Page 59 of Ex Somnis

Her plush cheeks.

Her cute nose.

The glittery lemon-yellow nails resting against the blanket.

Beautiful.

She’s so goddamn beautiful it physically hurts to look at her sometimes.

And that asshole said that about her?

The voicemail keeps going.

“She is fun and kind, the motherly type. I can see her as the mother of my kids.”

Beside me, Ridge lets out a disbelieving laugh that sounds genuinely murderous.

The voicemail ends abruptly, and silence crashes into the room afterward.

Then Ridge says very softly, “I’m going to kill him.”

“That would be illegal,” Paul says calmly without looking away from Lennon.

A beat passes.

“But I understand the impulse.”

Again. Same.

Ridge looks at the phone with an expression that could strip paint, and then starts typing.

“What are you…” I start.

“Texting him back.” His thumb moves.

“Ridge.” Paul’s voice is very controlled. “Give me the phone.”

“In a second.” Tap. Tap. “Done.”

He holds the phone out toward Paul.

“What did you say?” I ask carefully.

“Something along the lines of she’s with me now, lose the number.” Ridge shrugs one shoulder. “I may have called him an idiot and blocked him for good measure.”

“Ridge,” Paul starts again.

“She is my tether,” Ridge says flatly to the room, cutting off whatever Paul was building toward. “She’s mine, and I don’t let anyone talk shit about what is mine.”

Paul shoots him a glare.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that, Bennett,” Ridge huffs out. “We agreed we’re figuring out how to get her back before we start fighting over her again. Right now it’s us versus Boston Ken, not us versus each other.”

“And I’m supposed to simply accept you calling her yours?” Paul asks sharply. “She is my soulmate.”

Ridge scoffs, but Paul keeps going, “I dreamed about her for five years before I knew her name. I have been certain of exactly one thing in my life, and it’s her.”

My eyes drift back toward Lennon.