Chapter 22

"I really enjoyed tonight. Thank you so much." I looked up at Valdo with a big smile on my face. Tonight was beautiful; the love and union that everyone showed each other were so pure. We shared jokes and stories from the past; it was a blast. The best dinner I've had in years. Being around these wonderful people made me wish I'd run away sooner.

You're welcome." Valdo said, returning my smile. "You must be exhausted so I won't keep you up."

I nod and smile, "I am."

He smiled at me, "Goodnight then."'

"Goodnight."' I smiled at him, then turned towards my room.

The door was open, so I just used my foot to open it wider. As I walked in, my eyes widen at sight in front of me. At the corner of the room looked like a mini nursery; there was a crib with dream catchers above it. The surrounding corner was painted in baby pink with flowers and candy. It looks great, like a baby's room. I walked over to the area and smile. He remembered what I said about wanting to be close to the baby. I can't believe he did all this.

I look down at the sleeping baby and smile. I gently placed her in the crib. She stirred a few times, but I pat her back gently for her to fall asleep again.

I slowly walked out of my room and back to the living room where Valdo was. He was sitting by the tv with the remote in his hands; he turned around when he heard my footsteps. He looked at me with a frown, "Are you okay?"

I took a seat on the opposite sofa then looked at him and smile, "Yes, I am. The room looks beautiful. Thank you so much."

He smiled, "You're welcome."

"Did you do it yourself?"

He laughed and shook his head, "No, I don't have a creative bone in my body. I hired someone to do it."

"It looks amazing. Thank you isn't enough to express how I feel."

He grinned, "What is?"

I laughed, "I don't know. I'm just so grateful."

"Don't worry about it." He stared at me for a few seconds then he turned his attention to the tv. "Do you wanna watch a movie with me?"

I really want to sleep, but how could I deny him company when he's done for much for me, "Sure. I'd love to." I stood from my sofa and came over to the one he's in. He was close, an elbow away. Was that too close? What if I accidentally farted, he'd hear and smell it. I'd be embarrassed for life.

Calm down Jakoby, that's not going to happen.

I got rid of my crazy thoughts out of my mind and looked at him. I watch as he skipped through Netflix for a movie.

He turned to me, "Do you have a genre preference?"

I shrug, "Anything is okay."

"What about this?"

I turned my eyes at the tv, "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Hmm, the Rock is in it, so we know it's going to be good, Kevin Hart and Jack Black were pretty funny actors, so it's going to be funny. I'm not sure who the girl is, but I'll find out."

He pressed the play button, and the movie started playing. He stood from the couch and went to shut off the lights. "It's better this way." He came back to the sofa; this time, he was even closer to me than he was before. Instead of focusing on how close he was to me, I turned, my attention to the tv.

Jakoby, you're going to focus on enjoying the movie, not on the handsome man beside you.

Focus.

After five minutes into the movie, I found my eyes slowly shutting and soon enough, I was sleeping.

I jumped up at the sound of Jamaica crying. A gentle hand touched my shoulder, then the person said, "Shh, it's okay. I'll go get her."

I felt the person getting up, then leaving me. My eyes were still close, and I could still hear my baby crying. I slowly opened my eyes and registered the surroundings. I was laying down on the couch. The room was lit up by the tv which was on pause. That's when I started remembering what happened.

I fell asleep while watching Jumanji with Valdo.

When I sat up from the couch, I noticed Valdo walking in the room with Jamaica in his arms. Her crying had calmed down a little bit, "I think she is hungry." he whispered as he rocked her in his arms.

I nod my head agreeing, "I'll have to breastfeed her since I haven't gotten any Enfamil."

"I bought some; we have a cupboard full."

"Thanks, I don't want her to wait. I hate hearing her cry. So I'll try breastfeeding."

"Okay," he strolled over to me while at the same time rocking the crying baby. He bent to my level and then placed her in my outstretched arms.

I look down and her crying face, "It's okay baby girl, you're gonna get something now." Was wearing a sundress with V neck, so it was easy for me to take out my breast and put it in her mouth. She instantly stopped crying and started sucking. I looked up at Valdo with a smile and noticed he was looking at the baby.

When he realised that I caught him staring, he started apologising, "Sorry, very sorry." He turned his head and started looking at something.

I laughed, "It's okay." It's not like he saw all of the breasts; he could only see a part of. I'm sure he's seen breasts before, he isn't a virgin.

He laughed, "We know what calms her down now."

"Food can calm anyone." I replied with a smile, "I'm sorry; I fell asleep on you."

