5. Leo

Chapter five

Leo

Late October

S ome Fridays, I was excited for the end of the work week, because it meant I got to have a couple days off to unwind and catch up with my sister. I loved my job, but preschoolers were exhausting. This Friday, I knew I wouldn’t see a certain hot dad.

Since Dezi had started at my school, I was sad to learn she really only needed to come a couple days a week. Besides quick chats at drop-off and pick-up, Isaac and I had chatted by text over the two weeks since we talked on the phone.

After reading Dezi’s paperwork, where Isaac listed himself as the only parent with no other emergency contacts, I also saw how he was isolated.

Growing up with a sister ten years older, along with both parents, grandparents I saw whenever we visited Mexico, and countless aunties, uncles, and cousins, I didn’t know how a single parent got by. Who did you call when your child was sick for days and you needed to sleep?

My impression was that Isaac was lonely.

Patty noticed I had a thing for Dezi’s dad, but she refrained from saying anything. Her knowing smirk whenever I walked away from the man said it all. I’d broken the main rule as a gay man and had a crush on a straight guy. Not just any guy, but the dad of my student.

My one argument when my sister, Cam, teased me was that I knew him before Dezi was in my care. She wasn’t nearly as subtle in her teasing as my boss.

“Hermano,” Cam’s voice filtered into my head as if I’d summoned her. Maybe I needed to rest more than I thought.

“Tío Leo,” Nacho called out, and this time I turned to find him walking into my classroom with his mom close behind. She was in one of her pantsuits, dark, curly hair loose around her shoulders. “Look who picked me up!”

“Cam, what are you doing off work so early?” I asked, making my way over to meet them by the office. I looked down at my nephew like he had the answers, “Did something happen with Nacho?”

“No,” Cam shrugged and pulled Nacho in for a hug from behind. “We had a team meeting after lunch and I let everyone go home early to give them a head start on the traffic and their weekends. One of my guys pointed out that I should lead by example. I texted you.”

“You’re in charge,” I pointed out, stepping into the office to grab my jacket, where I’d left my phone. “Didn’t have this on me.”

“Camila,” Patty popped her head around the corner and greeted my sister with a smile. I did all of Nacho’s transportation to and from school, so I was surprised she remembered my sister’s name. “So good to see you again.”

“Hey, Patty,” Cam shook my boss’ hand and I opened my phone to find her text. Sure enough, Cam had messaged thirty minutes before to say she’d see me after school. “I’m relieving Leo so he can take the rest of the weekend off.”

Scoffing, I let the two women chat as I noticed I had a few other missed texts and a call. From Isaac. He started by asking if I could help with something before lunch, before asking if I knew what to do about a rash.

My phone rang in my hand and I saw he was calling again. I decided it would be best to answer and find out what was going on. If I also wanted to hear his voice, no one had to know.

“Hello, Isaac?”

“Leo, thank goodness,” Isaac let out a sigh of relief. I could almost pretend it was his happiness to hear my voice as well until he went on, “Dezi had a rash and low fever, and I don’t know if I should take her to the doctor. It looks like chickenpox, but she had her vaccine two months ago.”

“Children can get a mild form of chickenpox after they’re vaccinated,” I explained, holding up a finger for my sister to know I would be a minute. “How long has she had the rash?”

“Just one day, I noticed the red bumps last night at bath time,” Isaac told me, and I could hear the anxiety in his voice. “It doesn’t feel mild.”

“If she’s vaccinated, it will pass in a few days,” I tried to reassure him, but I could feel his fear over the line. Eyeing my sister, I remembered what she said about my weekend starting now. “Would you feel better if I came over and helped?”

“That would be amazing,” Isaac whispered. “Won’t you get chicken pox?”

“No, I’m vaccinated,” I chuckled and caught Cam’s eye. “I can come over now, if you want?”

Isaac agreed and texted me instructions on getting in the building, though I remembered the address from his mentioning the tower. Cam and Patty teased me when I admitted where I was going, but it felt good to be heading somewhere besides home or work.

Walking the few blocks to Millenium Tower, I was greeted by a doorman and saw there was a valet for parking. It really was fancy. Pushing the button for the eighteenth floor, I couldn’t help wishing Isaac was inviting me over for a more fun reason.

He’s straight, perdedor .

My brain reminded me I was a loser for wanting Isaac right as I was lifting my hand to knock. The door flew open and I found a frazzled Isaac over the threshold. In basketball shorts, a stained long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal tattoos, I drank him in.

Isaac may be straight, but I wasn’t.

“You’re here,” Isaac stated and I couldn’t help the grin I always got around the man.

“I am. How can I help?” I asked, but Isaac only stared at me. “Is Dezi alright?”

“Oh, no,” Isaac answered, and my heart dropped. “I mean, yes. Dezi isn’t hurt, just not her usual self.”

“Can I come in and see her?” I asked when Isaac still didn’t move. I had to assume he was going on limited sleep from his slow reactions and the dark circles under his eyes. “Or should I stay out here?”

“Right. Come in.” Isaac stepped aside and gestured for me to enter. There was a kitchen to the right and a living room straight ahead, but he turned left into a hallway. “Dezi has had a fever around one-hundred degrees unless on fever reducers, and she seems to be in some pain. I don’t know what to do.”

His despondent tone had me following behind wordlessly until we reached a small room on the left side of the hall. The walls were a slate gray, which had me wondering if the space had been used for something else before it became a little girl’s bedroom.

Dezi was fussing in her crib, and I saw that Isaac had removed her clothes so she was only in a diaper. We’d been working on potty training the few days she came to school, but she wasn’t even two, yet. On her chest and thighs, I saw the little red bumps, along with some scratch marks.

“I think you’re right about the chickenpox,” I confirmed, not wanting to touch her skin in case she was contagious. I couldn’t get chicken pox, but my students could and I could get shingles. “We could get some mittens on her.”

“But she’s hot?” Isaac stated it like a question.

“To keep her from scratching,” I explained. “Has she had a bath today? Do you have any calamine lotion or antihistamines?”

“No. To all of the above,” Isaac shook his head and lifted Dezi from her crib. She clung to him and he held her head sweetly against his chest when she mumbled ‘Daddy’. Their interaction was too precious for words. “I can order some though.”

“Perfect.” I stepped aside so Isaac could leave the room with Dezi. Knowing she was suffering was the only thing keeping me from checking out her dad’s ass. “Lead the way.”