My Life

Chapter 4

3 months later, December 2020 -

Yesterday was Jenson's last day of school until January 4th, 2021, for Christmas break. Dad is taking the two weeks off from work, and I finished my semester of college classes this morning, and I should have my grades in a week. Julian is five months old as of today, the 18th - his birthday is July 18th 2020, which is three days after dad's, a day after Jenson's, and a month after mine.

Currently, I'm lying on my back on top of my unmade bed with Julian lying with his chest to mine, and we're both sobbing. Julian has been teething for the last three days, and the Tylenol and baby orajel isn't helping much, and he was awake every thirty minutes throughout the night as was I trying to sooth, change his diapers, feed him, or just walk with him in my room or his nursery.

"Jeremiah, let me take Jules for a few hours, and you have a nap," dad tells me as he enters the bedroom.

"We're fine, we'll be fine," I sob, standing off the bed to walk and gently bounce Julian gently.

Dad doesn't answer, instead he just walks over to us to carefully take the sobbing baby from me with a soft smile of understanding. He settle the baby against him, and rocks them side-to-side as he tells me; "When you were teething as a baby, you were just like he is now. Take a couple hours of sleep, and I promise when his two teeth come through, he'll sleep better, and so will you. This won't last forever, I promise."

I let out a wet laugh with a sob before giving him a weak smile; "Two hours, tops, I promise."

"Sleep until noon okay? Julian and I will be fine for three hours," dad says walking out of the bedroom with an understanding smile.

Climbing onto the bed after setting an alarm on my phone for noon, my sobs have calmed down to light tears, sniffles and hiccups. Pulling my covers over my head, I settle on my stomach with my left arm bent under my chest and the matress, and I slide my right arm under the pillow. I cry myself to sleep almost instantly.

"Jeremiah, wake up," dad's voice filters through my sleepy-darkness. "You have a visitor, and Jules is sleeping, too."

Rolling onto my back as I hadn't moved at all in my sleep, I rub the sleep out of my eyes before blinking at dad, who is starring at me from beside the bed with a smile at me.

"Who is visiting?" I mumble, sitting up to throw the covers off my body, and stand on the black fuzzy carpet.

Dad just smirks at me; "I was sworn not to say, so you just have to come downstairs and find out."

"Okay. Where's Julian sleeping?" I mumble, stumbling from my room behind dad, while running my fingers through my hair trying to control the bed head look.

"Jules is sleeping in his crib in his room," dad replies as we walk down the stairs and into the living room, where I'm surprised at who the visitor is...Hudson.

"Hey Jeremiah," he grins shyly. "I'm sorry to show up while you were napping."

My mouth immitates a fish-out-of-water for a few seconds while dad and Jenson laugh, and Hudson nervously rubs the back of his neck as we stare at each other. Hudson and I have become friends over the last three months with a lot of flirting from him, and Jenson teasing us both horribly.

"Hey Hud. It's fine since I needed to get up anyway," I yawn, rubbing my face tiredly.

"Were you crying?" he worridly asks as I sit on the couch next to him.

"Um, I was earlier," I soflty admit, avoiding his eyes.

"Why" he demands gently, while rubbing his warm hand over my back.

"Julian is teething, and he was up a lot last night, so we were exhausted and crying," I admit.

Hudson pouts at me which is freaking adorable if I say so myself, as he asks looking around; "Where is my little buddy?"

"Sleeping in his room," dad answers while heading out of the room toward his office to look over some files.

Curling my legs up onto the couch, I lean against Hudson, who wraps his right arm around my shoulders, and pulls me closer to where our bodies are touching. Snuggling into his warmth and muscular body as I yawn. Digging my face into his neck, inhailing his scent, and loving that we've becoming such great friends.

"You two really should just date," Jenson comments, breaking me out of my sleepy-happy daze.

Leaving my head on Hudson's broad shoulder with my eyebrows scrunched at him in confusion; "Huh?"

"You two should date," he slowly states with a smirk. "You don't act like this with Jordan and Raylynn, who by the way called your phone earlier while you were sleeping," he says pointing toward my phone on the coffee table.

Frowning at my brother; "Act what way? I'll call them back later."

Jenson huffs annoyed as he explains further; "It's like you two are magnets that are drawn to each other when you are together. If one moves, the other mirrors the movement. You both stare longingly at each other when the other is looking. It's like you two are in sync without trying, and let's not forget about Jules. He has taken to Hudson faster than he did with Jordan or Raylynn, who were around a lot when you were pregnant."

Humming in response while thinking about what he's saying, I snuggle deeper into Hudson's side, which causes Jenson and Hudson to chuckle lowly.

"I think you're proving his point even more, Jer," Hudson's deep voice rumbles, while he tightens his hold around my shoulders.

Before I can reply, Julian let's out a loud wail, so I stand from my comfy spot to head upstairs. Julian's sitting on his bum in the middle of his crib, crying his beautiful blues out, and reaches for me the moment he seems me, and I take him out with a quick cuddle before chaning his wet diaper.

"Hudson came to visit," I coo causing Jules to shriek in delight. "I know that's exciting news, my happy baby, and I'm happy to see you excited, but I understand why you've been grumpy."

Once I've finished, I toss the dirty diaper into the trash can on the floor next to me, rub hand-sanitizer into my hands before taking him from the changing table. Kissing kis chubby cheek as he lies his head on my chest below my chin, I carry him downstairs with a small smile on my lips. Entering the living room where Jenson and Hudson are talking about the spring soccer season, I can't help smile wider. Hudson has been recruited by Hunter College here in New Yor to play sccer for them when he attends there.

When Julian notices Hudson, he lets out an ear-piercing shriek while holding his arms out toward the man, kicking his legs, and leans toward him. Hudson and Jenson snap their heads toward us, and grinning broadly.

"Well, I'm glad to see you're in a better mood, Jules," Jenson chuckles fondly, but Julian pays him no mind as he has eyes only for Hudson.

Julian lets out a frusterated whine when he isn't allowed to be held by Hudson, until I take pity on him, and give him to Hudson. They instantly cuddle together, and I quickly grab my phone off the coffee table to snap several pictures of the two of them with a fond smile. Sitting back on the couch next to them after making a bottle for Julian as I'm sure he'll be hungry in a few minutes. When Julian notices the bottle in my hand, he whines while making grabby hands at it, and I give it to him, and he holds it with his chubby hands.

"So, I was wondering if you and Julian would like to spend the day with me?" Hudson asks with a nervous-hopeful smile at me.

"Sure, as long as dad doesn't care," I instantly reply, trying not to let my enthusiasim out too much, and come off as needy or something.

"He doesn't mind," dad chuckles from the entryway. "Be home by midnight at the latest, and no unprotected sex."

My face instantly burns; "Dad!"

He only shrugs before entering the kitchen, and I turn my attention back to Hudson; "What did you have in mind for today?"

"That my dear Jeremiah, is a surprise," he smirks, causing me to pout, but he doesn't falter one bit.