Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
“This is his MO, Daddy,” Gael said carefully. “He quits when he grows bored, never when I ask him to. Then he starts up again a couple months later.”
I flicked a glance at Joshua as he poured himself coffee. He wasn’t satisfied one bit, and I was inclined to side with him, simply because I’d been involved this time. It was a first. Caleb had sent a letter to me. According to Gael, that’d never happened before. And he’d come all the way here. He’d spent weeks on the East Coast. Simply to go home like that? No, I didn’t buy it.
Joshua frowned into his mug and poured milk into his coffee. “I guess we’ll see what happens. I’m gonna call a friend in the Bay Area and see if he can confirm Caleb’s arrival when the plane lands.”
He didn’t have to spell it out further for me. He was going to keep watching Caleb.
“And if he’s there?” Gael asked. “What’re we gonna do? Is Master Dean going home today? Am I? Am I going back to work? I took the week off, but I guess I could—”
“Slow down, baby—I just woke up.” Joshua sent the boy a wink to lighten the mood. “For my peace of mind, I’d like it if you stayed with me for a few days. At least till I get a sense of Caleb’s next move. If he really does go back home, it’ll be easier to track his movements. He goes to work, we know where he lives, and so on.”
I thought that was a good idea. Gael shouldn’t be alone yet.
“But what about Master Dean, Daddy?” The boy actually pouted. First at Joshua, then up at me. “Can’t you come with us to Daddy’s house?”
Goddamn.
I looked to Joshua for help, which…well, that was stupid.
“I’m pouting internally,” he said and took a sip of his coffee.
I…
Wait, why was I fighting this? I’d already lost the war. It was just my dumbass default mode to argue. God, I was a fool sometimes.
I suppressed a sigh at myself and stroked Gael’s cheek. “I’d be happy to.”
With Caleb presumably out of DC, Gael opted to go with Joshua to pick up paint and wallpaper for a weekend of working around the house. I caught a ride into town with River, who was heading in to pick up Shay anyway. Their boy had spent the night at his aunt’s place—where his younger brothers lived, I learned.
Once I’d been dropped off at home, I proceeded with my day as usual, with the exception that I was itching for what came after work. Class was no longer the highlight of my day. The two hours after class, when students could come talk to me in my office, I was ticking things off my to-do list so that I would have less to worry about for the weekend. I crossed all my Ts and dotted every I, until I could finally walk home and pack a new bag.
Valentine’s Day tomorrow. What a bizarre notion that I actually had plans. Plans that I was going to hijack. I couldn’t say I particularly cared for the date in general, but I did care about making things clear for Joshua and Gael.
I sent Joshua a message while I waited for my steamer to warm up. How my suits sometimes managed to get wrinkled in my closet was a mystery.
I’d like to be in charge of our date tomorrow. Is that all right with you?
He responded quickly.
Hell, baby. Are we hosting a funeral for your resolve? Of course it’s all right.
I laughed under my breath.
That’s one way to look at it. I’ll make dinner reservations. And Gael can get ready to wear a vibrating egg. See you soon.
Now to find a good restaurant that wasn’t fully booked. I may have to call in a favor or two…
Such as my troublemaking brother-in-law.
A couple hours later, I parked next to Joshua’s truck. I grabbed my bag and two suits from the back seat, and that was around the same time Gael stumbled out onto the porch with paint dotting his tee and sweatpants.
“You’re finally here, Sir! We’re painting the living room!”
Dark blue, I presumed.
“Just put me to work.” I smiled and headed up the path to the porch.
“Daddy can do that,” he snickered. “How was class?”
“Still empty without you there.” I had something better to look forward to now, though. Endless hours of cuddling with this boy and discussing all the things we were so passionate about. I unbuttoned my coat and climbed up the steps. “Give me a kiss.”
He grinned and tilted his head up, and I growled playfully and kissed him soundly.
To think, this boy would be mine. He actually wanted me, laugh lines and grays and all.
We found Joshua waiting for us in the doorway, and Gael rushed back inside with a skip in his step.