AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I take a few bites and lie back against Finn’s chest. The soothing feel of his fingers in my hair makes me wish I could purr for him. I settle for humming occasionally, content to sit and watch everyone just be. Ben’s been more talkative today, and I hate that my news about their dad may wreck that shaky foundation he’s made.
“And Josh”—Ben looks at Finn, indicating Payton’s son he met last week—“said he’s signed up for a sports camp in town later this summer, but we could hang out sometimes. We could ride bikes in the neighborhood.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. He’s gone to camp for the last few years. We could sign you up if you wanted to go to camp too,” Finn offers.
Ben looks around the circle.
I nod in reassurance. “It’s okay to accept if you want to.”
“That would be really cool. Thanks, Finn,” he says, giving us an ice-cream grin.
Finn sucks in a breath, squeezing my hand. Camps are expensive and I force myself not to mention it. I know Finn wouldn’t offer it if he didn’t have it. I’m grateful for all they keep doing for us, but it’s hard to accept anyway. I keep reminding myself that it’s not charity, not with mates.
Reid looks at me, setting down his ice cream bowl, and I know it’s time. After work, when I told Reid about my conversation with their father and that Trent was angry about us being here, Reid went all protective alpha. The hottest thing in the world, the growly sounds he made. Reid assured me there wouldn’t be a problem and offered to call Trent, but I declined because I didn’t want to risk it being a thing.
Turns out it didn’t matter because Trent’s an asshole. Earlier this evening when I texted him our new address, he sent a slew of angry texts about it. I left him on read. Finn saw them and had a very cute, very vicious moment of threatening to kill my ex, but Reid stepped in and asked me to let him handle it. After that, I gave him Trent’s number. Whatever Trent’s deal, I trust Reid to take care of it.
That just leaves talking to the kids. We made a plan to speak to the kids about it tonight, but I don’t want to, wishing we could stay in the bubble a little longer. Tough shit, though, because my time is up.
“Before camp, you two are going on a vacation too. You’re gonna go to one of those cool hotels that has a pool with slides.”
Em cheers at the mention of a pool, and Ben’s toothy grin returns.
“We’re going on a vacation?” Ben looks around our circle, and my heart breaks.
“You and Em are going for a whole weekend. Your dad and Veronica will pick you up on Thursday after school.”
Ben freezes, the smile slipping from his face in increments and his eyes turning cold.
Em stops cheering, her face confused as she looks between us. “Aren’t you coming too?”
“No, my little knight. This will be an adventure you and your brother take with your dad.”
She rolls half on top of Waffles and pets his ears. “Can we come back?”
That fucking question cuts off my breath and makes my eyes sting. “Of course,” I say, my voice shaking.
Reid’s deep, soothing baritone helps ease that ache. “You can always come back here. We’re pack.”
I get it together enough to add, “Your dad is your family too. It’s okay to go and have fun with them. We’ll be waiting here for you to come back.” I sit up and hold out my arms.
Em jumps into my lap, hugging my neck. “Dragons like pools.”
“I’m glad. You’ll have so much fun,” I assure her, rubbing her back.
Reid and I eye Ben, who remains frozen. I’m bracing for it, knowing the hurt is coming.
“And then we can go to camp, and maybe go out to the river some this summer, and we’ll see if there’s anything else fun we can do. I know they have ju-jitsu classes for your age at the gym I go to. We could try that? We could also use your help planning the party for the end of summer,” Finn rambles, running his hand through his curls.
“I’m not going,” Ben yells, hands balled into fists, then he’s racing off the deck.
“Benjamin Thomas!” I call.
He shakes his head but keeps his word. Instead of running out of the yard, he scales the tall tree near Finn’s workshop in the back.
Well, shit.
Here I am again, picking up the pieces of a shattered heart. I can’t even be sure which parts are mine or which are my son’s.
