“About as well as you did.”
“Mac said you didn’t sleep last night, so we should let you sleep in,” Emily tells me.
“I told him we would be okay with cereal and that I could do it. I just needed him to grab it from our place,” Tanner tells me.
I look over at Mac and raise a brow.
He shrugs, his cheeks turning slightly pink as he looks at the griddle.
“I wanted to test my pancake skills. It’s been a while since I’ve made any.”
“That’s sweet of you,” I tell him.
“Get your coffee, woman,” he mutters, making me chuckle.
As I walk past him, I can’t help but run my hand along his lower back and smile as I feel him suck in a breath. It’s nice knowing that I can affect him as much as he affects me.
After making my coffee, I lean against the counter next to him and watch him plate up breakfast for my kids.
“Okay, you’ve got pancakes, bacon, and some fruit. I won’t take offense if you don’t like it, but I would like you to at least try some of it,” he tells them.
“I love fruit,” Emily says as she slides her plate in front of her. “It’s what queens eat.”
I smile at that, knowing it’s because of Mac that she doesn’t give me nearly as many issues with fruits and vegetables.
“Thank you,” Tanner tells him before he elbows Emily.
“Why’d you do that?” she mutters as she shoves her fork into her mouth.
“Tell him thank you,” Tanner hisses.
Emily rolls her eyes. “Thank you, Mac.”
When she speaks, little flakes of pancake fly out of her mouth, making Mac wince and me chuckle. I know I should get on her more about her table manners, or manners in general, but sometimes it’s nice just seeing her be a kid.
Mac pours more batter onto the griddle and turns to face me. He places his hand on my hip, where the kids can’t see, and brushes his finger back and forth.
“You okay? Really?” he asks quietly.
“I will be. You?”
“I will be,” he repeats back.
I reach up and cup his cheek, brushing my thumb below his eye. His eyes shut as he leans into my touch.
“You’re tired. You should take a nap,” I whisper.
“I’ll be okay. I’ve stayed awake for longer.”
“Mac…” I sigh.
“Don’t worry about me. I’m a big boy and can take care of myself.” He stands up straight and drops his hand from my hip.
Instantly, I miss his touch.
“When I grabbed the creamer from your place, I grabbed everyone a set of clothes. I put them on my nightstand.”
How did I miss that when I left his room?
