were seeing how much progress we’d made with the students, so they shut up and dealt with our
antics.
* * *
Sam was so focused on finishing his homework that he didn’t notice when I walked into the kitchen
from the garage. Except, when we’d talked earlier, he’d told me he was almost done and promised he
would curl up on the couch to watch a movie until I got home.
He didn’t flinch when I closed the door, meaning he had his headphones in. He admitted that, even
though he didn’tneedthe music to block out noise when he was here, it had become a habit and he
struggled to focus when it was quiet. I could understand that, but my boy was completely oblivious to
me moving around behind him, which meant his music was entirely too loud.
I paused a few feet behind his chair, trying to decide the best way to approach him. Unfortunately,
I couldn’t think of any way that wouldn’t startle him. As expected, he jumped when I wrapped my
arms around his chest and pressed my lips against his hair. “Daddy! You scared the shit out of me!”
“Excuse me?” I released him, crossing my arms over my chest. “Are you allowed to say bad
words, young man?”
“I’m sorry but you did!” he protested. “You could have been a burglar or a kidnapper trying to
take me.”
“Perhaps you should have thought about that before you turned up the volume on your music,” I
scolded him as I pulled the wireless headphones out of his ears. “And, seriously, we may need to talk
about what sort of home intruders you think try to cuddle their victims into submission.”
As we continued chatting, I started stacking the papers Sam had strewn all over the table. It only
took a glance at his laptop screen to see he hadn’t been working on anything pressing at all, which
meant he’d disobeyed me.
“I can clean this stuff up. I just have to get one last thing sorted out and then I’ll be done for the
night,” he explained. I quirked an eyebrow and glanced at his screen. His cheeks turned an adorable
shade of pink. “I was taking a little break. I’ve been working hard all day so I could get this turned in
by Sunday night, without having to leave you to entertain my family while they’re here.”
“If you need me to, I can,” I offered. I doubted his parents would be happy about him working
while they were here to celebrate his birthday, but maybe it would help them see I only wanted what
was best for Sam.
