Page 280 of The Bonus

“I don’t have time.”

“Sit,” I snap. “You’re not going anywhere until you eat pancakes. Kids, breakfast is ready,” I call.

He rolls his eyes and sits down and the kids join us too. He serves out the pancakes. “What are you guys doing today?” he asks.

“Well…” I sip my coffee. Am I really going to say this? “I thought the kids and I might do the rounds and look at some schools.”

Gabriel’s eyes flick up.

“What do you say, kids, do you want to stay here with Dad in New York through the week and we go home to Greenville on the weekends?”

The twins’ eyes are wide.

“We could have the best of both worlds.” I smile to try and sweeten the deal. “You could play sports at home on the weekends with your friends and then you could make new friends here at school through the week.”

Gabriel takes my hand over the table and lifts it to his lips and kisses it softly.

I smile as I look around at the kids. “We can’t leave Dad here by himself, we have to stay together. So it’s all of us here, or all of us at Greenville.”

“We would be at both places,” Gabriel says as he looks between them. “It will be so fun living here all together.”

“Could I get a new pink backpack?” Lucia says seriously.

“Yes. Without a doubt,” Gabriel answers.

Seriously…that’s her demand?

Dominic twists his lips. “But what about Tommy?”

“Tommy could come and stay here sometimes,” I offer. “And we could take him to Central Park and go bike riding. You’ll see him every weekend too, he will still be your best friend, nothing will change.”

Dominic smiles as he imagines it.

“But only if we find a good school.” I pretend it’s not already decided in my mind.

Gabriel smiles broadly, knowing it’s a done deal. He gets up and gets the ice cream from the freezer and puts a scoop on everyone’s pancakes.

“What are you doing?” I smirk.

“Celebrating.”

Gabriel

I have so much work to do that it’s not even funny and yet I sit here in my office, rolling my fingers on the desk, staring into space. A date… A date…

My A game date.

Where the fuck am I taking Gracie for our first date?

I don’t want a three-hour date either, I want a full night alone with her…blow-her-fucking-mind style.

But then, who do I get to babysit, I know she won’t leave the children with just anyone.

Maybe Mark…hmm, she won’t be happy with that.

I mean, I could ask Carina or one of my brothers, but I’ve not even let them meet yet because I wanted to sort the stuff out with Mom first…not that there’s anything remotely sortable now.

No, I want to do the family meeting with inviting them over to our place for dinner, make a real effort in bringing everyone together for the first time.

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