**Angela's POV**
I had just settled Jamie down for a nap on my bed when I heard a knock on the front door. With a sigh, I glanced down at Jamie, his tiny body snuggled into my pillows, his soft breathing the only sound in the room. He was so peaceful, and I hated the idea of leaving him even for a second. But the knock persisted.
"Stay right there, little guy," I whispered, though I knew he wasn't going anywhere. Still, I made sure he was comfortable before slipping out of the room and closing the door gently behind me.
The moment I reached the front door and pulled it open, there he was—Noah. My neighbor, my friend, and, unfortunately, my greatest rival when it came to Jamie.
"I knew it," he said with that all-too-familiar smirk. "I heard my son was here."
I rolled my eyes, already knowing what was coming. "Your son? Please. Jamie's with me, and he's staying with me."
But Noah wasn't one to back down. Before I could stop him, he pushed past me, heading straight for the living room and, of course, toward my bedroom. I knew exactly what he was thinking, and I was already two steps behind him, rushing to catch up.
"Noah! Don't you dare go in there!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the house as I scrambled after him.
He just laughed, his strides long and determined, completely ignoring me. "Oh, come on, Angela. You know Jamie likes being with me. It's only fair I get some time with him."
I nearly tripped over a chair as I tried to keep up with him, my heart racing. "He does not! He's perfectly happy where he is. You can't just barge in and—Noah, stop!"
But, of course, he didn't stop. He had this ridiculous habit of walking into my house like he owned the place, especially when he knew Jamie was around. It was like the minute he heard that baby was with me, he made it his mission to come and steal him away. We'd had countless fights over this.
By the time Noah reached my bedroom door, I was almost out of breath, my voice growing louder with every step. "Noah, I swear if you wake him up—!"
He didn't even hesitate, swinging the door open and stepping into the room. I skidded to a stop behind him, my hands on my hips, glaring at the back of his head. Jamie, of course, was still fast asleep, his little body rising and falling with each gentle breath.
Noah turned around, a triumphant smile on his face. "See? My son. He's always so calm when I'm around."
I huffed, crossing my arms as I leaned against the doorframe. "He's calm because he's asleep, you idiot. And don't even think about picking him up."
But Noah had that mischievous glint in his eyes, the one that told me he was going to do exactly what I told him not to. He moved closer to the bed, reaching out toward Jamie, and my heart leapt into my throat.
"Noah, I'm serious! Don't touch him! He just fell asleep!" I practically shrieked from the doorway.
He gave me a sideways glance, his hand hovering over Jamie like he was teasing me. "You're being dramatic. I'm not going to wake him up. I just want to say hi."
I rushed forward, ready to block him if I had to. "Saying hi does not involve picking him up, Noah! You always do this!"
He chuckled, but before he could make another move, I stepped in front of him, placing myself between him and Jamie. "You're not taking him today. He's staying with me. End of discussion."
Noah raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my determination. "We'll see about that."
We stood there for a moment, both of us staring each other down. I could feel the tension building, but it wasn't the serious kind. This was the playful, ridiculous back-and-forth we'd been having for weeks now. Jamie, blissfully unaware, continued to sleep peacefully behind me, completely oblivious to the fact that we were practically fighting over him.
With a final, exasperated sigh, I pointed toward the door. "Out, Noah. Before I really lose my patience."
Noah chuckled again, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. But don't think this is over. My son will be back with me soon enough."
I rolled my eyes as I pushed him toward the door, ignoring the grin on his face. "Keep dreaming, Noah. Jamie's mine for the rest of the afternoon."
As he made his way out, I couldn't help but smile. It was always like this with Noah—him barging in, trying to steal Jamie, and me putting up a fight. But, despite the chaos, I didn't mind. It was our thing. And even though we both pretended it was about Jamie, I think we both knew it was just another way for us to spend time together.
Still, I wasn't about to let him win. Not today. Jamie was mine, and I was going to make sure he stayed with me. At least until tomorrow.