“Sorry, Sötnos, but I have to work.”
And watching both of them while trying to work would just about kill me.
Malena left after another whispered conversation about my possible date.Maybe I should just go. He could be a really nice guy.
But to find out if he was, I had to give him a chance.
Mind made up, I grabbed my phone and texted him back.
Me: Hi, Peter, dinner sounds great. What night is best for you?
He responded right away.
Peter: How about tonight?
Me: I’ll see if I can get a babysitter.
Peter: Sounds good.
I was staring at the message when Sebastian came into the hallway. “Ready?”
I startled and dropped my phone. We both bent down to pick it up, and Sebastian saw the message.
“You’re not going out tonight,” he announced, his voice gruffer than usual.
“Why not? It’s not like I’m going to run away while my kids are still at home.”
He pulled up to his full height. “I’m supposed to watch you. If I tell you to stay at home, you stay at home.”
I threw my arms up, ready for battle. Now I would go on this date out of principle. “This is ridiculous. You can’t keep me in the house all the time. I have a life.”
Even if it was a small and pathetic one.
“You aren’t a prisoner in your house. You go outside to drop off Luca. And yesterday you went to the supermarket.”
My eyebrows shot up my forehead. “Are you serious right now? I need to go out and see people. Otherwise, I’ll go crazy.”
“Malena was literally just here. That should tide you over for a few days.”
I stepped closer, my eyes narrowed. “That’s different and you know it.”
“If you go on the date, then I’m going with you.”
Excuse me, what?
I scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Dead serious. That’s the only way you’re going on that date.”
“Fine,” I growled.
“Fine,” he growled back, his arms crossed over his chest, his stupidly perfect face distorted into a scowl.
We dropped Luca off, and then I worked for the rest of the day. Stella agreed to watch the kids, so after I put them to bed and made sure they were asleep, she came over.
I was already dressed in my favorite skintight black jeans, a silky green top with thin straps that dipped low down my back and black heels. I loved heels, needing the extra height. I’d also gone heavier with the makeup than I normally would—as much as my skills allowed, at least.
I didn’t know who I was trying to prove a point to, Sebastian or myself. We hadn’t spoken a word to each other for the rest of the day. First, he was busy on his phone, and then he was gone for a couple hours in the afternoon, so he obviously didn’t need to keep an eye on me all the time, especially not on a date.
