Babysitting the Player

Chapter 5

I hope.

I turn off my light and head back to the kitchen.

"All set?" Mom asks.

"Think so." I nod.

"Oh, by the way, I invited Johnny."

Her words make me panic instantly. "What? Why?"

"I saw him at the grocery store when I was buying some last minute things and since he's your boyfriend, I asked if he'd like to come."

"And?"

"And he said he'd drop by."

"You didn't tell him I was with Bryce yesterday, did you?"

"Of course not. He's the type to shoot the messenger."

"Thank God."

"If you have to hide your guy friends from your boyfriend, you probably shouldn't be with your boyfriend."

"It's fine."

A knock on the front door interrupts us.

Please don't let this be Johnny already.

"I'll get it," I say.

I sprint down the stairs and open the front door to see Maggie with Bryce and Layla.

Thank God.

"Hi," I say.

"Hey," Bryce says.

"Hi, Layla." I smile at the little girl whose hair matches Bryce's.

She hides behind Maggie's leg and Bryce laughs.

"She's feeling kinda shy tonight." He explains. "Parties aren't really her thing."

I look them up and down and Maggie and Layla are in matching red and black footed pajamas. Bryce is in gray sweats and a black hoodie.

"You didn't want to match with them?" I ask Bryce.

"Can you blame me?"

"He's such a teenager." Maggie shakes her head.

"Alex, who is it?" Mom calls.

"Bryce and his family!" I yell back.

"Hey, Tara!" Maggie calls.

I lead them up the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Look at you two matching." My mom smiles.

"It was Layla's idea." Maggie grins.

"It's very cute."

"It is." I agree.

"We thought we'd come by early to see if you guys needed help with anything," Maggie says.

"Oh, you didn't have to do that." My mom smiles.

"We don't mind." Bryce chimes in.

"What can we do?" Maggie asks.

"I have these baskets that can go out." My mom points to the baskets on the counter. "You can just set them on one of the blankets that are out there if you don't mind."

"Not at all." Maggie smiles. "Layla, you want to take the one with the marshmallows?"

Layla nods and Maggie hands her the basket.

"Too heavy, Mommy," Layla says.

"Do you want me to help you?" I offer. "We can carry it together."

Layla hesitates and looks to Maggie for an answer.