He shrugged, "It's okay. I knew you were exhausted. I'm not sure why I asked you to watch it with me, anyway."

"Somethings are better when you have people to do it with, like watching a movie. That's why people go to the cinema instead of watching it at home."

"Yeah, it's good to have someone to laugh with." I couldn't understand the look that he was giving me.

"I promise not to fall asleep next time."

He laughed, "I'll keep you to that."

"You should probably finish watching the movie. It's almost finished anyway." I looked back at the tv; there were only fifteen minutes left.

"I'll spoil it for you."

I smile, "I slept through most of the movie if anything I spoiled it for you."

He walked over to the couch and sat, "Nah, you're snoring didn't bother me at all."

I looked at him surprised, "I do not snore,"

"You do."

"I don't." I defended.

He smirked, "Oh, yes, you do."

I opened my mouth to speak but closed it back. I looked at Valdo, "I'm sorry."

He laughed, "I'm joking, you weren't snoring. You slept like a baby."

I sighed, "For a second, I believed you."

He shrugged, "There is nothing wrong with snoring."

I looked at him with raised eyebrows, "You snore, don't you?"

"Occasionally." He answered, honestly.

"How did you find out?" I asked because I was curious to know more about him and his life, just like he knew about mine.

"My mom. She recorded a video of me sleeping and played it back to me when I woke."

I laughed, "I bet you wouldn't have believed her if she didn't show proof."

"That's exactly why she did it. I was convinced I didn't snore and then boom! " His face had a huge smile on it, and it made his eyes even more beautiful.

I giggled and shook my head, "You're mom is pretty cool. My mother wakes at the slightest of sounds. If I got up to use the bathroom, she heard, and that's how I know I don't snore because she would have never allowed me to sleep in the same bed as her."

"Same bed?"

I nod, "Yea; it was a one-bedroom apartment."

"Didn't she have a boyfriend?"

"She did, but she never brought them home. I guess she didn't want me to be exposed to that kind of life."

"How do you think your mom is managing with you gone? Do you think she misses you?"

I looked at him sadly, "I think she's probably going crazy. I know she loves me. She's probably worried sick."

"I think it would be good for you to go back, just to make sure she knows you're okay."

"I should, but I'm just not ready yet. It was hard growing up with a single mom in a small town. Everyone judged you. People used to call my mother whore, give her bad looks. She's had it rough in that town so I can imagine how she felt when she found out I was pregnant. I don't want to go back there unless I'm 100% ready for their criticism or when I've made something of myself. "

"I grew up in New York, and single mothers are pretty common, so I didn't have to face all that, but I understand what you mean, and when you're ready to go back, I'll be here by your side 100%. I won't let anyone hurt you." By the look on his face, I knew he'd defend me if anyone tried to hurt me after all he's been protecting me since he met me.

I looked in his eyes, and I knew he was telling the truth. "Thanks."

He smiled and look down at Jamaica, "She's sleeping again."

I look down at her and smile, "Yeah, but she's going to be up in a few for a diaper change."

"I can help with that." He volunteered quickly.

I laughed, "It's not as easy as it sounds. It's a lot of poo to deal with." I was shocked the first time I had to change her, but I've gotten used to it.

"I'm sure I can manage."

"What about changing diapers?" I questioned.

"I've watched a few videos; I've prepared for this." I looked at him. Did he really watch videos just to learn how to change a diaper? Why do all this for a baby that wasn't even his? He smiled at me, "I wanted to help you as much as I can. You're going to have the baby all day to yourself, and so I wanted to learn somethings so that when I get home, I'll be able to help."

I didn't know how to respond, so I just stared in his eyes instead. God, thank you for letting me bump in this man. "I think I've said thank you too many times today, you must be tired of me saying it to you."

He smiled but didn't reply. We just sat there and looked at each other in silence for a minute or two. He was the one to break the silence, "I think we should put her back in the crib and get some sleep ourselves."

I nodded, agreeing. I gently took my breast out of her mouth and placed it back in my bra.

Valdo stood then held his hands out, without hesitating, I placed Jamaica in his arms. He waited until I was standing for him to start moving towards my bedroom. When we entered my room, he gently put her in the crib. He didn't leave the room immediately; he looked down at her in admiration. "She's amazing."

I look down at Jamaica then back at him, "She is."

He turned his attention from the sleeping baby to me. That's when I realised how close he was, and he was very close. "I want to kiss you." He whispered.

My eyes widen as I looked into his blue ones. With my heart beating fast, I managed to reply, "So kiss me."