Page 279 of The Bonus

Gabriel is in the shower and I pull the quilt up and turn it down. After dumping all this information on me last night, he fell fast asleep, and while he slept like a baby, my mind went into overdrive.

His poor mother, I know he’s telling me she’s evil, but how can I believe that? I saw the way she looked at the kids yesterday and I can’t imagine living through the horror she has. I didn’t blame her for hating me before, but now…

Now the context has a whole other meaning, a worse meaning.

Lucia walks into my bedroom, all crumpled and sleepy with wild hair, and not far behind her is her brother. “Where’s Dad?” Dominic asks.

“He’s in the shower.” I continue to put the cushions on the bed and draw the curtains, the expansive New York skyline comes into view, the sun is just coming up over the city and I smile as I look out over it.

I love this city… A deep sense of closure on a horrible part of my life has come to fruition. The sun coming up over the city has a deeper beauty to me today.

A peace that I haven’t felt in such a long time.

I get it now, the puzzle has clicked together as to why it transpired the way it did, and to be honest, I don’t blame him anymore. How could I?

Falling for his PA was the very worst thing in his mind that he could ever do.

It’s time.

“Hey,” I hear Gabriel call. “You can’t be in here, I’m naked.”

I glance around to see the two kids standing in the bathroom, trying to talk to him, he’s all soaped up with his hand over his privates.

“Why?” Dominic frowns.

“Because…” he splutters.

“We see Mom in the nude all the time,” Lucia replies.

“Yeah, well…your mom’s a freak,” Gabriel says.

I giggle and lean on the doorjamb as I watch them.

“Grace…” Gabriel says, his two hands now covering himself, self-conscious.

“It’s okay, Gabe, it’s normal for kids see you naked and talk to you while you’re in the shower.”

“Is it, though?” He widens his eyes. “This is a little more junk than they’re used to.”

I giggle.

No shit.

It’s a little more junk than anyone is used to.

“Okay, guys, let Dad shower in peace.” I usher them out of the bathroom and out into the kitchen. “I’m making some breakfast.”

The kids flop onto the couch and turn the TV on to watch their shows and I get to making pancakes while I think.

If we’re going to do this, I need to go all in.

Twenty minutes later, Gabriel appears, he’s wearing a navy suit with a pale blue shirt, his leg-opener cologne, and is simply irresistible. He takes me into his arms, his lips drop to my neck. “I love it when my whorebag is barefoot in my kitchen.” He grabs my behind roughly and I giggle.

“You mean the whorebag who doesn’t put out?”

“Come to think of it—” he kisses my neck, “—she’s terrible at her job.”

“I made you breakfast.”

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