The Best Deceptions (Want You Bad sequel)

Chapter 16

**This is a little shorter than I usually make my chapters, but the next chapter is shaping up to be a long boi, and I should have it posted by Friday afternoon before I leave to go camping (as long as Kaehla holds me responsible and reminds me). There are going to be time skips every now and then, as I mentioned before, so I can get this story caught up with present day, and also so I can get to Levi being a little older because I cannot wait.

"Natty Light, I miss your mom," Garrett pouted as he worked in the kitchen. I was sitting at the counter breastfeeding Levi, and Louis was in another room, working on songwriting.

"I miss her too." My mom had gone back to Cleveland three days ago, and I missed her terribly. I had gotten used to having her around again. "She's a better cook than you."

Garrett clicked his tongue. "You can make your own carbonara."

I shrugged, careful not to disturb Levi. "You know I'm more than capable."

"How are you doing without your boo?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Devoted had left for tour two and a half weeks ago, and Garrett had been home a lot more without Ellis in town.

"Ellis isn't my boo."

"I never said a name," I grinned.

He rolled his eyes and sighed. "I'm trying to be a good best friend here, and you're being a butt."

I laughed loudly, earning a delighted squeal from Levi. "You're so serious about not swearing around Levi, and it's adorable, but really? Calling me a butt?"

He shrugged. "If his first word is F-U-C-K, it's not going to be my fault."

I looked down at Levi. "Hey handsome boy, can you say 'fuck?'" He blinked up at me. I looked to Garrett. "Spoiler alert, dude, he can't talk yet."

"Oh, really? Fuck you," he deadpanned, cracking a smile when I started laughing. "Really, though, how's long distance going with the ever-dreamy Sutton Monroe?"

I smiled. "Really good. We had a long talk the night that I stayed over there, and we're in such a good place right now. I'm excited to see them in Cleveland."

"Are you gonna finally smash?"

I felt my face get hot and I desperately wished I wasn't holding my son so that I could cover my face with my hands. "Garrett," I whined. "Why do you even know we haven't?"

"Louis told me what you said when you were in labor about him seeing your bits for the first time. Honestly, I praise your self-control, because Sutton is," he stopped himself. "Well, I don't need to tell you how hot your boyfriend is."

I smiled cheesily. "A real dreamboat." I shrugged. "Honestly, it hasn't ever come up between he and I that we've never done anything sexual. I think we both just sort of had this understanding that I didn't want to do anything when I was pregnant? I don't know. But I usually have sex with people before I start dating them, and I like the idea that I'm doing it differently with Goose. It'll probably happen when I see him in Cleveland, though, not that it's any of your business."

"It is my business! I love you both and I like knowing what goes on in your lives."

"I love you and you won't tell me what's going on with you and Ellis," I pointed out.

Garrett sighed. "I'll tell you when I figure it out," he murmured dejectedly.

Later that evening, I was in Levi's nursey watching Louis sing him to sleep. I was usually the one to do it, so when it became apparent that Levi was tired and Louis offered to put him down, I was excited to watch. Watching Louis with our son had easily become one of my favorite things to do. He was always so gentle, spoke so softly, and looked at Levi with so much adoration and wonder that it was nearly impossible to look away. I usually sang 'At Last' by Etta James as I rocked Levi to sleep, but Louis was singing a song his mom used to sing him, and my heart was swelling. Once Levi was fast asleep, Louis placed him in his crib and gingerly pressed a kiss to his forehead before helping me up off the floor. I switched on the baby monitor and we exited the room.