Page 56 of Restrictions

“Morning,” he singsongs as he digs into his cereal. He turns around, sitting on his knees in the large wooden chair, peeking around it to look at his mom. “Mom! Uncle Ash can go with us to the zoo!”

I look over at Viv, who has her shoulder-length hair perfectly straight with not one strand out of place and dressed in a yellow long-sleeved top with a high neckline, hiding all her assets as usual, but at least the shirt isn’t baggy and clings to her impressive chest. She also has jeans and tennis shoes on, all ready for the zoo.

She brings the apple over to Baz, placing it next to his bowl on a paper towel. “No, honey. I’m sure Uncle Asher has class.”

“Not until late this afternoon. I can fit the zoo in.”

I have no idea why I said it. I should welcome the space, but there is this insane pull with Viv, no matter how hard I think I want to push her away. I always end up begging her to come back.

“Yay!” Baz looks happy, and Viv is really staring daggers at me now.

“Sweetie.” Vivienne takes a seat in the chair next to him, and I can see she’s going to try her best with reasoning with him. “I think it would be better if we go by ourselves.”

She doesn’t look over at me. She’s really that pissed-off at me? After what she said? Reminding me that my brother has been inside her, and I haven’t? That she let go with him?

I swallow, thinking about her words. And I’m convinced I’m in fact a Colt replacement for her too. My eyes darken, as I watch her failing with her attempt to reason with Baz. “Why can’t he go, Mommy? I want him to goooooo.” He lays his head down on the table, just barely missing his cereal bowl.

“Baz, sweetheart.” She places a hand on his back and sighs. “Uncle Asher needs a timeout.”

Now her cold eyes meet mine as Baz lifts his head and looks over at me. “Why? What did you do?”

I nod over at Viv, my jaw ticking with anger leftover from last night. “Why don’t you tell him, Viv?”

She huffs, folding her arms and looking away from me and to Baz. “He just hasn’t been very nice.”

Sebastian raises his little eyebrow and looks over at me, clearly confused, and I shake my head. “That’s not true. I just won’t play with the toy your mom wants me to play with.”

Her eyes widen with rage, her lips parting with surprise as she closes them and drops her arms to her side, threatening to kill me with her eyes.

Baz really looks confused now. “Why? Toys are fun, Uncle Asher.”

You don’t have to tell me, kid. I try not to think about how much fucking fun I could have playing with Viv.

“Use me like he did.”

Fuck!

Her words from last night haunt me as I stand up, and Viv replies to Baz before I can, but she’s not really talking to him as she stands, her chin lifted with strength I would be proud of her for if it wasn’t so irritating. “They can be, but I think I’ll find someone else to play.”

Double. Fuck.

The thought of someone else playing with her sends me into a rage that even I admit is totally unfair.

Her eyes never back down, and I turn to Sebastian. “Well, sounds like that’s settled. Mommy will play with someone else.” My eyes meet Viv’s “So I can go to the zoo.”

She’s really pissed now, but all Baz heard was that he got what he wanted so he jumps out of his chair and does a little happy dance.

“Yes! Zooooooo.” He walks to the counter, grabbing his little sunglasses, the kid actually has several pairs, but this one has black frames with blue sides. He slips them on over his eyes, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

The kid is way too fucking cute.

“Lookin’ good, kid.” He grabs a larger pair next to them and hands them to Viv. “Here you go, Mommy.”

“Viv walks to him, reluctant to be near me and takes the brown pair from him, letting them sit on top of her head.

“We’re ready!” Baz is excited.

Viv, not so much.

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