accidental love • n.maloley「✓」| EDITING

twenty-six

nate

"what're you doing today?" i ask anderson over the phone, my gaze locked on natalia as i continue gently pushing her swing, allowing her to drift off to sleep.

"well, i'm doing absolutely nothing," she answers. "emily and brandon took the girls out somewhere, i don't even remember where."

"why didn't you go with them?"

"i don't know, wasn't really feeling it," she tells me.

"well, do you want me to drive down there? we can do something so you're not alone," i offer, leaning back against the couch as natalia is now fast asleep and i no longer need to continue swinging her.

"no," she quietly says. "actually, could i come to your place? i kinda just wanna get out of this apartment."

"of course," i tell her. "i'll text you my address, okay?"

"okay, i'll see you in a little while."

××

just as i toss a water bottle in the garbage can there's a knock on my front door. expecting it to be anderson, i hurry over to the door and open it, but am met by swazz instead. i roll my eyes and turn on my heels, heading back into the house. "anderson's coming over so you have to leave soon," i tell him, not bothering to beat around the bush.

"ah, your lover," he says. "actually, i think i'll stay and finally meet this girl that you're so obsessed with." and to prove his point, he flops down on the couch with a sigh, getting comfortable.

"no, you're leaving," i say, heading over towards him. "right now." i pull him up off the couch and push him over towards the door, pulling it open. i stop just as i go to shove him out, my gaze landing on anderson as she lowers her hand, obviously she about to knock before i opened the door. "anderson, hey," i greet, smiling.

she goes to reply but is cut off by swazz. "oh, so you're the infamous anderson. damn nate, you really scored with this one." i raise a hand and smack the side of his head, although he doesn't let it phase him. "i'm swazz, nate's best friend."

"hi, i'm anderson," she says, glancing between the two of us. "it's nice to meet you."

"there you met her, now go on," i then say, pushing him out the door. he flips me off but doesn't argue this time, simply turning and heading towards his car in the driveway. as he leaves i turn back towards anderson and smile. "come in." i step back and she enters the house, her eyes sweeping across the foyer, taking everything in.

"where's natalia?" she asks once she's done admiring, turning to face me.

"where's my hug and kiss?" i retort, raising my eyebrows. she rolls her eyes but comes over, wrapping his arms around my neck and pulling me down into a sweet kiss. pulling back, i smile, placing another quick kiss on her lips before letting her step away. "she's in the nursery. c'mon, i'll show you." taking her hand in mine, i lead her through the living room and up the stairs, into natalia's nursery.

"aw, look who's waking up. mommy's here," she coos, reaching into the crib and pulling natalia out. i lean against the doorway, watching with a smile as anderson continues talking to natalia, wondering how i got so lucky. it still amazes me that i was lucky enough to not only have a healthy daughter, but a loving girlfriend that's an amazing mother to natalia as well. "this nursery is cute, nate. the pictures you sent really done it no justice," it's anderson's words that pull me out of my thoughts, my gaze meeting hers as she smiles brightly at me.

"it better be cute, i worked hard on fixing this room up," i chuckle, and anderson shakes her head in amusement.

"c'mon, natalia's probably hungry."

××

"i can drive you home, if you want," i offer, noticing anderson's drooping eyes as she lays her head on my chest. when we began watching the movie, i laid on my back on the couch and anderson opted for laying halfway on top of me, natalia laying in her bouncer. "or you could just stay here for the night."

"if you drive, how will my car get there?" well, she does have a point. "and i can't stay, carrington's at the apartment. it would seem rude."

"she's your sister, not a friend," i remind her. "it's either i drive you, or you stay. either way, i'm not letting you drive." she mumbles incoherently, readjusting her head on my chest.

we're quiet for a few seconds before she speaks up again, "i'll stay here, just let me text carrington."