Page 86 of Colt

“I didn’t cook, though,” Dean says.

Lainey winks at him before grabbing my plate. “I’ll let that slide tonight.”

She fucking winks.

Anyone else did that, it’d come off cheesy as hell. Like they were trying too hard to win over my son.

But when Lainey does it? Real fucking cute.

I push back from the table. “You’re our guest, and guests don’t clean.”

“This guest does. Go sit, Colton.” She picks up Dean’s plate too. “You and Dean have two ghosts left to finish.”

I feel a surge of…something. Frustration? Desire? Relief?

All three?

“I don’t sit.” I’m back to grunting as I rise to my feet. “Now gimme that⁠—”

But Lainey laughs and holds the pile of plates just out of reach. “You’re gonna sit tonight.”

“Stop.” I try to head for the sink, but Lainey darts to the right to block me.

“I’m so serious, Colton. You made all this beautiful food. Least I can do is load your dishwasher.”

Why does it sound dirty when she says that?

Why is my mind always in the gutter when she’s around?

“Sit,” she repeats. “Remember that one time you made me sit, and I actually listened?”

Dean gives me a look. “She’s right, Dad.”

“Fine!” I throw up my hands. “Fine. But don’t you dare start scrubbing pots. Just put those plates in the dishwasher and then you’re done. That a deal?”

Lainey’s lips twitch. “Sure.”

It’s a very strange experience to sit my ass down after eating. If I’m not cleaning up, then I’m running a bath for Dean or I’m standing at the counter filling out school forms or I’m letting the dog out.

Makes me realize how tired I am. There’s a heaviness behind my eyes and in my legs that has me yawning. Maybe this is why I don’t sit, because I’m worried I’ll collapse the second I stop moving.

I know Dean has a crush on Lainey because he offers to help her do the dishes.

“I said no dishes!” I reply.

“You said no pots,” Lainey corrects. “Sure, Dean, I’d love the help.”

So then it’s just me at the table. Sitting.

Relaxing.

Is this the first time I’ve relaxed since Dean was born?

Stretching out my legs, I put my arms behind my head and just sit for several beats. Watch Lainey as she and Dean chat over the sink about the other LEGO sets they’d like to build.

The longer I sit, the more relaxed my shoulders and neck become. I feel my shoulder blades falling down my back, an easing that makes me want to groan.

I can’t help myself when Lainey picks up an actual pot and starts scrubbing, though. She’s going above and beyond, and I know she’ll even go so far as to wipe down the counters and run the dishwasher if I don’t intervene.