I laughed softly. “Well, at least he’s looking on the bright side.”
“Is that… serri-dipitous?”
This time I laughed for real. “No. That’d be if they figured out the problemsbeforehaving kids.”
God, I loved this kid and his mother. I just didn’t know how to say it without risking everything. Especially since I had no idea how she felt about me.
I heard footsteps moments later.
Nyah blurred past Lucas’ doorway, straight into her bedroom. The door closed behind her with more force than necessary.
“Looks like Mom’s awake,” I said.And just in the nick of time.
“I’ll get her dinner,” Lucas said, pushing back his chair.
I put a hand on the chair, stopping him. “You’ll finish yours first. And then you’ll brush your teeth. What’s your normal bedtime?”
Lucas bit his lip and squinted at me. “Mama lets me stay up until I get tired.”
I smiled. “That was a great try. And because I like you, I’m not going to tell her you tried to bamboozle me.”
Lucas scowled and smiled at the same time.
I heard the toilet flush. “Quick. Eat. If you get ready for bed on your own, she’ll be so impressed, she’ll probably let you stay up late on the weekend.”
Lucas bolted down the last few morsels, even polishing off the cos lettuce. “Are you staying over?” he asked through his mouthful. “I don’t think we have bacon, but you can teach me how to fry eggs for breakfast.”
“There’s nowhere for me to stay, little man,” I said, keeping my voice low.
“Mama’s bed is hu-u-u-u-ge. She lets me sleep with her when I have nightmares.” His eyes bulged with the dawning of a great idea. “Tell heryouhave nightmares,” he said, gathering up the bowls and cutlery. “Wait until it’s late, though, and she’s in her jammies. If it’s early, she comes into my room and sits with me until?—”
Nyah came out of the bedroom, cutting Lucas midway. Her hair was pulled back, her face composed, like she’d armoured herself in the few minutes she’d been gone.
“Hey,” I said, a little too enthusiastically. “There you are.” I got up and started busying myself with her dinner so she wouldn’t notice the heat creeping into my cheeks. Images I hadn’t invited were crowding my mind—Lucas tucked into bed, the apartment quiet, Nyah’s hand in mine as I?—
“Lucas called you?” she asked, crossing the room and pressing a kiss to the top of her son’s head.
“Yeah,” I said quickly. “He didn’t want to wake you. And I can’t blame him. You needed some downtime.”
“I did.” She glanced at Lucas. “It’s nearly your bedtime. PJs, brush teeth, then I’ll read you a story.”
“Can Caleb read me a story?” Lucas asked.
Nyah hesitated. Just for a fraction of a second—but I saw it. “Caleb probably has somewhere he needs to be.”
“I can read to him,” I said, surprising myself with how certain my voice sounded. “That’d be good, actually.”
She frowned, caught between options.
I couldn’t tell whether she was weighing what was best for Lucas or protecting him from disappointment—or protecting herself.God, I’m such an ass.
“Go on,” she said finally, patting Lucas on the back. “Get ready for bed. Someone will be in to read you a story.”
“How about both of you?” he asked.
She scowled affectionately. “How about neither of us? Skedaddle.”
Lucas ran down the hall, laughing.
