Page 43 of Fragile Heart

Camden looks up and squeals, raising his hands in excitement—and tossing a spoonful of flour onto the floor in the process.

Ethan’s voice is dry. “Your family convinced him he wanted homemade cinnamon rolls in the morning. I promised I’d do my best.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Want me to finish them out for you?”

Ethan hates baking. I’m not overly fond of it, but I’m leagues better than him. To my surprise, he shakes his head.

“I’ve got it,” he says. “My plan is to just make a giant loaf instead of individual loaves anyway. Like pull-apart bread.”

Camden starts to stand, but Ethan stops him. I cross the room. Camden launches himself at me, the spoon hitting the side of my head as he collapses against my chest.

“Papa!” he says.

The happiness in his voice has the exhaustion melting away from me. I hope he never loses the excitement he has over seeing either of us. It’s a small piece of Kayla we still have.

The thought doesn’t burn as much this time.

“Papa, I got to see Bri yesterday with Emily. We played with chalk and bubbles and she let me help put flowers in a vase in her house.”

Ethan’s mouth tightens at the mention of Brielle. He turns away, grabbing another spoon from the drawer and finishing what Camden abandoned. I ease Camden back onto the counter.

“I’m glad you had so much fun,” I say before kissing the top of his head.

His smile is radiant.

“Let’s get this mixed, kid, because it’s your bedtime,” Ethan says.

Camden turns away from me, scooting across the island until he’s holding the large bowl again.

“You want tonight off?” I ask Ethan.

He shakes his head. “It’s fine.”

With a nod, I pull out my phone and send a quick text to Brielle.

Can I take you out tonight?

I walk around the island so I can kiss the top of Camden’s head again.

“I’ll see you in the morning, bud,” I say.

He smiles and leans into me. “Love you, Papa.”

My phone buzzes with an incoming set of texts. They’re all from Brielle. Nerves claw up my throat in a way they haven’t in years.

You’re back? Mel said it was probably tomorrow.

I mean, yes. Definitely.

What should I wear? And where should I meet you?

I grab my bag from the mudroom and drop it on the floor of my closet instead, stripping out of the sweats I’d switched into as soon as I’d gotten my plane stowed away. As I’m double-checking my hair, I send a quick text back to her.

Something to go out in. I’ll grab you in twenty.

I grab my keys and head back toward the truck, smiling as Camden’s laughter follows me all the way through the house.

Brielle crosses her arms as she bites her lip, her eyes darting between me and the half-full dance floor behind me. It makes her tits press against the low neckline of her semi-transparent black top. Cinnamon bleeds out from me at the sight, but I don’t bother hiding it. Every few minutes tonight has had me responding to her on such a primal level.

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