Every man eventually faces the question of whether it’s time to settle down and start a family. But not Henry. He was sure he’d stay single forever, convinced it was the better path for him. That belief held until a day spent with his nine-year-old niece forced him to confront the real reason behind his choices.
Henry woke up to the warmth of something licking his face. Opening his eyes, he saw a small, fluffy dog wagging its tail excitedly. This wasn’t his dog. And this wasn’t his place.
Piecing together the events of the night before, he turned and saw her—the girl from the club, still asleep with her hair sprawled across the pillow. Time to go, he thought. The routine was always the same: wake up, gather his things, and leave without a word.
As he dressed, Henry noticed his pants on the floor, his shirt draped over a chair, and one sock missing. His search led him to the dog, happily chewing on the missing sock.
“Hey, buddy, that’s mine,” he whispered, trying to grab it. The dog playfully growled, tugging the sock away just as a sleepy voice interrupted the silence.
“Henry? You’re up already?”
He froze. She was awake.
“Uh, yeah,” he stammered. “I’ve got work. Early meeting.”
She frowned. “But it’s Saturday…”
“Weekend shifts,” he lied quickly, fumbling for his shoes.
“Will I see you again?” she asked, hopeful.
“Of course,” he said smoothly, though it was a lie.
Her expression darkened. “Do I even have your number?”
“Yeah, you gave it to me,” he replied confidently.
“What’s my name, then?” she pressed.
Henry swallowed. “Nancy?”
A slipper flew at him as he grabbed his things and bolted. In his car, he sighed in relief. No commitments, no responsibilities—just freedom. Who needed a family when you could live like this?
Then his phone rang. It was Riley, his sister.
“Henry, I need a favor,” she said. “Can you come over?”
“Uh, sure. What’s up?”
“Just get here,” she insisted.
Twenty minutes later, Henry arrived at Riley’s house. She stood at the door, arms crossed, looking annoyed.
“You’re late,” she snapped.
“By five minutes!” he retorted.
“Whatever,” Riley huffed. “I need you to watch Mira today. I have a business dinner.”
“Me? Babysit?”
“Yes, you,” Riley said. “There’s food in the kitchen. No junk food, no going outside. Got it?”
“Got it,” Henry muttered, already regretting the favor.
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