me about the rent that's due this month."

"Do you need help?" He asked starting to put the stuff back into the refrigerator.

"No thanks," I said turning down another chance to get some help at having this rent money. "I have it, they're just trying to get it from me."

"You're a bad liar," he sighed. "why don't you want any help?"

"I don't like taking money like that," I explained. "Eventually it'll come up in an argument and that just makes me angry."

"I guess you can take tips?" He said pulling out his wallet and handing me a fifty dollar bill.

"Why do you have your wallet?" I asked.

"Because it's mine?" he said with a smirk on his face. "Here is your tip." I moved over to grab the money from his hands and he pulled out another fifty and placed it in my palm. I didn't have enough time to protest as he closed his wallet and grabbed Noah off of the counter. "Go handle your business," he said walking out of the kitchen.

"Bye, guys," I yelled as I headed out.