(Willa)
Despite being on edge, I found that being anxious about something besides the exam helped me. I was worried about Emmett instead of myself and found that even though it distracted me, it took the pressure off, and I realized that I did know this material.
Cali’s words and jokes about these terms came rushing back to me, and I think I did an okay job. If I could make it through the summer term, I knew the next one would be easier and not at such a rapid pace.
Cali was leaning on the wall outside my exam room. She fell into step with me as soon as I went out.
“I already know; I talked to the sitter; what can I do?” She asked, chewing on her lip.
I grabbed my phone; I saw a text from the sitter saying that Emmett was okay and another saying that Caspien had come to take him.
Caspien texted me once, saying that he had it under control and not to worry. I sighed, slipping my phone back into my pocket.
“I’m going to get him." I headed toward the door. “Sorry about our lunch.”
“Stop; your kid is sick; lunch can wait.” She shrugged.“Do you want me to get you a taxi?”
“Caspien sent a car.”
“Of course he did.” She gave me a wry smile.
A black SUV was waiting on the curb, and as soon as we walked out, the air felt charged.
“Looks like a storm,” Cali sighed, “Maybe it was best we didn’t get lunch. Fate, destiny, whatever you want to call it,” She nudged me.
“Let me give you a ride.”
"No, it's fine-"
“It's on the way.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her to the car.
Vicious dark clouds dotted the horizon; it was the least I could do for her.
“How did it go?” I asked.
“Good, I think, you?”
“Not as bad as I thought.”
“I don’t want to say I told you so..”
“But you do want to say that.”
“I do.” She smirked as we got into the car.
I let Caspien know we were on the way, and he told me that Holden would meet me and show me up. Up, of course, because he probably lived in a penthouse in the clouds. I felt guilty leaving Emmett with a stranger. I had no idea how he and Caspien would get along.
Caspien didn’t seem like the kid type, but we had to breach this somehow. I just wish I could have been there when they met.
(Caspien)
“Get some child things; I’m going to get him,” I stood up, passing Holden, who was sitting across from my desk in my office.
“What do children even do?”
I shrugged. “I'm not sure,”
“How old is it?” Holden asked.
“He.”
“How old is he?”
“Four, she said, almost five.”
“He talks, right?”
“I think?”
“Does he walk?”
“He’s not a f.ucking infant; Google it, I don’t know,”
“Okay, on it, boss man.” He saluted me and leaned back in his chair.
“Out of my office.” I pointed at the door, and he frowned.“Now.”
I didn’t wait to see if he followed. I had a few calls to make to get everything ready.
- - - - -
I buzzed the door to Cali’s apartment, and it opened. I wish Willa had something like this; anyone could just walk in. I would have to get one installed immediately.
I knocked, and a slightly older woman opened the door; she took a step back when she saw me and looked me over incredulously.
“Hi, I’m Mr- I’m Caspien.” I held out a hand, and she stared at it for a moment before taking it. “Willa sent me to pick up Emmett.”
“One moment.” The door closed, and the lock clicked.
I pinched my brow. Was I even at the right house?
The door opened again, and she took a step back, “Come in.”
I raised my eyebrows, “Everything okay?”
“I had to double-check with Cali.” She wore a smile now but still looked a bit nervous, “Just to confirm you were the person Willa sent.”
“What did Cali say?”
“She said if you were tall, brooding, and looked like you should lead some special forces, then you’re the right person.” She gave me a genuine smile. “Her words.” She shrugged.
“Sounds about right.” I tried to smile at her.
“I’ll go get Emmett.” She went down a small hallway, and nerves coursed through me.
Before, I was focused on getting things ready; now, I was going to meet my mate's child. I didn’t know what to do with kids. If he didn’t like me, then that would surely ruin things with Willa; he was her world, the reason she did everything.
A child with rosy cheeks came out holding the sitter's hand; he had tousled brown hair and eyes that were almost the same green as Willa's.
“This nice man is going to take you to a doctor, okay?”
Emmett looked up at me.
“Hi,” I said after a few moments.
“Hi.” He tilted his head, studying me.
“Hi.”
“You said that already.”
“Sorry, hi.” I’m an i.diot. I shook my head.
Maybe stop with the hi - Atlas was howling with laughter in my mind.
I knelt on the ground so we were closer to eye level.
“Your mom, mother, mommy?“
“Mama?”
“That one.” I pointed at him. “She sent me to come to pick you up. I’m going to take you to a doctor that can help make you feel better, okay?”
“Okay.”
“And then your mom, Mama, will come and meet us. Is that okay?”
“Sure." He shrugged. He seemed a bit tired, maybe dazed. He did seem sick, and it worried me.
I stood back up.
“You’re tall,” he noted.
“Yes,” I replied.
Emmett nodded and walked toward me, reaching out his hand. I took it in mine; it was so small and warm. He definitely had a fever. I’d heard of some minor illnesses, especially with pups, but this seemed like it could actually be something.
He had to show me how to buckle him into the booster seat, and once we were off, he settled in, leaning back on the seat.
“So,” I started, even Willa didn’t make me this nervous. “What do you like?”
“Dinosaurs, coloring, pasta, blue.”
I nodded, making a note of that assortment. “How are you feeling?”
He shrugged again. “Fuzzy.”
I smiled at that. “Well, the doctor will make you feel less fuzzy.”
“Where are we going?”
“To my pack house, my house. It's at the top of a building.”
“Like one of those.” He pointed out of the window at a small skyscraper; his eyes lit up.
“Even bigger.” I leaned towards him.
“Wow,”
“I know,” I agreed.
He started to doze off in the car, he was actually adorable, and that word wasn’t in my vocabulary.