Fuck.
The words hit harder than I expect, and I already feel myself caving. How the hell am I supposed to compete with that?
I lean against the doorframe, buying myself a second. “Okay,” I say slowly. “Here’s the deal.”
His eyes flick up, hopeful.
“Tonight, you can finish this level. Fifteen more minutes.”
He grins.
“But tomorrow,” I add, “screens shut off by ten. Deal?”
He thinks it over, then nods. “Deal.”
I point at him. “And if you push it, I’ll make it nine.”
“I won’t,” he says quickly.
I don’t fully believe him.
“We’ll see,” I say, already backing out of the room.
When I turn around, Jordan’s standing in the hallway, watchingus with a smile. “Look at you,” she says, teasing. “And you were worried you wouldn’t be able to say no.”
“I didn’t,” I say. “Did you miss the part where I immediately caved?”
She shakes her head. “You didn’t. That was perfect.” She pauses for a beat, hesitant. “I’m going to get ready for bed.”
The air thickens.
We both know what that means.
Bed.
As in—together.
It’s not something I’m mad about in the slightest.
I grin. “See you in there, wifey.”
“God.” She rolls her eyes. “For future reference, ‘wifey’ is about the biggest turnoff ever.”
I chuckle. “Noted.”
She smothers a smile and turns for the bedroom, my eyes following her until she disappears.
I head for my office. I need something to take my mind off things, and I already know turning on the TV would be pointless. I wouldn’t watch it, anyway.
I settle into my chair and open my laptop. There’s always work to do.
Tonight was… good.
After we picked up Cole, Jordan suggested going out for dinner. We let Cole choose—some shitty fast food where he could get chicken strips and fries. We hit the drive-thru for him, then DoorDashed our food because Jordan’s picky.
We ate together at the counter while Jordan grilled him with questions about middle school.
Favorite teacher. Favorite subject. Best friends.
