Page 163 of Please Open Me
Momma tilted her head. “Do you know what I love about you, Sophia?”
Absolutely nothing. She’s told me as much.
“My charm?” I deadpanned.
“You always think you’re the smartest person in the room,” she said flatly.
“Uh, unless Sebby’s with me? I am,” I snorted.
For a second, I swore she smiled. Not one of her fake smiles to seem human, but something real.
Then she stood, smoothed her grapefruit-colored blouse, and walked over to me.
“Go home, Sophia,” she said, too calmly for someone who just accused me of murder. “And don’t make me call you back.”
Chapter 39
Sebastian
Did I love my kids? Undoubtedly, a million times over, yes. I would die for Jasper, Juniper, and Rosemary. I wouldkillfor them too, although that particular line felt like it meant less coming from me. Butfuckdid they drive me crazy.
We spent three fucking hours at the trampoline park, and I was the only one fit enough to keep up with the kids, you know because Lucian claimed he was still in withdrawal hell–which seemed like an excuse to me–and Cameron was fat and old.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved my sexy, ancient, dad bod having man. But, he jumped for half an hour before he was red and dripping with sweat. And, Lucian was a pale, shaky mess.
Meanwhile, the twins were fucking feral.
So, Lucian stood on the sidelines and Cameron played in the ballpit while I climbed walls, and played dodgeball, and watched the kids do half rehearsed backflips that ended with their face smashed into the trampoline before they shot up and screamedDID YOU SEE THAT UNCLE BASH????
I always saw it, and I always said good job with a level of fake enthusiasm reserved for watching children do the same thing over, andoverandoveragain.
By the time we hit the three hour mark, my shirt was glued to my back, my bad leg protested every movement, and the children were all red faced and sticky with sweat. My first instinct was to drop them off at home, hand them off to their mothers and saydeal with the mess you created, then I remembered Mason was pregnant.
And exhausted.
And innocent in this unwilling field trip. So, instead of bringing a small heard of wild animals home, I suggested we take the munchkins for dinner. Nothing major, just something to fill their stomachs and help satisfy one of their needs so they didn’t burst into tears or fight on the car ride home.
We ended up at a diner just up the road from my house and all slid ourselves into one booth.
Lucian cornered Jasper and Juniper on one side, Cameron and I sat on the other, and Rosie got a high chair all to herself. And, as my brother fussed over the two and Cameron tended to Rosie, a smile crept onto my face.
“What are you so happy about?” Lucian asked as he busied himself with watering down the apple juice both twins swore they needed.
“It’s nothing, it’s just–” My smile widened. “I’m going to have one soon.”
Sure, all three kids were mine, only the law disagreed, but it was that level of uncertainty that made me uneasy. If Lucian and Cameron so decided, they could take their kids and I would have absolutely no ground to fight it on. But, with my own flesh and blood baby, no one couldeverargue that I wasn’t his or her father.
Ireallyloved being a dad, which shocked literally everyone who’d ever known me. And the idea thatIwas having a baby thrilled me.
I cradled my chin and smiled. Cameron always wanted four, two boys, two girls, and since I wanted forever with him, obviously, I wanted a boy.
But, deepdeepdeepdown I wanted a little girl. They were just so stinking cute.
“Well, I mean,” Lucian shifted in his seat, clearing his throat. “I uh–it could be mine. And if Mason and I are married, legally I’ll go on the certificate.”
Cameron slanted Lucian a look that saidyou better fucking not be the dad, and I took a drink of my beer. If our appetizers had been here, I would’ve stuffed my face just to keep my mouth busy.
Because, no one at this table other than me knew my dad with Mason this morning concluded with a visit to Leona. And not one just because Mason needed a little motherly love. She'd needed a lawyer.
