Erin laughed and shook her head as she pulled away from Blair. “Another day, another interruption.”

Blair booped Erin’s nose to let her know it was okay. “At least he’s a very  cute interruption.”

“He really is, isn’t he?”

“Mommy! Why aren’t you talking to me?”

Erin rolled her eyes. “He kind of has to be, though. It keeps me from killing him.”

Nolan pushed through the door at that very moment, hair sticking out in all sorts of directions, as he put his hands on his hips and glared at the two of them. Blair tried her best not to laugh since a little boy in Bluey pajamas was probably the least threatening sight in the world.

“Why won’t you come get me?” he asked angrily.

Blair left Erin’s side and knelt down in front of Nolan. “Sorry, buddy. You know how you’re feeling so much better now?” When Nolan nodded his head, Blair continued. “Well, that’s because your germs left you and jumped onto me. Now I’m sick. Your mommy was trying to help me feel better, so that’s why we couldn’t come get you right away.”

Nolan brought his hand to his mouth and giggled. “My germs jumped on you?”

Blair widened her eyes and nodded. “They did.”

Much to Blair’s surprise, Nolan stopped laughing and wrapped her in a tight hug. “It’s okay. I take care of you.”

Erin walked over to Nolan and put her hand on his head. “ You need to go to school today, mister.”

With just one sentence, the sweet little boy was gone and the feral monster returned. Nolan jumped up and down, stomping his feet hard on the ground. If Blair’s head wasn’t already pounding, Nolan’s meltdown definitely would’ve done it. “No! I take care of Bear! I went to school tomorrow.”

Blair was sure this was the side of things Erin was talking about when she said she was worried dating a single mom would be too much for her to handle. This only proved even more that she was  ready to handle it. Sure, she kind of wanted to throw Nolan out a window right now, but she also knew the moment would pass and he would do something to steal her heart all over again.

She needed to think fast, because the more he shouted, the worse she felt, and she might actually yell at him if she didn’t think of a way to calm him down.