“Do you think he’d like a party princess? I don’t really know what they do—I guess just turn up in character?”
“Yeah, pretty much. It depends on the package. It can include games, songs, things like that. And the dinosaur guy has posh puppets and it’s like an interactive show.”
Matty thought for a second. “What do you think?”
“Honestly?”
“Yeah, I have an idea but I’d like your opinion.”
“Maybe get Sally this year since we’ve got a mostly Halloween theme, and then the dinosaur guy next year when he’s four,” I said. “I think he’ll get more out of the dinosaur party at that age, and we could get a bigger package. Make it a whole thing. As long as he still likes dinosaurs by then.”
“That was my thought too,” Matty said with a nod. “Are you okay to go ahead and book it?”
“Sure. Do you want to look at the price or packages?”
Matty pulled his phone out of his pocket and quickly read the message I’d sent him. Considering how anal he’d been about everything else in Jack’s life, I was almost picking myself up off the floor at his current relaxed attitude. “They all look good,” he said. “He’s only three, so I don’t think anything longer than ninety minutes. Maybe the hour? Whatever you think is best. I trust you.”
“Okay, yeah. I think that would be great.” I smiled and tried not to let my voice waver. It surprised me how much it meant to hear those words from Matty, but they’d unravelled me. And I wasn’t sure how to put myself back together.
So instead, I focused on making pizza.
“Do you want to choose your toppings?” I asked, walking over to the fridge to retrieve the bowls of slightly massacred vegetables and meats that Jack had helped me prep earlier.
“I’m assuming Jack chopped these?” he asked as he looked at the bowl of red pepper slices.
“Yes.”
“Thought so,” he said fondly. “I’ve seen worse, though. His coordination is getting better.”
“It really is. And he had fun doing it. Anything that’s left I can use in something tomorrow, maybe a pasta bake or a salad.”
“Sounds good.” He picked up some of the shredded mozzarella and began to apply it liberally. “Hey, I know Sunday is your day off, but if you don’t have any plans, I was going to make a big roast dinner if you want to join us. I might take Jack to the leisure centre too, because they have a kids area with slides and fountains, and he loves it. It’s not quite the beach but it’s close enough. But, er, I’m sure you have plans that don’t involve spending more time with…”
He trailed off, like he didn’t quite know what to say. But I did.
“Sure, I’d love that,” I said, reaching out and brushing my fingers against his. “Swimming is one of my favourite things, and I will never say no to a good roast.”
“Perfect, and I promise no crack of dawn wake-up.” He leant closer, tilting his head to brush his lips across mine. “And if you wake up, you have to stay in bed.”
“Or what?”
“I’ll find a way to keep you there.”
I grinned and kissed him teasingly. “Promises, promises.”
“Someone’s feeling sassy tonight,” he said with a raised eyebrow, putting a hand on my waist to drag me closer.
“A little.” I nudged his nose with mine and kissed him again, letting my tongue slide into his mouth. “You should sneak up to my room at some point. I’m good at being quiet, especially if you put me on all fours with my arse in the air so I can bury my face in the pillows.”
Matty groaned, his hand tightening on my waist as he kissed me fiercely. “I’d miss all the pretty sounds you made for me, but it would be worth it to slide my cock into that tight arse of yours.”
“Mmm, see? You should definitely sneak in one night.”
He hummed, then pulled back to look at me with a deep frown, concern evident in his eyes. “With your joints… does it make penetration harder? Are there certain positions you can’t do?”
“Er, yeah, actually there are. I mean, I can still do them but sometimes not for long. And I can just push through, but—”
“Why?”
