Manage Me

It was getting harder and harder to keep my feelings to myself. Every day I spent with Katie just made me fall for her even more. How she had gone from being just my maid to the girl that controlled my every emotion was something I would never understand. It was also something I was eternally grateful for.

I knew she was afraid. As I gazed at her across the dining room table I could practically feel her tension that was a result of my almost confession in the kitchen earlier. That fear was the only thing that had kept me from blurting out those three special words earlier. I love you. I longed to say the words, whisper them in her ear, let them slip out casually as she left to run errands, shout them to the world. But her fear kept me in check. I knew it didn’t stem from me. It stemmed from the fact that she was feeling it too. I could taste it in every kiss, feel it in every touch, hear it in the way my name rolled off her tongue.

And it wasn’t just Katie I was losing my heart to. Her blonde-haired, blue-eyed little boy had already captured it. I let my eyes wander to Kade’s booster seat. His cheeks, chubby with pinchable baby fat, were stretched wide in a smile as he giggled at a face Katie was making at him. There was pasta sauce smeared all over his face from the mini lasagnas Katie had made for dinner. I reached over to tweak his nose and was rewarded with a smile all my own.

“You are one messy little mister, Kangaroo.” Katie’s voice brought both of our eyes back to her.

“Looks like someone is getting a bath tonight.”

“No, My! No bath!” Kade’s bottom lip jutted out into a pout.

“Awh, c’mon now, Kade.” I cut off before Katie could respond. “Even Mommy saving superheroes gotta be clean. How do you expect to fight all the monsters when your face is full of food? I bet those hungry monsters would just try to eat you up!”

I leaned over and stuck my tongue out, pretending like I was about to lick his cheek. Kade’s frown morphed into a giggle, his body shrinking away from me in an attempt to escape.

“Ewwwww, JackJack! Don’t lick me!”

“Better go take a bath then.” I shrugged.

Katie grinned across the table at me as Kade scrambled to get down. She stood and began gathering dishes as Kade scampered off. I reached over, gently pushing her hand away.

“You go clean up the little hero, I’ve got the dishes.”

“Thanks, Jack.” She smiled softly at me, coming around the table and pressing a quick kiss to my lips before following Kade up the stairs to the bathroom.

My eyes followed her small form until she was lost from my sight. I grinned, giving my head a small shake to clear it, before setting about clearing the table. I whistled softly, listening to the splashes and gleeful shrieks coming from above me as I scrubbed the plates and other various cooking tools clean. The doorbell sounded and I slung the dish towel over my shoulder, slightly confused as I went to open the door. It was well past seven so I wasn’t sure who it could be. I should have known better.

“Alex! What are you doing here?” A brief flicker of panic flared in my blood before I quickly squashed it down. My eyes darted to the staircase where it was now fairly quiet. Alex pushed past me, entering the house before I could stop him.

“What, I can’t come visit my best bud?”

“No, it’s not that. Now just isn’t a very good time.”

I heard a small scuffle come from upstairs and my eyes shot to the top of the staircase and back again. Alex grinned, his curiosity now piqued as he took a step towards the stairs.

“What do you and Katie have goin on up there, Jacky?”

I hadn’t told any of the guys about Kade. I wanted to, God how I wanted to, but it wouldn’t be fair to Katie. It was her private life to share, and I knew better than to mess with the protective Mom in her by telling people she barely even knew about her son. Unfortunately for both of us thanks to Alex’s surprise visit Kade wasn’t going to be much of a secret anymore.

“Kade Jensen Feist, get back here this instant!”

I turned towards the stairs just in time to witness a very wet, very naked Kade streaking down them. Forgetting about Alex, I whipped the towel off of my shoulder, holding it open to intercept Kade when he reached the bottom. Kade let out a peal of giggles as I secured him in my arms.

“Hey now, you little rascal, what are you doing running away from My like that?”

Katie’s feet sounded above and she appeared within moments, an exasperated scowl etched onto her face. She made her way down the stairs coming to a stop in front of Kade and me before letting out a heavy sigh.

“Kade, what’s the rule about after bath time?”

“No running with wet feet.” Kade intoned automatically.

“And did you follow the rule?”

“No.” Kade mumbled before turning to press his face into my shoulder.

A sound came from behind me, stopping any further discussion of Kade’s rule breaking. Fuck, I had forgotten about Alex. I turned slowly, Kade’s face still hidden. Katie stepped around me and let out a strangled little squeak.

“Alex! What are you doing here!”

“Funny thing, your boyfriend asked me that same question when he opened the door.”

Alex offered Katie an easy grin that did nothing to relax her stiffened form. I angled my body away from him slightly, casting Kade in more shadows than light. Alex ignored my obvious hint, swaggering up to me, his face right next to where Kade’s would be if he hadn’t hidden it.

“Hey-a little man, my name’s Alex. What’s yours?” Kade shifted slightly, allowing Alex a glance at a single eye as he examined him.

“Kade.” He finally whispered quietly, still not quite sure of Alex.

“That’s a nice name.” Alex said with a soft smile.

“Fanks.” Kade mumbled into my shoulder, turning ever so slightly so that his other eye was visible.

“C’mon, Kangaroo, it’s time to put your jammies on.” Katie said, completely ignoring and avoiding Alex’s presence.

“I want JackJack to do it.”

I glanced at Katie out of the corner of my eye. She was pale, slightly panic stricken, and obviously wanted an escape.

“I’ll do it tomorrow, buddy. Let My get you ready for bed tonight, okay?”

“No!” Kade buried his face back into the side of my neck, tightening his hold on me.

“Kade –”

“No, Jack, it’s okay.” Katie’s voice was strained but her touch was gentle as she laid a small hand on my shoulder. “You go get him in bed. I think I need to talk with Alex anyway.” She whispered in my ear.

“Are you sure?” I whispered back. “I can make him leave if you want.”

“No, it’s really okay.”

“Okay.” I mumbled uneasily. “Just holler if you need me.”

She nodded. Placing a kiss on Katie’s forehead and then quickly on her lips, I turned for the stairs. I bounced as I carried Kade up the stairs, eliciting giggles from him the entire way. I took one final glance back at the pair. Katie was shifting uncomfortably while Alex’s eyes were on me. I sent him a glare that made it clear I wouldn’t hesitate to kick his ass if he stepped out of line. Without waiting for a response, I made my way towards the spare bedroom that now housed some of Katie and Kade’s clothing. She had still refused to move out of the pool house, but some nights they both ended up here late enough for Kade to crash and me to convince Katie to just stay over. I could hear muffled voices coming from the entryway, and hoped everything would be okay. The last thing I needed was Alex fucking up the best part of my life.