“Hey, peanut! How was school today?” he asked as he picked her up and swung her around.
“Frank, put her down. You’ll upset her stomach before dinner,” Claire scolded.
“Yes, love,” he said and placed Riley on her feet. “And how was your day, dear? How’s our girl?” he asked and pecked his wife on the cheek.
“She had a rough night and morning, but her afternoon has been much better.”
“Great! Was it something specific? Because if it was, we need to keep doing it.”
“It was Savie, Papa. He put Mommy to sleep,” Riley informed him.
“Who?” he asked as his eyes landed on me for the first time.
I cleared my throat and extended my hand. “That’d be me, sir. Savior.”
“Your name’s Savior?” he asked with a raised brow.
“Nickname,” I clarified.
He took my hand and shook it. “Frank Cameron.”
“Nice to meet you, sir.”
“So, you put my girl to sleep?”
I laughed nervously. “I came by to check on her after work and helped her wash her hair. She fell asleep as soon as we were finished.”
“Is that right?”
“It is, Papa. She was asleep right on top of him when we got home from school. She was drooling on him, too, like Brax does to his pillow.”
“Riley Grace Parker,” Avery called, but in a teasing tone. “It’s not polite to tell people your mother drools in her sleep. Even if it might be true.”
Riley crossed her arms over her chest and stuck her bottom lip out. Braxton had stopped crying but was still in Avery’s arms. “Honey, let me take him. You don’t need to be putting any extra strain on your body,” her father said.
Braxton lifted his head and pointed to me. “Savie.” He extended his arms toward me with his little hands opening and closing.
“No, baby, we’re getting ready to eat dinner.”
“I can take him,” I said and reached for the little boy.
Avery made a plate of food for her children and then she made one for me, too. Once everyone was seated, I noticed she didn’t have anything in front of her. “You’re not going to eat?”
She grimaced. “Over the last few weeks, I’ve learned it’s better if I wait until everyone else is finished before I try to eat anything.”
“So, Savior, what kind of work do you do?” Frank asked.
“I manage a gym that just opened up last week,” I said as I took a bite of my food with Braxton perched on my lap.
“I thought Avery said you worked security at the bar.”
“I did. I’m a member of the Blackwings MC. I do whatever job I’m assigned.”
“You get steady work?”
“Yes, sir.”
Seemingly satisfied with my answer, Frank focused on his meal and the conversation turned toward the children. Once they were finished, Claire scooted them out of the room and Frank followed her, leaving Avery and I alone in the kitchen. Without a word, I got up and made her a small plate of food.
