Page 12 of Pieces of You

Walker reappeared with two small paper bags with the Westwater Hotels’ logo on them.

“Macklin said you’d appreciate this,” he said, handing them over.

I accepted the bags and peered inside. Whoa. That was a lot of tiny bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash… I rummaged through the contents. Shaving cream, soap, and lotion.

“My team just finalized the next lines of products for a few of our luxury resorts,” he explained.

Hot damn. It was one part luxury brands and one part artisanal, organic, and chemical-free.

“I love your job,” I replied. “Thank you so much.”

I knew his main job was to find issues and deal with them. He was equally data-driven and psychology-focused. He knew how people functioned, what sold well, and how to—as Macklin called it—maximize profits on minimum efforts. And it meant he inserted himself into every step of the process to create successful hotels for his bigwig boss, evidently including the products they put in the bathrooms.

“You’re very welcome.” He repositioned Savi on his hip and gestured to the house. “I take it we’re all headin’ for the pool?”

Yes. The girls were going to have fun, and I was going to pretend.

“Actually, Tate,” Ash said. “I can throw these little princesses in the water while you sit down with Nathan. He’s waiting for you in KC and Lucian’s cabin.”

Oh God, no.

No. Fuck that. I’d seen Corey, Noa, and Macklin come out of sessions with Nathan.

Fuck that noise hard. I wasn’t seeing a damn counselor.

Ash had a smile for Zoe but gave me a pointed look. “Kingsley thought it would be a good idea for you to talk to someone.”

Damn you, Master!

Lucas Carter

It was possible I checked the rearview a bit too much, but I couldn’t help it. Kit and Noa were sitting in the back quietly, practically unheard of, each one staring out of his own window.

We’d just stopped by Shay’s aunt’s place to water the plants and clean out the fridge. Melanie didn’t know when she and the boys would return from San Diego, so I’d offered to do what little I could. Ty had given me a spare key from the Tenleys’ house, and I’d found Melanie’s number in Reese’s office at Mclean.

I slowed down and sighed as traffic came to a standstill. Fucking figured. I’d found a parking spot in town so quickly yesterday that I was being punished now.

Drumming my fingers along the wheel, I checked the rearview again.

I could barely handle the silence.

“Penny for your thoughts, baby boy?”

Kit met my stare in the rearview briefly before he looked out his window once more.

He let out a breath. “I laughed at a joke this morning, and now I feel guilty.”

Oh fuck. No—that wasn’t okay. “Kit, you have absolutely no reason to feel guilty. What’s happening with Shay is horrible, but we need those little breaks in the sorrow. Okay? I want you to find moments of joy even when life sucks at the moment.”

“Daddy said that also,” Noa admitted quietly. “Like, we need energy and dopamine hits to go on.”

“He’s right,” I agreed. “Please don’t feel bad about laughing—either of you.”

Kit’s eyes welled up a little, and he didn’t respond.

I’d let him process until we got to Mclean.

Goddammit.