Page 57 of Restrictions

“Uncle Asher, you need sunglasses.”

“I have some in my car.” I turn to Viv. “I’ll drive.” I have a car seat already in my car for whenever I take Baz somewhere or pick him up.

Yeah, she’s definitely contemplating homicide, but I couldn’t give a fuck. She needs to learn now, I’m nothing like Colt.

We drive to the zoo, Baz singing in the car seat happily the whole way. By the time we get to the tiger cage, the frustration level has raised to its highest peak.

Baz is jumping around, staring through the tiger cage when Viv,keeping her voice low, can’t seem to take it anymore. “What is the matter with you?”

I turn to look at her. “You need to be more specific because that could take all fucking day.”

She rolls her eyes. “Coming along to the zoo today. You couldn’t have just said you had a class?”

“I’m not lying to the kid to make you feel more comfortable.”

“But you’ll tag along after last night just to make me feel even more uncomfortable?” She turns to check on Baz. “Sebastian, please be careful.” She looks back at me when I speak.

“You’re uncomfortable?” I glare at her, thinking about how fucking bad I wanted her. Her gnawing on her fucking bottom lip. Testing ever single bit of willpower I have. I talk through clinched teeth, trying to keep my voice low, “Should I remind you that you’re the one who was discussing when you fucked my brother?”

“You’re the one with issues about Colt. It wasn’t him I wanted to fuck me last night.”

Damn, she’s gotten bold. And I need to watch it because her confidence definitely makes my dick hard. And the zoo is not the best place for that. I swallow, turning to see Baz walking along the bench in the tiger observatory and then back at Viv. “And I still don’t believe you.”

“Believe whatever the hell you want, Asher. You’re not the one who’s been humiliated over and over with constant rejection all because what? I’m the mother of your nephew?”

“That makes you family.”

“Fine. I meant what I said this morning. There are plenty of playdates out there.”

I don’t want to hate that as much as I fucking do, but no doubt she can find some asshole to use her. “Yeah, but do you really think you’re okay with being used and tossed to the side? Or worse, fucking broken?”

She shakes her head. “The toy analogy is getting a little old. But you know what, Asher?” She pokes my chest with her finger. “Yeah, I’m second hand. I’ve been through it, and I’m fine. Maybe a little worn and broken but still good.”

I look at her pretty face and scan her body slowly before meeting her eyes again. “You’re anything but worn and second hand.”

“But broken?”

“We’re all broken from the first fucked-up thing our parents do to us until the day we die, pieces are just chipped away.”

I hate that her eyes are wet with unfallen tears but then notice the panic overtaking her face as she searches. “Sebastian?”

I turn around and look for my nephew also, seeing he’s nowhere in sight. “Baz!” I shout, looking around.

Viv moves away from me, looking around frantically as I go in the opposite direction, looking around as we both call for him.

Okay, it’s okay. He’s somewhere. Viv and I meet in the middle, and she looks damn near to collapsing, her hand closed in a fist in her hair. “Where is he?’

“He’s probably hiding. He loves to do that.”

She shaking as she turns her eyes, searching as she calls, “Sebastian?”

I take a deep breath and walk around the area we were in. “Sebastian? Where are you? You’re way too good at this game, buddy. We give up.”

I hear his giggle, and I swear to you my heart skips a beat as relief floods me, and I go behind a cardboard cutout of a butterfly the zoo has with holes cut out for pictures. Baz is ducked down behind it as Viv runs over to him, scooping him up into her arms. “Oh my God, Baz. Don’t ever do that to Mommy again.”

Baz looks confused because to him, he was just playing a fun game, but the terror I felt was no doubt amplified by a hundred for Viv. “I just playing, Mommy.”

I sweep my hand over his hair. “That’s more of a game for at home, buddy.”

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