Go to Bed with Little Uncle

I had a crush on my guardian, Liam Lu. That's the simplest way to put it.

He was my father's best friend, the man entrusted to look after my brother and me after Dad died. He was also twelve years my senior, which made my love a secret I guarded with my life.

Until my eighteenth birthday.

Under the dizzying lights of the Coney Island Wonder Wheel, a little drunk and a lot reckless, I kissed him. It was clumsy and quick, and I was ready to bolt, my heart hammering against my ribs.

But his eyes snapped open. He looked at me, a slow, unconcerned smile playing on his lips. "Want a lesson in kissing, little bird? Too bad. I'm not interested in little girls."

Shame burned my cheeks, but I stood my ground. "I'll grow up. I can wait."

He seemed to consider this for a second, then chuckled. "Alright. When you turn twenty-two, if you still feel this way... I'll think about it."

That promise became my entire world. For four years, my life was a countdown to this day.

And today, on my twenty-second birthday, I was here to collect.

I couldn't find him at our meeting spot, so I went searching, clutching a giant teddy bear I'd won for him. I finally spotted him near the carousel, laughing with his friends. I crept closer, hiding myself behind a cotton candy stand.

That's when I heard a baby cry.

I peeked around the edge. Liam was holding a fussy infant, bouncing him awkwardly. His friends looked annoyed.

"Damn, Liam, you're really going all out," one of them said. "You actually rented a baby just to teach your little ward a lesson?"

My mind went blank.