“Hey, Princess.” Leaning against the frame, I folded my arms in front of my chest and crossed my ankles. “Did you have a good sleep?”
“Mhm.” Millie nodded so furiously, her curls flopped into her face. “It was like sleeping on a fluffy cloud. Mochi liked it too.”
“That’s good,” I laughed.
My attention shifted to Kate. Still wearing her pajamas and those rich brown curls hanging wild and free, she was absolutely stunning.
The invisible band around my heart squeezed tight.
I couldn’t imagine ever walking into my kitchen and not seeing her, seeing them, here. This was where they belonged. Here. With me.
I was still stewing on that thought when the phone on the counter switched to a new song. One I now recognized as Millie’s favorite. As suspected, her energy levels shot through the roof. Hands in the air, she bounced from one foot to the other. Broken Korean gibberish spilled from her mouth as she tried to sing along.
It was so damn adorable; I couldn’t keep my smile from stretching.
With her hand tucked in Kate’s, the two of them danced to the beat. Although, using the word dance was being a bit generous. There was more hopping than dancing going on.
Not that it mattered. Whatever they did filled this space with more happy energy than it had ever seen.
It was infectious.
Addictive.
I never wanted to be without it again.
“Come dance with us, Tristan,” Millie said excitedly.
I pulled a face. “Nah, I’m happy watching.”
Which was exactly what I did. The longer I stared at the two of them, the more right it felt to have them there. And the louder my heart yelled. Like Kate would do absolutely anything to keep Millie, I would go to great fucking lengths to keep her and that little girl.
“Kate said I could stay home today,” Millie declared when the next song started. “We’re making pancakes.”
I arched a brow. “That so?”
“I hope it’s okay?” Kate added softly. “I’ll clean up before we leave.”
I didn’t care for the uncertainty in her voice. And I sure as shit didn’t want to hear a damn thing about them leaving. If she wanted to go somewhere, we’d go together. All three of us.
I told her as much when I joined them at the island and slipped my arm around her waist. Holding her close, I pressed a kiss below her ear. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she whispered back.
A little breathless and a whole lot flushed, she stared at me.
Grinning like the fucking fool she’d turned me into, I ran a thumb over her lush bottom lip. “I woke up in an empty bed.” I shook my head. “I didn’t like it.”
“Sorry. I—”
“Kate,” Millie called. “Will you help me crack the eggs, please?”
Kate’s pretty eyes stayed locked with mine for a while longer before she slipped out of my hold and joined Millie.
While the two of them worked on the pancake batter, I got the coffee going. With nothing else to do but wait, I found myself observing them yet again.
The smiles, the giggles, the singing…it was all so foreign. I couldn’t recall a single memory of my mother doing anything in the kitchen, other than getting something to drink.
She didn’t cook; she had staff for that. She didn’t sing or dance with me because heaven forbid, she actually showed an ounce of emotion toward her only son. I honestly believed neither her nor my father cared about my existence anymore, especially since they realized I wouldn’t be following in their footsteps.
