You didn’t bother to knock anymore. You didn’t need to. After all, Benjamin’s door was practically an open invitation for you, especially when you knew what kind of day he’d had. You let yourself in, balancing a box of homemade food in one arm, already kicking shoes off as you entered. The familiar sound of Lottie’s cries filled the apartment.

“Have you eaten yet?” you called out, already knowing what the answer was.

“Kind of..” Benjamin muttered from the couch, his voice barely audible through the wailing.

“Kind of” was dad code for coffee and crackers, maybe with a few scraps Lottie decided to throw at him. You rolled your eyes, setting the box of food down on the counter before strolling into the living room.

When you entered, you found Benjamin sprawled out on the couch, looking like a man who hadn’t slept in days. His broad shoulders were hunched, his massive hand cradling Lottie’s tiny back, trying and failing to calm her down. The baby was still crying, her little face scrunched up in frustration. Benjamin’s hair stuck out in every direction like he hadn’t seen a comb in ages, and the dark circles under his eyes made him look like he was aging ten years with every sleepless night.

You sighed, walking over and gently scooping Lottie out of his arms. The baby squirmed for a moment, then immediately settled against your chest with a quiet sigh, as if she’d been waiting all day for this exact moment.

Benjamin blinked, staring at the scene before him like he was still trying to process what just happened. His head tilted back against the couch, and he rubbed his tired eyes, letting out a soft laugh. He had no idea whether to be amazed or absolutely terrified by the way you made it look so easy. And the way you cared for his daughter, without even a second thought? It made him feel things he wasn’t sure he was ready to admit.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” he said, a little dazed. “Seriously. I’m pretty sure I’d lose my mind if you weren’t here. You’re like...an angel, or something.”