Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
I scowled and closed the fridge so I could face him. “The doctor said the pain will lessen over time.”
“When you rest and take care of yourself,” he added pointedly. “Come on. Noa and I can step out and pick up food. You go get some sleep.”
Noa stalked up to me with a firm expression. “You listen to Daddy now, okay?”
I scoffed and turned to KC. “That’s going to get old. I don’t do well with brats telling me what to do unless I can punish them.”
“Daddy, protect me!” Noa swooped behind KC, and it annoyed me how quickly my…annoyance faded. His cuteness bothered me.
Additionally, he was entirely too adorable in his puppy briefs with his silicone tail wagging at every turn. And I missed him too.
“Counterproposal,” I said to KC. “You order for food to be delivered, and when it arrives, you can find the boys with me in my bed. We’ll eat there.”
Noa’s eyes lit up at the prospect of a sleepover with food in bed, so we waited for KC’s verdict.
“You won’t punish him for helping you,” he told me.
I showed my palms in surrender. “He hasn’t seen the end of my fuse yet, I promise.”
For Noa, my fuse was absurdly long. That bothered me too.
“Then we have a deal.” KC ruffled Noa’s hair and kissed the top of his head. “Go cuddle with Uncle Lucian and your brother, and I’ll be up when the food gets here. Okay?”
Noa nodded furiously. “But holler so I can help you carry stuff. That’s the rule—and I get to push the buttons on the lift!”
That was why my fuse was so long with this boy. He was so incredibly thoughtful. And evidently, it was never going to get old for him to utilize KC’s wheelchair lift on the stairs. He probably used it more than KC did.
A few moments later, Noa and I headed upstairs, and KC dug out our selection of takeout menus. We had fewer options now that I had to eat healthier, but sadly, they always found something. This wasn’t new. They’d been trying to get me to eat better for months.
I’m counting my blessings. Counting them hard.
By the time we reached Cam’s and my bedroom, I picked Noa up, to the sound of his squeal, and I blew raspberries against his tummy.
“Oh my gosh, nooo!” He laughed and hurriedly plastered himself to my upper body so I couldn’t reach.
Cam blinked drowsily and lifted his head from the pillow. “Hi.”
“Hey, baby boy. Sorry we woke you up.” I lowered Noa onto the bed.
Cam shook his head. “I was just dozing. Netflix asked if I was still watching, and I can’t reach the remote.”
“I hate when that happens,” Noa huffed.
So did I, and I thought I’d changed it. “How are you feeling?” I grabbed the remote next to the flat-screen.
“Not too bad.” Cam shrugged. “A bit sniffly, is all.”
Let’s hope it didn’t get worse.
After shrugging out of my clothes, I slipped under the covers and climbed over Noa. If I was going to be properly suffocated in cuddles, I had to be in the middle. Wait—fuck. I should’ve thought of this sooner.
“Can I get you anything?” I felt Cam’s forehead, relieved he didn’t feel feverish. “Tea? Water? Juice?”
He shook his head and shifted under my arm so he could use my chest as a pillow. “I have tissues and the best pillow. I’m good, Sir.”
“I’m also good,” Noa said. “And, Cameron, if you do get sick, I’m gonna stick to sucking your dick and not your face for a while. Okay?”
I rumbled a laugh and kissed the top of his head.
“Oh, how will I live?” Cam teased. “I get it. You prefer when my dick sneezes.”
“Oh God,” I groaned through a laugh.
Noa cracked up hard, and Cam was very pleased with himself.
How on earth was I going to nap now?
Actually, I could just wait for the medication to kick in.
“We should be sleeping,” I felt the need to point out. “We don’t wanna make Daddy mad.”
“I kinda do—he’s hot when he’s mad,” Noa snickered.
He wasn’t wrong.
CHAPTER 6
KC Hayles
We could reheat the food later. I couldn’t bring myself to wake them up.
Instead, I pulled out my phone and took a picture. Cam and Noa had their heads on Lucian’s chest, and they looked so peaceful together.
There. My new background photo in black and white. Perfect.
Leaving the takeout bag on the floor outside the bedroom, I pushed myself away from the doorframe and aimed for the bed. I let my cane drop on the carpet before I removed my pants and sweater. Then I carefully crawled into bed next to Noa, and he made a sleepy sound and gravitated toward me.
“Nap time, Daddy,” he mumbled.
“That’s right, baby.” I pulled him closer and let out a long breath.
We were finally heading in the right direction. I couldn’t fucking describe how relieved I was that Lucian had quit his job. At the same time…one thing kept gnawing at me. I wouldn’t be able to relax completely until we’d told Christine about us. We’d postponed that conversation for six damn months—with valid reasons—but enough was enough.