“Fuck’s sake, don’t say that.” He pretends to shiver, then turns to me, holding up two ties. I point to the pinkish-colored one.
“Let’s go, you sex maniac.”
We’re about to pull up to my building when he finally gets off the phone.
“I’m sorry, babe. Monday mornings are crazy.”
I squeeze his hand, the one that hasn’t let go of mine from practically the second we woke up, to reassure him it’s okay.
“It was quick, Harrison. It’s fine.” I could have walked home. He lives close by, but he firmly objected.
Not that I’m complaining about spending more time with him, even if he’s working—morning rush hour and getting stuck behind a garbage truck turned a five-minute commute into fifteen.
“What will you do for the rest of the day?” he asks.
There’s no way I can tell him my actual plans…that would mean I have to admit I used sexual activities and casual banter tohide the fact that after seeing Claud’s room, I’m not all right and feel like I’m dying inside.
So, I go with what I typically do.
“Usually, I have physical therapy for my leg on Mondays. But it’s canceled today. Other than that, I normally walk in the park, be lazy, and catch up on the sleep and television I’ve missed throughout the week. And at four, I have the kid’s baking class I teach.”
His eyes travel down to my legs. “I didn’t?—”
“Harrison, I told you. If it hurts, I’ll tell you. I’m fine.”
“Okay.” He nods, mollified for now. However, I can see his lingering concern. “I’m jealous of your relaxing Mondays. Today is going to be insane. I already have a headache, and I’m not even in the office yet.”
His phone chimes with a text, interrupting us.
“Work?” I ask sarcastically.
“No.” He pauses. “It’s Sebastian, which reminds me, I wanted to mention something quickly.”
“Okay. Go ahead,” I say as we pull up to my apartment building.
“Give us a moment, please, Robert.”
“Of course, sir.” Robert, his driver, gets out and waits for us on the sidewalk.
“Come here,” I scootch over, though he has other plans, and picks me up, placing me on his lap. “I don’t like you being so far away.” He sweeps my hair off my neck and kisses my heart-shaped beauty mark.
“Harrison,” I warn. “Don’t get distracted.”
“Don’t ever stop me from kissing you.” He squeezes the inside of my thigh, kisses me again to show me who’s boss, then leans back to look me in the eyes. “Leo and Nate know about you, and that we’re…”
“Know that we’re having sex?” I raise my eyebrows playfully and he chuckles.
“Yes, that. Which is fine, but if we’re ever out together or you see me and Sebastian is around, it’s best that we keep this between us.”
Confused, I ask, “Why?”
“This has nothing to do with you, and I don’t want you to think that. It has all to do with Seb. He’s very protective over Claudina, maybe even more so than me, and the people entering her life. Normally, he doesn’t care about what I do on the side, but if he finds out you’re someone who is in Claud’s life, even in a small role, he will not make it easy on me and honestly, the other brothers for knowing.”
I push back a piece of rogue hair that’s fallen over his eye. “That seems a bit intrusive, no?”
He smiles sadly. “He has a right in a way, and there’s a lot more to the story I’m not going to get into right now. But sometimes, it’s easier to appease him than push him. He’s been traveling more than ever lately, so I rarely see him and can’t imagine it being a problem. He’s only in New York for Claud.”
“Okay,” I tell him easily. I would never want to get in the middle of brotherly drama.
