Page 46 of Room One Hundred and Nineteen: Watching Her

“Oh, dinner! Um, I don’t know what the kids are up to eating?—“

“Soup,” Betsy mumbled against my other shoulder.

“We asked them before I went to the store,” Rick shared, and I didn’t miss the way Elena’s eyes softened.

“Oh. Thank you,” she whispered.

“We said soup because that’s what you give us when we get sick,” Mike informed her, his voice sleepy.

“That’s good, buddy.” Her voice went gentle. When I glanced down at Mike, his eyes were open and focused on his mom. I felt him nod as his head moved against my arm before his gaze moved back to the TV. He might have been watching the movie, but I had a feeling he was paying really close attention to us and his mom.

He wasn’t used to other guys being around or his mom dating. Elena had been surprised at how easily the kids seemed to get used to being around her sister, Rosie’s, guys. Who, small world, Rick, Josh, and I knew from being members at Club Sin. They were good guys, and I was glad that Elena’s sister had them in her corner.

Kids were good judges of character and picked up on things a lot faster than some adults. And by the way he and Betsy were watching us, I had a feeling they got what was happening with us and their mom.

“Mommy, sit with us and watch the movie.Minionsis next.”

“No! We watched them yesterday,” Mike whined. My lips twitched.

“Fine.Cars?” Betsy negotiated, and Mike nodded. My eyes rose from the kids to Elena, who was staring at me for some reason.

“Come sit and watch a movie with us,” I encouraged and winked at her. She grinned and moved closer. Betsy moved from my side, and Elena sat down beside me before Betsy launched herself at her mom in full-cuddle mode. It was cute to see them together.

“Where is Josh?” she whispered. Before I could answer, Josh walked out of the kids’ room with a garbage bag and a tote of cleaning supplies. He winked and headed into the kitchen then came back out with a candle Rick had picked out. “Shower go okay?”

“Yes, thank you,” she said.

“Good. Rest,” Josh said as he walked past us before poking his head from the arched threshold that separated the living space from the bedrooms. “Want some wine?” he asked. Her eyes widened and she blushed.

“Do you want me to help—“ she started to ask, but my hand moved to the back of the couch and rubbed her shoulder.

“Relax. We got this,” I said low enough for only her to hear me. She might have sighed, but there was a glint in her eyes that let me know she was giving in to us on this.

“Okay, fine,” she huffed playfully.

“Wine?” Josh repeated his offer, and I felt her body start to relax next to me.

“If you guys insist. A glass of wine would be nice, but I’m not sure I have any?—"

“I picked up two bottles. Red or white?” Rick’s voice sounded from the kitchen, and she giggled before cozying closer into my side.

“White, please.”

“I got you,” Rick answered, and my girl rested her head on my shoulder. I looked down to not only see Elena’s smiling face staring at me but Betsy’s as well.

And fuck me, sitting in her small but welcoming living room, surrounded by the kids and my woman while the other two guys worked on helping make Elena’s day felt damn good.

And I couldn’t wait to have this for the rest of our life.

18

JOSH

A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER

“So, what do you guys think?” Rick asked. I felt like I was holding my breath waiting to hear what they said.

The kids looked at one another, silently communicating something while we watched and waited on pins and needles. It wasn’t the first time we were present for this quiet twin thing they did. We had heard of it in medical school, but witnessing it in person was eerie and really fucking cool each and every time. When he made a face, and she made one, too, I fought from rubbing the back of my neck.

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