"I prefer to spend them with a hot lingerie model curled up beside me."
"What, no Cy?" I teased. "Because both Ash and I get that title."
"I'll add a doctor in the middle." He yawned. "Besides, I'm trying to get used to this couple thing, since we're going to be at it a while."
"Cessily said a month, right?" I asked.
He nodded. "Bit more. September twenty-ninth. Means we have to get used to being nice, respectable couples, and I'm going for the very serious and devoted boyfriend. Just gonna leave off the fact that I'm devoted to more than my girlfriend."
"Look at you being all cute when you're half-awake," I teased.
But he was smiling, and that meant he wouldn't fall back asleep, so I took my turn in the bathroom. When I got out, Luke had jeans on and was working to turn his shirt the right way. He also didn't say a word before heading into the bathroom as soon as I was out of the way. I focused on finding my own clothes, picking out a pair of shorts that I liked and an old tee that had once been Ash's. He no longer fit in it, but the material was soft from use.
Luke returned just as I got my hair out of my way and into a ponytail. "Hey," I said, looking back. "Go make sure she's up? I'll make us both a coffee."
Instead, he headed right up to me. "You are an amazing mom, you know that? It's like you've done this a million times before."
"Just like a fashion show," I explained. "Now, c'mon."
Turning him around, I gave him a swat on the ass. That earned me a devious little smile, but when we left my room, he headed down the hall for Faith's room. I went for the stairs, jogging down to the first floor so I could start the coffee. I'd just finished the second cup when Cy staggered his way in, holding up two more fingers.
"We're almost moving. Big day, right?" he asked.
I handed him my cup. "Yep. Bus gets to the gate at seven-thirty. She's got an hour and a half to completely melt down, still get some clothes on, and eat."
Cy just opened the cabinet and pulled out a box of Pop-Tarts. "Backup. Now, where's her book bag?"
"Ash's office?" I guessed.
Cy headed that way, then disappeared inside. I had the last two coffees brewed before he reappeared with a boring black backpack. The man lifted it up like he'd finished his quest, then tossed it on the corner of the couch. I just grabbed my cup and leaned against the counter, bracing so I wouldn't spill my first sip.
"She's got a notebook, her tablet, and her fashion design pad in there," he said. "She should be set, so why am I so nervous about this?"
"Our girl's big day," I told him. "And because we both know this isn't going to be easy for her."
"Yeah," Cy breathed, moving to stand before me. "Two nights in a row, huh?"
He meant Luke spending the night. I also knew that Ash had been in his room, so I didn't exactly feel bad. "I could say the same to you."
Cy smiled. "If he didn't need a whole closet just for his stuff, I'd move him in. I wasn't complaining, Vi. Promise."
"It's starting to get comfortable," I admitted. "The good kind, not the bad."
"Good," Cy breathed, lifting his hand toward me just as a foot hit the stairs.
He dropped it, but that wasn't Faith making her way down. It was Ash, and he made grabby hands as he headed toward us. Cy took one of the other cups and pressed it into his grip. Moaning in pleasure, Ash took a long sip, and then paused to give Cy a very sweet kiss.
"Morning, boyfriend," he said.
The smile on Cy's face was much too cute for that man. "You awake now that you had some caffeine?" he asked.
"Yep." Then Ash turned to me. "And I think you're needed at door three. I heard Luke telling her that if she waited any longer, she'd go to school with wet hair."
I turned for the other cup, grabbing Luke's as well as mine. "One of you make that kid something to eat?" I begged before heading for the stairs.
Both men moved to make it happen, pans clattering before I was even to the top of the stairs. Turning the corner, I found Luke standing in the hall, leaned up against the space beside Faith's door. He looked like he was ready to pull his hair out, so I pressed a coffee into his hands.
"How bad is it?" I asked.
