Page 59 of Sweet Thing

“Yeah, I know. This is a one off, for my best boys.”

“Oh, my gahh’d. Is he paying you a million Euros?”

“HA! I wish,” Pieter guffawed, jiggling Lukas in his arms. “Masculo approached me to show his Baby Daddy collection. I liked the idea, and made a suggestion. He went with it.”

“And the suggestion?”

“Well, there have been lots of runway shows featuring mothers, but what about fathers? I took it one step further and suggested Gay dads. I thought it would be cool if we could represent them.”

“But I’m not a dad. I don’t have a kid”, Simeon said, alarmed.

“Oh, that’s just a detail. It’s fine”, Pieter insisted, flicking Sim’s disquiet away. “One of Emily’s Baby-Group moms will lend you her baby for the show. She’ll stick around, obviously, and you’ll have to give him back unscathed.” Pieter scoffed. “But the garments are all about the relationship between a dad and his baby. It’s such a cool idea. The finale will be just us and our babies.”

Simeon’s whole body went rigid with alarm. Having a child with Pieter had been his darkest, most fantastical fantasy. Lukas was a dream child, but he was the only kid Simeon had ever bonded with. A stranger’s child was a different matter—And during a show, not just any show, but the final show of the fashion week event? Holding a strangers bawling, puking, stinky baby while trying to show garments was a horrifying thought. Babies are just so unpredictable. Sim’s mind started to drown in a sea of anxiety as Pieter strolled over and Lukas was handed to him.

Simeon propped Lukas on his hip, dropped his messenger bag and slumped down on a leather couch, then sat the baby on his lap and wiggled his knees. Lukas waved his hands around and did a little bottom jig, showing his delight at being with his Uncle Sim. Simeon’s heart did a little dance too, whenever Lukas looked at him with those blue eyes, wide as saucers—eyes that could see into his soul.

After several minutes playing with Lukas, Simeon said, “Look. This is crazy Peety. I mean, what if the kid won’t stop crying. What if he pukes on me in front of all of those people and the International fashion press?” Simeon was sure he was heading for a panic attack. “I so want to work with you again, but, don’t think I can do this.”

Lukas reached out his tiny chubby hands and clutched at Simeon’s cheeks. Sim playfully shook his head and made to bite at the baby’s fingers.

“Nom nom nom, Petits doigts de saucisse pour mon dîner" (Little sausage fingers for my dinner) Simeon teased. A chuckle from deep in Lukas’s belly erupted and shook his whole body.

Pieter slumped down on the couch, smiling at the interaction between Sim and Lukas. “You’ll be fine. Look, babies love you.”

“I guess I am pretty adorable,” Sim conceded.

“Honestly, I have no idea why, but Lukas isn’t like this with any of our other friends. It must be that funny face of yours”, Pieter ribbed. “This gig will get you heaps of positive exposure, and anyone holding a grudge against you for all the shit that happened will see that it’s old news and completely pointless. We need to show the world we are in this together—and we are. You’re Lukas’s uncle and my best friend. This will be great Sim. I promise.”

The weight of those words wedged in Simeon’s chest, and he wanted to cry. He couldn’t believe he was worthy of such a good friend, and so, as Pieter had faith in him, Simeon vowed he would do whatever it took not to let him down again.

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