"Da!" Asher says as I walk towards his crib. It was still dark outside, considering it was barely five in the morning. He stood up in his crib, holding onto the railing. His dark, slightly curly, hair was wild, sticking up in all different directions. I lifted him out of the crib as he rubbed his eyes, his lion lovey in his right hand. Resting him on my arm he laid his head on my shoulder, he let out a yawn. He felt extremely warm, so I made my way downstairs, quietly. He started to fuss again and I rubbed his back, grabbing the thermometer from one of the kitchen drawers.
It beeped and I look down to see he was running a fever of 102.1 degrees. I lay him down on the counter, unzipping his sleeper before sliding his arms and legs out of it, leaving him in just his diaper. I gave him some Children's Tylenol before cradling him in my arms and heading up the stairs.
"Let's go snuggle with Mama." I whisper, kissing the top of his head as he looks up at me, his eyelids falling heavy.
I walk back into Evelyn and I's room, to see her, thankfully, still peacefully sleeping. I climb back into our bed, laying Asher down beside me as I lay on my side, still cradling him. He lays on his side facing me, his pacifier in his mouth.
He sits up and pulls his pacifier out of his mouth, before leaning down and kissing me on the lips. I pat his back as I smile. "Hi Bubba." I whisper and he lays his head back on my bicep, closing his eyes. I look down at him as he starts to fall asleep in my arms, one of his little hands rested on my bare chest as his other held onto the lovey.
Once I knew he was asleep, I felt myself becoming tired again. Letting myself fall asleep, my eyes became heavy before everything went dark and I drifted off to sleep for a couple more hours.
"Greyson.." I felt Evelyn gently shake my shoulder as I slowly woke up, keeping my eyes shut.
"Hmm?" I all but grunted and she chuckles.
"When did Asher get in here?" She whispers as I felt Asher partly covering my face.
I huff before responding, "Earlier this morning?"
"Why?" She whispers.
"He has a fever. Now, let us sleep, and go to work."
"Did you give him medicine?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Okay." I feel the bed dip slightly before I feel her warm lips on my cheek, and just as quick as they got there, they're gone and she's climbing out of the bed.
The sun was now shining brightly in the room unlike earlier. Asher's leg was thrown over my neck and his chest was against my nose. My eyes stayed shut as I took in his baby scent, wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep, I let myself.
✳︎
The sound of Asher crying woke me up. I tried to open my eyes but he was almost all the way on top of my face. Yet, I didn't mind the fact that he was suffocating me. I wrap my hands around his torso, gently lifting him off my face as I open my eyes, laying him back on the mattress, next to me. Rolling over, I pick up my phone from the nightstand beside me, checking the time.
It was almost 11 already, which meant I had to force myself to get up. He most likely needed more medicine and we both needed food. I stand up, shuffling towards the bathroom.
I come back out, heading over to my bed before scooping Asher up in my arms, cradling him as one of his legs hung under my arm and his cheek was squished against my bicep. "I know, Bub." I say patting his back as he continues to cry in my arms. I make my way into the kitchen, pushing the gate open. There's a note on the counter and I pick it up.
There's a whole new pack of raspberries in the fridge and strawberry yogurt melts in the pantry -Ev
I chuckle, making my way over to the fridge. Opening one of the double doors, I see a medium sized, clear container full of fresh raspberries. I pull out, opening it, and popping one in my mouth. Asher reaches for one and I pull his pacifier out of his mouth, placing him in his highchair. I open the dishwasher, grabbing a clean sippy cup from the top rack, I fill it with milk before handing it to Asher.
Did I feel terrible leaving Asher? Yes.
Did I have much of a choice? Well, technically, yes. But, I knew I needed to go into work. Especially right now, during the off-season.
"He's okay, Ev." Sophia's voice echoes towards me, pulling my attention away from my phone. "Greyson's got him."
"I know. I just feel bad. I'm his mom." I say, a put forming on my lips.
"And he won't even remember this. There will be plenty of other sick days where you stay home with him. Besides, Greyson's probably loving spending the whole day cuddling with him." And she wasn't wrong. For someone who was supposedly a notorious fuck boy who was all tough and didn't take shit from anyone, he was a major softie when it came to Asher... And me. Also, Gracie, Liam, Amelia, Claire, PJ, his mom, and even Aiden. Just his family in general. He even had a soft spot for Ellie, too.
"Yeah, you're right."
"Now. Make me some goddamn cookies."
"Hi Bubby." I say quietly as Asher lifts his head from my chest, his pacifier falling out in the process. My hand rested on his back as Game of Thrones played on the TV in the living room.
A blanket was draped over my legs, stopping at my waist as I lay on the couch, Asher laying on his stomach on my chest. He points to the kitchen as he starts fussing, "Are you hungry, Bub?" I ask, pushing the blanket off and pausing the show, I stand up, making my way into the kitchen. I open the fridge door and reaches for the milk, "Or, you're thirsty." I softly chuckle. Grabbing the milk and shutting the fridge door, I grab a sippy cup from one of the cupboards before filling it up halfway. I twist the cap on it, making sure its secured tightly before handing it to Asher. He puts it in his mouth, immediately drinking it and I put the milk back in the fridge before heading back into the living room.
I sit back on the couch, pulling the blanket back over me with Asher in my lap. He gives me the sippy cup, leaving it a little under half full. I set it on the table beside the couch before laying back down. It doesn't take long for him to fall back asleep and I press play on the TV.
I hear the garage door open, meaning Evelyn is home. A couple of minutes later, she comes walking through the door talking, most likely on the phone. "I gotta go, I just got home." She says, walking into the kitchen. "Love you Mom, bye." She says, making her way towards the couch. "How is he?"
"He just fell back asleep. He's been out most of the day."
I say and she nods, she picks my head up before sitting down and placing my head on her leg, making me chuckle. She leans down, kissing Asher on the forehead. "You're rewatching Game of Thrones?" She asks, looking at the TV.
"Yeah. House of Dragon came out today so I was pregaming." I say and she chuckles, leaning down to peck me on the lips before she threads her hands in my hair. She leans over, grabbing a blanket before spreading it across her legs and grabbing the remote.
"Think you've pregamed enough?" She asks, raising a brow.
"I don't know. How much sex is in the new show?"
Word Count: 1,423
I know chapters have been kinda short lately... Sorry.