“Come with me in a couple hours,” I say, “When Ethan is awake, come with me.”
“Where?”
“My brothers.”
Her face goes white, “What?”
“They know, trouble.” I assure her “I told them when I found out.”
“But no one has said anything, not even Arryn.”
“Not sure the girls know yet, but my brothers do. They’re not going to say anything either.”
“Did you threaten them?” She asks seriously.
I can’t help the laugh that booms from me, “My threats would do nothing, if they wanted to say something they would, and then they’d fight me on it later.”
“Why are we going?”
“Why not?” I shrug.
“We’re not playing happy family, Kolt,” She says, “I can’t just pretend.”
“I’m not asking you to, trouble. But a change of routine and some different faces would be good. I know your sister hurt you earlier.”
“She’s upset because I lied.”
“I understand that,” I assure her, “Doesn’t mean it was right either.”
“How are you not mad at me too?”
“Because this isn’t your fault,” I tell her, “It’s mine.”
“I could have told Torin,” She counters.
“You could have, and he would have somehow got the news to me, but they didn’t know I was with Malakai.” I tell her, “By the time I saw their message, several months could have passed. I understand why you didn’t, nor do I think you had an obligation to tell them either.”
A knot forms between her brows and she puffs out a breath, “Okay. We can go.”
The next couple hours are spent in somewhat domestic harmony. Vanessa decides to change out of her leggings and sweater and when she comes downstairs sometime after Ethan wakes from his nap, I almost choke on my tongue.
It’s a blue dress.
Theblue dress.
It’s hard not to recognize it even though she’s accessorized it to fit with winter over the spring that I first saw it. A white sweater has been placed over the top, tied up with a belt but the skirt is left free and flowing. There’s no way I wouldn’t remember thedress, how it fell over the curve of her hips or how it teased mid-thigh. She’s wearing a pair of tights with it today and a dark brown pair of boots but fuck, I think I’d recognize that dress even if it were in tatters.
I still remember how it bunched up when she straddled my legs and how it pooled between her thighs while she touched herself beneath it. It’s a damn miracle I don’t drop to my knees right now and here.
“You’re beautiful,” I manage to stutter out, holding my son at my side.
A gorgeous blush warms her cheeks, and she shyly tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, “Should we go?”
“Lead the way, trouble,” I offer, following behind her as she makes her way to the door, grabbing a bag from the hook on the way out.
“Are you sure it’s okay to go over?” She asks, locking up behind us.
“Yes, Ness.” I assure her.
