“For your food? Yes. It’s about the only thing I like about you.” I clap him on the shoulder and head toward the lake.
While Gable finishes making dinner, I dry off Fox, and he sits outside in the warm, panting happily, with strict instructions not to jump back into the water. When we all eventually sit around the dining table, it’s as if no time has passed.
Even though I feel like an entirely different man.
It’s been six months since Monty left. Six months of questioning whether she meant a damn thing she said those few days we were together. I’ve tortured myself over it, and now I’m retired, there’s not much to occupy my head but her. I hate that she’s taken root in my mind when I clearly had no effect on her, so I’ve worked hard, especially these last few weeks, to focus on this trip.
I won’t let memories ruin these moments with Ella and the kids.
So, we eat. We talk about how creepy the cabin is. It’s beautiful on the outside, but there are antique weapons hanging on the walls—including a crossbow in the living room. What kind of an Airbnb is this?
Dinner ends, and once the kids are bathed and in their pajamas, we put on a movie. Gray immediately falls asleep on Gable’s chest, and Ella is curled up in a large armchair, sleeping, too. Asha is watching the movie, frowning as always, swinging her legs off the edge of the couch.
“Bedtime, Ash,” Gable whispers.
“Want me to take her?” I suggest.
Asha frowns. “No. Daddy.”
Gable throws me a victorious smirk and stands, Gray still sleeping against him. As he passes me, he whispers, “It’s a dad thing.”
I make sure he’s out of sight before giving him the finger.
“I saw that,” Ella mumbles, stretching and sitting up.
I refocus on the TV. “You saw nothing.”
She chuckles and rubs her face. “Does this get easier? Do I get more sleep?”
I smile at her sleepy expression and ruffled hair. “They stop waking you up, if that’s what you mean. But then you worry because you wonder why.” I stand. “Wait until they bring home a serial killer for a boyfriend.”
“Not funny.”
I pass her, kissing the top of her head before making my way to my room.
As I lie in bed with Fox by my side, I stare at the wooden ceiling and do what I promised I wouldn’t.
I think about Lina.
Was it really all an act? Am I foolish for thinking it wasn’t? I thought we had fun. The sex was definitely a bonus, but even if that hadn’t happened, I enjoyed her company. Even with the murder.
But the older you get, the more you realize that memories are simply pockets of time. You can keep them, or you can tuck them away, and my few days with Monty has to be the latter.
I doubt I’ll ever see her again anyway.
Chapter 14
Guy
The smell of frying bacon and fresh coffee drags me out of bed. Fox is already gone, and I find him in the kitchen next to Motor, both staring up at Gable cooking.
“Morning.”
Gable doesn’t even turn. “Coffee’s on the counter, creamer’s in the fridge.”
I make us both a coffee, and he grunts a thank you.
It’s always been this way with Gable and me. We rarely speak, and this chasm between us keeps filling up with resentment from his side and frustration from mine. What I did to him was terrible, yes, but I can’t change it. I’m trying to make up for it now by not avoiding the asshole.
