Page 113 of Starting Back
“Oh yeah?” She dragged kisses down my arm, dipping her head under the sheet to run her lips across my chest. I groaned and turned on my back, still wanting more sleep but unable to resist this amazing way to get up.
“We have breakfast for you downstairs.” She pressed her lips to mine and popped off the bed. “We can put a pin in that for now.”
“That was mean.” I sat up, trying to glare as my eyes were still half closed.
“You’ll forgive me, I promise. When that goes down”—her eyes flickered to where I tented my boxers—“you can meet me downstairs.”
She blew me a kiss and fluttered out of the bedroom. As I had no choice, I stood from the bed and searched for a tank and shorts after my cock and I moved past our disappointment, and I trudged down the stairs.
“I thought you’d never wake up,” Emma said as she rushed over to me, hugging my legs so hard that I couldn’t move.
“Sorry, chiquita. I was extra tired.” I bent to kiss the top of her head and stilled. “Why is there so much food on the table already?” I rubbed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I spotted eggs, pancakes, a tray of mantecaditos,and donuts.
“It’s a special day.” Kristina shrugged and handed me a cup of coffee.
“Why?”
“It’s like an anniversary, I guess.”
“Anniversary?” My tired brain was too frazzled to figure out what happened on this date since I wasn’t sure what today even was.
“Today is July fifteenth, the day I went to the Florida Keys all by myself and a bartender took me to see a movie on the beach. And you know, other stuff.”
My eyes widened as I shook my head. How could I have known Kristina for a year already? Some days it felt like I’d known her for my entire life, and others it was as if we’d just met. As I was basically living in her house and only went back to my condo to get my mail or extra clothes, I couldn’t remember life before her and definitely couldn’t fathom one without her now.
“Wow, I’m sorry I didn’t realize. But” —I motioned toward the girls—“that’s more of a you and me anniversary,” I whispered. “We did too much dirty stuff on that day to celebrate with the kids.”
She laughed, a blush running up her cheeks as she shook her head.
“Yes, while that’s true, we wanted to give you a big present, and today’s date was a good excuse.”
“Big present?” I narrowed my eyes and took a long sip of coffee. “I feel like I should be givingyoua present today.” I looped my arm around her waist and tugged her close. “After thatawesomegift you gave me by the pool—”
“What did you give Leo by the pool?”
“A noodle. Go eat.” Kristina turned Emma around and gave her a gentle push toward the table. Emma was like a tiny ninja. You never heard her coming.
“Wow, this is a great way to wake up.” I sat down and glanced at Chloe across the table. She had a devious smile pulling on her lips as she piled her plate with pancakes.
“We thought you never would,” Chloe said with her mouth full. “Emma had five cookies while we waited.”
“Save some for the next time we visit tía.” I set down my coffee next to my plate and noticed a small gold box.
“Open it!” Emma squealed through a mouthful of eggs.
“Am I allowed?” I arched a brow at Kristina.
“I guess I shouldn’t hold backeverypresent today.” Kristina’s eyes watered as she chuckled. “Go ahead.”
I lifted the lid off the box and found a gold key.
“What’s the key to? Is it like the escape room we did and it’s to a safe or something?”
“It’s a key to the house.”
“Ihavea key to the house. Is it to like a secret passageway?” I teased. Chloe and Emma laughed while Kristina wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Why is your mom crying?” I asked the girls as I kept my gaze on Kristina.
