As much fun as yesterday was, being out in the sun for hours and trudging up and down hills really did a number on you. Thank fuck I didn't end up going again today. There was no way I'd be up for it, despite my initial enthusiasm yesterday afternoon when the suggestion was brought up. You tend to say and promise a lot of shit after a good day on the course and you're two beers deep.
It wouldn't have gone down well with Zara, though, and I doubted she would've let me out the door even if I was up for it.
I checked my watch and cringed. Ten a.m. One glance at my wife's side of the bed told me that she'd been up long before me to take care of our girls. Fuck. I'd gone to sleep last night, determined to get up early with Kehlani and Sienna so Zara would have a well-deserved lie-in. But I'd been in such a deepsleep, I hadn't heard a thing and slept on well past my usual body clock.
With a head that still felt groggy, I quickly used the bathroom and cleaned my teeth before donning a clean shirt and sweatpants. I could hear the girls arguing downstairs, and renewed guilt wrapped around my gut. I was not looking forward to the looks of annoyance Zara would be shooting my way.
"Alright, girls, stop arguing," I called out as I made my way down the stairs. "C'mon, it's a nice day outside. Why aren't you out?"
I rounded the corner to find Kehlani lying back on the couch, attempting to kick Sienna away as my little three-year-old wild child flung her arms in big circles, trying to hit her big sister. I tempered down my amusement and schooled my features into a stern frown. Nine times out of ten, they got along like a house on fire. But when they fought, oh, boy, they did not play around. They reminded me so much of my brother and me—even our age gap was the same.
"Girls! Stop fighting," I ordered. I glanced into the kitchen and spied my wife rinsing out the breakfast dishes. Usually, she'd greet me with a smile and a cheerful good morning, but I guess she was still annoyed.
"Hey, baby. Sorry I slept in. It was a long day in the sun."
Even though her back was turned, I could feel her eyes roll. Honestly, I was a little pissed that she was still upset. Yes, I should've gotten up early to let her sleep in, but it was not like I golfed every weekend. It was a stupid coincidence that Kehlani's one Saturday ballet class happened to fall on the same day. If I'd known the boys would be going again today, then I would've stayed home yesterday and golfed today instead. I worked so hard; surely I could take a day off now and then to unwind.
"It's fine," she flatly replied. I watched her swirl a rag around the countertop a little too aggressively.
I rolled my eyes behind her back and shook my head. She was pissed, I got it, and it was deserved. But there was nothing I could do about it now.
"I'll make us a coffee, then I'll take the girls outside," I offered, hoping to soften her attitude towards me a little.
As I waited for the coffee machine to heat, I flicked through my phone messages, pointedly ignoring Rob and Pete's texts trying to tempt me to come out. A picture message pinged on our group chat, and my breath puffed out in a snort when I saw them grinning like fools in a selfie. Okay, maybe I did have a little FOMO. The weather today wasn't as hot as yesterday, so the conditions would've been perfect for a day outside.
But I didn't want to face my wife's wrath if she caught me longingly staring at a golf course, so I exited our chat and checked the sports news.
"Hey, it's January fifth today," I commented. "Our anniversary's coming up."
She finally turned to face me, a small smile curving her lips. "You remembered."
I huffed out a breath as I sauntered towards her, relieved that she was talking to me. "Remember the happiest day of my life? Of course I do."
My hands grasped her curvy hips, linking my fingers behind her. Her hands smoothed up my chest, and I studied my wife's lovely features. Long black hair, honey brown eyes with a smattering of freckles across her nose that drove me crazy. Full lips that always tempted me to kiss them, and twin dimples on her cheeks. She was beyond pretty with a body that had curved with each child we had; tempting me every time she wore tight-fitted clothes that pulled across her juicy ass and generous breasts.
"Hmm," she hummed, seemingly unimpressed. I spied a twinkle glinting in her eyes as a soft blush painted her cheeks.
A niggle of arousal stirred my groin as my thumb rubbed in a gentle circle against her smooth skin. I bent and placed a soft kiss at the spot behind her ear, and I felt her shiver in my arms. My cock started to perform a stiff salute in her honour.
"Daddy, we wanna go outside!" Sienna yelled.
And just like that, my desire was extinguished. I groaned against her cheek as her soft frame shook with silent giggles.
"Those little cockblockers," I griped without malice before pulling away.
I quickly made two coffees and handed her one of the steaming mugs. "Let's go out for dinner. I'll book something for us."
Surprise flitted across her features. "You will?"
I gave her a mock glare. "Hey, I'm not totally incompetent."
Her brown eyes rolled, and she hid her grin behind the rim of her mug. "I can't remember the last time we went out for dinner," she mused.
"Well, eight years of marriage deserves to be celebrated in style." I winked and lifted my mug at her. "I'll take the girls outside for a run around."
"Okay, but you'll book something? I wanna sort a babysitter."
I waved her off. "Of course. Don't you worry about a thing."
