“Where’s your son?” she asked after a few moments of silence.
“Uh, school. Ann just picked him up. I’ll pick him up from her this afternoon, then we’ll head over to the hotel?—”
“Ethan, you don’t need to uproot his life. This is his home. I promise I’ll be OK if it’s me you’re worried about.”
“It’s just… Laz hasn’t been around many women. We don’t bring women here. I mean, none of us have fucked anyone but you in the last five years. Well, I mean, there’s me…” My voice trailed off, and I frowned.
She put her hand on mine.
“Ethan, bring your son home so he can play in his room. So he can be where he’s comfortable. Ryder will be here tomorrow, and Evan is coming soon after with Ellis. He had something to do with the studio for his movie, but I promise, I’ll be out of your hair more than in it.”
“I like you being in my hair.” I gave her a sad smile.
She smiled back. “Please. I’d love to meet him.”
“Maybe,” I said, wincing. “But I do think it’s best if we stay at a hotel for a few days.”
“No. I know what’s going on out there in this city. He is safe here. Please. Don’t go. I’ll be out of your hair in a few days because I’m going to go stay at the safe house Dom has set up for us. I’ll only be back here on Cole’s days off. And I might not even do that because Cole might stay with me.”
“OK. I-I’ll bring him home tonight.”
“I’ll make dinner,” she said, offering me an encouraging smile. “What’s his favorite food?”
“Honestly? He loves chicken nuggets and spaghetti. Mac and cheese. Burgers. He pretty much eats everything, but it’s been a long time since we did spaghetti, and, uh, yours was always my favorite…”
She grinned. “If you want me to make you spaghetti, Ethan, just tell me.”
“Would you make me spaghetti for dinner?” I asked, feeling like a shy dweeb. “And maybe with that homemade bread you used to do?” I winced, hating to ask her.
“I would love to.”
I let out a breath of relief before grabbing a tablet off the counter next to me. I handed it to her.
“There’s the grocery app on there. Order everything and anything you need or think this place needs. I mean, if you want.”
She laughed softly. “I’m your house bitch now, huh?”
It was my turn for my cheeks to heat.
“God, no, Rosalie. Fuck. You’re our guest. I don’t mean you have to do this stuff—” I reached to take the tablet from her, but she brushed my hand away.
“Get out of here. Let me feed you guys the proper way. I’m sure you’ve been living on takeout and chicken nuggets for way too long.”
Relief swept through me as I watched her go through the grocery app.
I didn’t want to leave her side, but if I didn’t, I’d be late, so I forced myself to my feet and took both our empty bowls to the sink before I returned to her and kissed the top of her head.
We both froze for a moment as she looked up at me.
“Ethan?”
“Sorry,” I whispered. “I… old habits. I’m sorry.”
Her lips twitched in the corners. “Kiss me properly the next time you want your lips on me.”
Fuck, sweetheart…
“Yeah?” I murmured.
