Page 82 of Tight End

There are ripped-up hunks of lettuce strewn haphazardly across my counter and littering the floor around Oliver. He has a bunch of it and is currently shredding it with his bare hands and tossing it toward a bowl on the counter. I saytowardbecause hardly any of it is actually getting in there.

I’m surprised he’s not wearing it.

Never mind. I spoke too soon. There’s a piece on his shoulder and another on top of his head.

It’s not that I’m a neat freak per se, but also I kinda am. But it’s okay. Deep breath. It’s just some lettuce. Some lettuce that looks like it kicked Oliver’s ass and won. And is now all over my kitchen.

Before I can swoop in and pick it up, Oliver turns around, a wide grin on his face. “Hey, Daddy! Mom said I could help with dinner. I’m making salad but it smells gross.” Hescrunches his nose, looking toward June. “I don’t hab to eat fis, do I?”

June turns around, looking from me, to Oliver, to the lettuce ... everywhere. She doesn’t seem at all surprised, and it makes me wonder how many times this happened in her kitchen, how many dinners they’ve made together I missed. “I’m not sure there’s much left to eat, Oli. You spread it across the kitchen really nicely. You’re even wearing a piece as a hat.”

“It’s not a hat, silly.” He jumps down from the step stool, tossing the leaf from the top of his head into the mostly empty bowl. “Daddy can help you. Can I play in the living room now? I brought down all my dinosaurs.”

June raises a brow, taking me in, her eyes sliding up and down my body, a mischievous smile across her face. “I don’t know. Your dad looks awfully tired. I’m not sure if he’ll want to help me with dinner.”

“Please, Dad.” He grabs my hand, tugging me to his place at the counter. “The salad is so boring.”

I know I should be keeping a straight face, but I can’t help but laugh. And pluck the greenery from his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I think I can handle it. But you owe me.”

He jumps up, giving me a midair high five. “I owe you big times.”

And just like that he’s gone. Not a goodbye, thank you, nothing. I guess the dinosaurs are more important than us. I get it, but it stings.

I can’t complain too much, though, because now I have June to myself, and while I told her I’d try to contain some of the PDA around Oliver, my patience is wearing thin. I’ve been itching to get my hands on her all day. Even more than I wantto pick up all the salad Oliver helpfully threw all over the place.

Spending the weekend practically locked away with her wasn’t nearly enough.

Hell, a lifetime won’t be enough with this woman.

So I don’t waste another second, sliding up behind her and gripping the soft curve of her hips. I want to force her to face me and devour her mouth like the animal I am, but she has a knife in her hand, and I refuse to risk it accidentally cutting either one of us.

But I can still bury my nose in her hair, letting the smell of strawberries wash over me like the simp I am. Honestly, there’s no denying it at this point. I trail my lips along the length of her neck, the shell of her ear. “How did your day go?”

She lets out a soft moan, her chopping paused as she tilts her head to give me better access. “Oh, you know, pretty uneventful.” This time she sighs. “Except for when I quit the law firm.”

June sets the knife in the cutting board and turns, looping her arms around my neck. She has a huge smile on her face, and I know this was a big milestone for her. She loves her mom and felt indebted to her in a way, but that wasn’t the place for her. That wasn’t what she loved.

If she wanted to stay at the firm, I’d have supported her—of course I would have—but it would have eventually burned her out.

This decision was huge for her. She’s learning to trust herself and take risks, and I couldn’t be more proud. Her yoga studio is going to be great, and she’s only going to have herself to thank. Yeah, I’m helping as much as I can rightnow, but it’s her passion that’s going to take it to the next level. I see it. The guys see it.

I lean down, pressing my lips to hers in a chaste kiss. I pull her close. I take my time. I let myself get lost in her for a moment before I pull back, resting my forehead to hers. “Congratulations, Princess. When did this happen?”

“Shortly after we texted. My mom called me into her office to give me the custody agreement she’d been working on. I wasn’t planning on doing it today, and then our conversation spiraled into a lecture about who I can date.”

I huff a quick laugh, brushing my lips across hers one more time. “I take it she doesn’t approve of me.”

“Basically referred to your entire profession as being a collection of manwhores.”

“Ouch.” Although in general she’s not wrong. It’s just not me. Not anymore. Not since I saw June.

It’s her turn to pull away a bit more, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Just wait until the barbecue. It’s going to be so awkward now. She’s going to make sure everyone knows her opinion whether we like it or not.”

I run a hand through her hair, letting the wavy strands fall from my fingers. “I hope she doesn’t expect me to keep my distance from you while we’re there. She knows we’re together, right?”

“Are wetogethertogether?” This time she takes a full step back, her brows drawing together as she looks at me expectantly.

Is she serious right now?

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