Free Down and Out (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter Book 3) by Lila Rose Page B

it, I wrapped a towel around him and went back into Koda's room where I found a freshly showered Kalen. The humidifier was already going. Placing Koda on his change table, I quickly dressed him in his nightwear, leaving the front open.
    "Can you pass me the vapour rub?" I asked, holding out my hand. It was slapped on it. Opening the lid, I had Kalen hold the tub while I scooped some out with my fingers. I gently rubbed it onto Koda's chest, then shifted him to his side for a little on his back, all while Kalen watched on quietly.
    "Um, this is the hard part." I cringed.
    "What do you mean?" Kalen barked.
    "Can you mind him while I wash my hands?" He nodded. When I got back, Kalen was leaning over his son talking softly to him. "Okay," I started and then opened the box for the nasal aspirator. "You, um, either do this or hold his head."
    "What the hell are we doing with that thing?"
    It was obvious he hadn't seen a nasal aspirator before. Pointing to the small end, I explained, "This bit will go into Koda's nose, and then we squeeze this end, and it will suck his snot out."
    It was comical how Kalen paled straight away. "You're fuckin' with me, right?"
    Shaking my head, I bit my bottom lip to stop my laughter and then mumbled, "No."
    "That is wrong on so many levels. I will not do that or let you do it to my kid," he bit out and moved in front of Koda like I was a threat.
    Rolling my eyes, I asked, "Do you want Koda to be able to breathe?"
    "Of course," he clipped out roughly.
    "Then you have to do this. He doesn't understand how to blow his nose to clear it, Kalen. He needs our help."
    "Fuck." His eyes went to the ceiling, and then he glared back down at the aspirator. "Jesus motherfucking Christ."
    "Kalen?"
    "Okay. All fuckin' right. But I can't… I won't do that." He pointed to the aspirator like it was a gay magazine.
    "I'll do it, but you'll need to hold his head still for me," I said. He nodded and moved to the side of the table. Koda, possibly sensing something was about to happen, started crying. "It's okay, sweet boy. We'll help you." Smiling what I hoped was a reassuring smile, I leaned over Koda while Kalen gently took his son's head in his hands. Placing the end in his nose, I quickly sucked the snot into the aspirator.
    Kalen dry retched and then heaved again.
    Koda stopped crying and seemed surprised by the sound.
    When I moved to his other nostril, Koda started struggling. Looking to Kalen, I saw his head was faced away, and he seemed a little green. "Hold him still, please."
    "Just do it already," he growled, but his hands controlled Koda's movements enough for me to do it again. Koda cried on this one.
    Kalen's hands disappeared, and more dry heaving sounded behind me.
    "You okay?" I asked with obvious humour in my voice while I picked up Koda to console him. Turning, my eyes landed on a bent-over Kalen, his hands on his knees and he was breathing deeply through his nose.
    A giggle bubbled up and came out. I couldn't stop. Seeing tough Kalen react like that over some snot was the funniest thing I'd ever seen. Soon Koda was laughing with me. Not that he knew it was at his dad's expense.
    "Woman," Kalen barked. I quieted, and then he must have remembered and heaved again, which caused me to giggle once more. Kalen stood tall and turned to me. "That was the sickest thing I've ever seen, and I've seen some shit in my life." My hand went over my mouth to try to stop laughing. Kalen's mouth quirked at the ends. "Stop laughing at me." I couldn't. The visual kept popping into my mind. He groaned, shook his head, and… was that a chuckle? It was. He threw his head back and laughed. In fact, I stopped laughing just so I could watch him. It was a beautiful sight.
    "Jesus, you are never to mention this shit to anyone. I nearly lost my stomach for fuck's sake." He shook his head and held out his hands to Koda, who looked exhausted. Koda went straight into his dad's arms and grabbed his beard. "Please tell me I won't have