Jake is sweet and kind.
And also inexhaustible.
Kind of like my daughter.
Luckily, there are plenty of adults here to supervise play time.
Though, I have to admit that it’s King and Rome’s corgis, Athena and Zeus, who are doing most of the heavy lifting on the supervision front—or maybe it’s more like they’re herding the kids to where we can all keep our eyes on them.
AndOlive and Pear.
Rome chuckles at something Chloe says as she makes a pitstop in the kitchen to steal a cookie.
King bounces baby Mia on his knee.
Huddy sits back in his chair, amusement dancing across his face.
West is supervising his stepson, Quinn, as he puts together a model of an old-school car. The older kiddo did play with Chloe and Jake for a bit but eventually lost interest.
But West is a good dad and came prepared with alternatives.
Though, I’m not sure model cars are any better than fabric and paint pens and glitter.
Why are there so many pieces?
My eyes go to the clock for the dozenth time in the last hour and I bite back my impatience. It’s Finn’s day off, and I know I don’t have any authority over her time away.
But I want to see her.
Talk to her more.
Understandall the pieces that make her tick.
And maybe…touch her some more.
“God, I’m going to need to put so much time in the weight room to make up for this,” Cam says, shoving another cookie in his mouth. “But I can’t even find it in me to care.”
I shake my head in amusement then hear what I’ve been waiting what feels like an eternity for (but is really only since we said goodnight less than twenty hours ago). My eyes dart to the hall, listening as the voices—asFinn’svoice—comes closer.
And closer.
Then she’shere.
And my mouth drops open.
Her hair is different and…
I’m so totally fucked.
Because her deep brown hair—the strands usually escaping the confinement of her messy bun—is cut shorter, framing her face in gentle waves. It’s lighter too, blonde on the ends and darkening to that rich brown at her roots.
It’s young and fresh and…fuck, she’s somehow even more beautiful than normal.
King whistles. “Looking good, Finley!”
She sighs, shakes her head, sending those loose curls bouncing. “How many times do I have to tell you it’sFinn.” She pats her hair, cheeks going pink, and her mouth curves up. “But…thanks.”
“It looks really nice, Finn,” Cam says.
