Page 27 of Keepsake

Logan:Read

Alvaro:That’s your plan?

Logan:Yes

Alvaro:Logan, listen. Let’s just give them time to adapt… It was just a tantrum.

Logan:I’m in charge here and we are doing this my way. And my way is being prepared. Read.

And when he didn’t reply, I sent one last text.

Logan:Tomorrow morning, we are going to find a bed for Lachlan and visit a couple of schools. Be ready at eight. Goodnight.

Myeyesflewopen,the light fixture glistening under the ray of sun. I had blackout curtains, but I refused to use them. I couldn’t be in total darkness. That was too relaxed.

No, I liked the sun in my face and on the eleventh floor, I often woke up with it burning my eyelids.

I threw the blanket away and headed for a quick shower. In my walk-in closet, I tried to select something that was more casual than my work clothes.

I found a skirt that was still mid, but not as restricted, and paired with high boots and a soft sweater. Instead of pulling my hair in a ponytail, I braided to the side.

There.

Accessible.

Breathing with some sense of trust in myself, I opened my door just to find the two rooms opposite from mine were empty. I glanced down at my watch.

Seven thirty in the morning and the children were already up.

Quickly, I raced downstairs and was shocked to find my house full of life. I could clearly hear the TV, so I went in that direction, stopping by the door to take in the situation.

Dash was lying on the sofa, his head bobbing back, and he was fast asleep. Vienna was sitting on my fluffy rug with Lachlan, both watching TV and eating buttery toast, not caring that they both seemed to be covered in crumbs.

“Good morning,” I croaked.

“Hey there, Logan.” Vienna waved and then her attention was back to the TV.

“Everything ok?” I asked.

“Yeah. Dash made us breakfast.”

I tried not to wince. Instead, I smiled at the girl in return and left the TV room quickly before I embarrassed myself further.

That wouldn’t do.

No, no, that was wrong. Beyond wrong.

I gnawed on my bottom lip when I made my way to the kitchen, blinking once and then again as I took in the destruction. Dash might have made them breakfast, but he definitely wasn’t adept at the cleaning as you go.

Bringing my sleeves up my arms I started cleaning up the impossible mess. I thought they were just having toast, for god’s sake.

I turned on the coffeemaker the exact moment Alvaro came downstairs.

“Morning.”

Voice rough from the sleep, his greeting felt like a caress. My saliva thick, I mumbled an answer and looked away, afraid he would notice the blush creeping up from my neck to my ears.

He looked good in the morning. His scruff was even rougher in the early morning, his T-shirt a little crumpled around his barrel chest.

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