Page 12 of How To Not Need You

"My floors."

He looked down. "You mean my floors."

"I do."

"Why would my shoes on my floors annoy you?"

"You're dripping mud through the place."

"I was bringing atmosphere to the evening."

"You were bringing dirt." Behind him Harper laughed as she pushed Grace's pram through the door.

"I’m staying out of this one."

"Smart woman." Alexander followed carrying two bags over one shoulder and Leo following close behind him.

"Need a hand?"

"I'm almost done." Then Elsie stopped halfway through the doorway, taking in the room dramatically.

"Is that paint?" I looked over to the table I set up for the kids.

"Yep."

Her eyes widened in response. "You made an art corner."

"Three children under six and first editions seemed like a terrible combination."

She wandered over slowly like she'd stumbled across buried treasure.

"You bought finger paint."

"Mhm."

"Stickers."

"Mhm."

"Foam shapes."

"Mhm."

"You even covered the table."

"I also taped newspaper to the wall."

She looked at me with huge eyes. "I think I love you."

"I know."

Alexander laughed at my factual tone of voice.

"That's actually genius." Elsie replies.

Leo had already escaped into the area. By the time Alexander realised, Leo had paint on several brushes and was enthusiastically introducing blue swipes to the paper. Maisie and Milo weren't far behind. Which was much more alarming without supervision. Those twin three-year-old terrors of Elsie’s cause much more damage.

"So much for keeping them clean," Noah said as he walked in carrying two bottles of wine. This is why I like him for Elsie. He’s organised where she’s lovably dishevelled, always seeming to have whatever she forgot to think about covered. Him and Alexander have been great additions to our group since the OG cheating spouses got the boot.