Page 118 of Craving Theodora
“I’ll be back tomorrow night at the latest.”
“Got it,” Dylan said.
“Don’t give Teddy a bunch of shit,” I warned. “She’s stressed enough about her new job startin’ and sendin’ you guys off to school on the same day.”
“We’ll be on our best behavior,” Jesse said firmly.
I let out a sigh.
“Seriously, Dad,” Dylan said, waving me off. “We got this.”
I took them at their word and headed back upstairs. Finn high-fived me as he passed me.
“I’m headin’ out in five,” I reminded him.
“I know,” he said easily. “See you tomorrow.”
When I reached our room, I found Teddy sorting laundry.
“Hey, baby,” I called. “I need to head out.”
“Oh, shit,” she said, spinning to face me. “Already?”
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” I promised, walking over to kiss her goodbye. “Sorry the timin’ is fucked.”
“We’re good. It’s going to go off without a hitch,” she assured me. “When will your uncle be here?”
“Any minute.”
“Okay, good.”
“Love you,” I murmured against her lips, stealing another quick kiss.
“Love you too,” she replied, grinning softly as I pulled away.
“Curtis?” she called over her shoulder, catching me at the doorway. “Could you tell the big kids that I’ll do their laundry with ours if they bring it to me in the next ten minutes?”
“They can do their own laundry.”
She just looked at me, raising her eyebrows.
“I’ll tell ’em,” I promised.
I moved back downstairs and called out goodbyes to the kids as I headed toward the front door.
“Bye, Dad,” Dylan called back.
“Bye,” Finn said.
“Bye, Pop,” Jesse added.
I froze and turned to look at them.
“Cool?” they asked, tilting their head as they watched me. “I call my dadDad, but you know…he’s where he is, and he will be pretty much forever, so I thought—”
“You can call me whatever you want,” I replied roughly.
“Pop it is,” Jesse said.
