The Babysitter (BWWM)

vii

My head was laid on Lorenzo's lap and his fingers ran through my hair. Cami went down for a nap about thirty minutes ago and he and I were in his bed, watching tv. I brought my knees up.

"You never did tell me about you and your mother." I gulped.

"That's random." He scratched the back of his neck. "I know, but obviously she took a toll on your life and you've never told me about her. Barely even brought her up."

Chewing on my fingernail, I chuckled nervously. "I don't know how to tell you. I don't think you'd look at me the same." Lorenzo rested his large hand on my thigh, sending shivers up my spine.

"There is nothing that you could say or do that would make me think any less of you. If whatever this is goes any further, I need you to know that now." I smiled subtly and nodded.

"No no. I need to hear you say it." I rolled my eyes.

"Okay. I know, Lorenzo." He smiled down at me. "You're the only person that calls me that. Other than my mother." Lorenzo admitted.

"Well that's your name. What do you want me to call you?" I shrugged. A smirk covered his lips. "Daddy." He whispered.

"No."

"Fine. You can call me whatever you want, but I'm just saying that other people call me Enzo."

"Okay daddy." I got up to go towards the bathroom. His head whipped over to look at me, jaw clenched. I'm surprised that he didn't break his neck. I started laughing. "You're playing a dangerous game, babygirl."

I raised my eyebrow and stopped laughing. I put my hand on my chest. "Ha. I'm scared." I said in complete monotone voice. He nodded his head. "Bet." He hopped of the bed and put up his hands in a fighting stance.

"Oh. You're trying to fight somebody? Don't try it, babe. I will drag you." I clapped my hands together. His eyes widened. "You're gonna drag me? Drag me then. Come over here. Do it." I slowly walked towards him.

"You think you're hard, don't you?" He asked. I scoffed. "I know I'm hard."

"Prove it then. Swing." A smile creeped onto his face. I bit my lip and put my hand out. He grabbed my wrist, twisted me around and threw my body on the bed like I weighed as much as a football. I gasped sharply.

I looked back at him and tears welled up in my eyes. I sniffled. "Why would you do that? I didn't even touch you." As my lip quivered, his face fell.

His hands reached out for my cheeks as he got kneeled in the bed. "Oh no. Mamas, I'm sorry." I kicked his knee and rolled us over. I now straddled him.

"What the hell?!" I laughed. "I picked up some tricks from your daughter." I started gasping for air because I was laughing so hard. Soon, he started laughing with me.

When the laughter died down, I looked him deep in his eyes. A small smile played on his lips while he watched me stare at him.

He's so beautiful. And what's even better is he makes me feel beautiful. Like I'm really worth something to him. Nobody's ever made me feel that way. Him and his daughter might just turn out to be the best thing that's ever happened to me.

I can't love him.

Little patters from the hallway sounded into the room. I ripped my eyes from his and toward the door. I removed our bodies for each other.

The door burst open and Camila came running up to the bed. "Daddy!" She squealed. He opened his arms to her and she jumped.

"Hey baby." He caught her and spun her around. A sad smile painted my lips.

Don't fall in love.

I backed out of the room silently after I grabbed my phone from the top of his dresser. I called the only person I knew I could always call.

The phone dialed three times before I was connected.

"Nate?"

"Hey Bambi. I've missed you. You're never around anymore." I sighed and scratched my head. "I know, Nate. And I'm so sorry. But I'll be around more, I promise."

"Good. We don't have anyone else to cook. Kelianne has been trying to feed us her flavorless food. I mean, some Adobo wouldn't kill her." I heard a muffled 'ow'.

"What was that?" I asked. "Kelianne threw a pillow at me. She almost took my head off!" I laughed quietly.

"How about when I get back, we go out for some ice cream? My treat?" I proposed. One thing Nate has never failed to do is get me ice cream whenever I'm sad or upset about anything. Even if it's about him. Then we talk everything out. I've done the same with him.

"Is something wrong? I knew I kept that softball bat for a reason." I snorted. "No no. I'm fine. I just miss my best friend."

"I'm still your best friend?" He used his girly voice. I rolled my eyes.

"Yes. You know that." I smiled to myself. "Forever and always?"

"Forever and always."

"I'll see you when you get here. Love you Bambi."

"Love you more Nate." I ended the call and turned my head. I gasped so hard it hurt my throat. Cami was standing in the hallway right behind me, standing like one of the twins from The Shining.

She hung her head. "Sorry I scare you." I walked to her and pulled her to me, hugging her small body. "You didn't scare me, Cami. Where's daddy?"

Wouldn't be the first time I called him that.

"He went to take a shower." I nodded.

Might not be enough time to get outta here.

"Can you do me a favor?" She nodded quickly. "Can you tell daddy that I went home?" Her face fell.

"But why?" I coupe her cheeks and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back tomorrow." Her bright smile came back.

"See you later, Cami." I ran into Lorenzo's bedroom and found a hoodie.Throwing it over my head,  I grabbed my shoes from last night and almost fell on my face trying to rush and put them on.

I basically ran out and once I got to the corner, I hailed a cab.

——

Thank god that cab driver didn't say anything. If you saw a teenage girl in Ariana Grande shoes and a hoodie, would you really ask?

When I got to the dorm, I raced to my room so no one would see how crazy I looked.

I immediately hopped in the shower, playing my 'vibes' playlist. As the water ran down my body, I groaned.

Why am I so stupid?

I ran my hair under the water and sighed. My fingers rubbed the conditioner into my scalp. I'm going to forget about this and go out for ice cream with my best friend.

I hopped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my torso. I wiped the fog off the mirror with my hand and stared at myself.

I should've gotten rid of those acne marks years ago. My hair isn't long enough. What are my eyebrows doing? They look like Harry Styles right now. Can't pick a friggin direction. My lips are too fat. Why are my cheeks so big? Why are all of my cheeks so big? And don't even get me started on the stomach. I look like I just gave birth. To triplets. Why do my legs have to be so lanky? And my feet! I look like LaCienega Boulevardez. Is that a hickey?! Oh my god, there's two of them? It looks so weird on me.

I rolled my eyes and walked into my room. I flipped my light on and went to my hair products.

Diffusing my hair, I heard knocks on the door. "Kels! Can you get that?!" I yelled. I heard feet against the wood floors. I scrunched my curls up to get more definition when I heard Kelianne yell out.

"Gabriella Camreigh Monroe Johnson! Get out here! Now!" I stood up from my desk chair, ringing my hair out with an extra towel. I walked into the hallway toward the door and I stopped in my tracks. My heart just skipped eight beats at once.

***