Nico
I'm reviewing delivery schedules on my tablet when I hear them come through the back entrance.
Lily's voice reaches me first. "Mommy, can we have the ice cream now?"
"In a while, baby."
I look up as they round the corner. Lily spots me immediately and waves like I'm across a football field instead of ten feet away. "Hi, Nico!"
"Lily." I nod at her, then let my gaze slide to Kristen.
She's not looking at me. Her eyes are fixed somewhere around my left shoulder, her posture stiff. She's been doing this since we had sex the first time.
It's irritating as fuck.
"Good visit?" I ask, setting down my tablet.
Kristen finally meets my eyes, but only for a second. "Fine."
Lily tugs on her mother's hand. "Grandma cried."
"Lily." Kristen's voice is sharp.
"What? She did."
I file that information away.
"I'm going to get Lily settled," Kristen says, already moving toward the door. "We'll stay out of everyone's way."
"Why?"
She freezes. Lily looks between us with those big grey-blue eyes that miss nothing.
"Because..." Kristen's jaw works. "I just think it's better if we keep a low profile today."
"A low profile." I repeat the words flatly. "In the house where you live."
"Nico." My name comes out strained. She glances down at Lily, then back at me with a look that says not now.
I push off from the counter. "Lily, there's chocolate milk in the fridge. Pink cup, second shelf."
Lily's face lights up. She looks at her mother for permission.
"Go ahead," Kristen says softly.
The kid bolts for the refrigerator, and I close the distance between Kristen and me before she can retreat. I stop close enough that she has to tilt her head back to look at me.
"Talk."
"There's nothing to?—"
"You've been avoiding me every time we're out of the room. Talk."
Her cheeks flush. "I feel..." She exhales hard through her nose. "Ashamed, okay? Everyone in this house knows what we're doing. What I'm doing. With you."
"And?"
"And—" She gestures helplessly. "I'm the housekeeper, Nico. The help. And I'm sleeping with..." She drops her voice to barelya whisper. "With Aria's son. Thank God she's in Sicily because I would literally die if she found out. I'd just... spontaneously combust from embarrassment."
