When I glance at him, his nose is curled up in disgust.
“Just try it. It’s a healthy option for all the potato chips ye eat.”
The package crinkles as he tears into it and I cannae help but smirk as he sniffs the food, then touches his tongue to it. Sniffing it one last time, he pops it in his mouth.
“Hmm. Not bad.” He looks back at the bag and asks, “What are lentils?”
“Food.”
“Are you sure? I’ve never heard of it.”
“I’m positive, lad. I’m also positive we’re adding some life skills education to Daddy’s to-do list.”
“After the kink talk, right? Because I need sex and a spanking like yesterday.”
My head hits the head rest as laughter overcomes me. I do not know what I did before I met this boy. He baffles me and confuses the fuck out o' me, but he makes me laugh—in ways that Simon never did it. When I first met Tavish, anytime he did things I’d nae experienced since Simon or any time Tavish made me happy, I felt like I was betraying Simon. But the more time I’ve spent with Tavish, the more I have realized that I'm not betraying Simon.
I am doing exactly what Simon would want.
I’m living.
All Simon ever wanted for me was happiness. And I ken that since he isnae here and he cannae be the one to give it to me, then he would be ecstatic that Tavish is.
Spotting a hotel up ahead, I pull into the parking lot.
“Sit tight. I’ll be right back,” I tell him.
Without looking at me, he nods, still shoving snacks in his face. I grab his chin, making sure he’s paying attention, and repeat, “Sit tight. I’ll be back.”
“Okay, Arnold.”
I steal a quick kiss from him before getting out o’ the car. I roll my eyes at the boy’s movie references. References I almost never understand, but luckily for me, he has a penchant for movies older than he is. Hell, some o' them are older than I am.
I head into the hotel and secure us a room quickly. I head back to the car with a relieved sigh. It wasnae until I was insidethat I realized I just left him unprotected in a strange country. I dinnae even ken if Tavish carried identification or money. He never left the mansion. I dinnae ken if he even kenned how to drive.
I open his door and hold out my hand to him. “Let’s get inside. We need proper food and some rest.”
He nods, then snarks, “We could’ve had several naps on the plane, but someone refused to fuck me.”
“Those two things have nothing to do with one another.”
“Oh yes, they do, Daddy. Fucking means naps. With as long as that flight was, we could’ve had a bunch of naps.”
His voice carries throughout the hotel lobby, and every head in the expansive space turns toward us. I look down at him and he’s tucked himself behind my arm, trying to hide from the attention. I cannae help but chuckle at the boy. He makes a scene and then hides from it.
“Embarrass yerself, pojke?” I ask.
He nods. He looks around and seeing that people’s gazes are traveling away from us, he says, “I didn’t realize my voice would carry like that.”
Stooping to place a kiss on his forehead, I say, “Well, now ye do.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispers.
“Dinnae fash yerself, lilla du. I dinnae give a fuck what these people think.”
A smile lights up his face and the confidence that embarrassment stole from him returns and he struts out in front o’ me with his head held high and a smirk on his lips.
At the elevator I say, “I’m proud o’ ye, Tavish, but iffn anyone had the right to strut like a peacock, it would be me.”
