One and Only

Staying Over

I thanked her and then Steve came down with Charlie in his arms. She giggled and kicked her dad's stomach so he would let her down and he did so with an 'oomph'.

"JayJay!" she exclaimed excitedly.

I smiled down, "Hey, Char!"

She beckoned me with two fingers to come closer to her, so I got down on my knees and she leaned into my ear and whispered, "I stole Daddy's wallet. Shhhh..." she put her index finger to her lips.

And as if on cue, Steve patted his pockets and swiveled his head right and left. "Honey, have you seen my wallet anywhere? I don't have it and I can't remember where I last put it." he asked Jane and I muffled my laughter, not wanting to tell them that in reality, Charlie had it.

"Sweetie, why are you always so forgetful?" Jane replied, exasperated.

"I had it a second ago..."

"How many times do I have to tell you to keep it in your pockets," she scolded him, "but you never listen! Maybe you should listen to me more often. If you did, then thi-"

"For God's sake, woman, shut up and help me find my wallet!" Steve cut her off.

Jane huffed and went to sit down on the couch in the living room. "I'll be waiting here when you find it," she said. Steve rolled his eyes at her childish behavior. They were hilarious and it took all that was in me not to burst out in fits of laughter.

"Daddy," Charlie held out his wallet in front of her.

"Oh, thank god you found it, Charlie." Steve blew out a sigh of relief while looking up from searching under the dining table. He held his hand out in a gesture for Charlie to give him his wallet, but she didn't. "Give it to me, Charlie."

"No." she said sternly.

"Come on, Charlie. I really need it." Charlie shook her head and Steve sighed with a desperate look on his face, "Okay, fine, what do you want, Charlie? A piece of candy?" she shook her head. "A new toy?" she shook her head again. "Five dollars?" I think it was supposed to be a joke, but Charlie grinned and started jumping excitedly. She handed the wallet back to Steve. "Smart choice, Charls." he smiled at his daughter and handed her five dollars.

"Come on, big momma, we gotta go!" Steve yelled in the direction of the living room before reaching it, Charlie in tow.

"Do I LOOK big to you?" Jane asked him with her hands crossed over her chest.

"Of course not, honey, now let's go."

"Bye kids." they both said in unison and walked out with Charlie.

I couldn't hold it in much longer. I took my hand away from my mouth and laughed and laughed until there were tears in my eyes and my stomach was threatening to come out.

"Oh my gosh," I gasped, "that was so," I gasped again, "funny!"

Noah had been laughing along with me.

When we finally calmed down, Noah offered, "You can stay here."

I realized that I was icky with sweat, "No...I should probably be getting home. I need to take a shower!"

"Then take one here!" he told me stubbornly.

"But I don't have clothes!"

"You can wear mine!"

"Ugh. Fine." I scowled, but I had kind of wanted to stay.

We walked up the stairs and into his room in silence.

"You can use the bathroom down the hall," he said, "I'll use my own."

I shrugged and waited. He looked up at me expectantly, "Aren't you gonna go, now?"