Page 52 of Fourth Wall

“Eh, fuck off.” We both laughed. “I think I like her, man. I thought this whole fake dating thing would be fun, maybe I could fuck around for a few months, but something happened.”

“Like somehow down the road, you became obsessed with the way she feels in your arms, the way she smells, and the way her body moves with yours?” I was stunned at his confession.

“That is exactly it. How did you know?” He laughed again. Two for two, this was an all-time new record.

“It’s how I feel about Tatum. I don’t know, man. I think you may be in love.” Love? No. I literally didn’t know what love was. I’d never been loved before. My mom preferred drugs over me. My ex-wife and I were very much a marriage of convenience. I cared for her deeply but didn’t think it was love. I had no idea what love was conceptually.

“Nah. Don’t be ridiculous.” I shook him off.

“How did the foothills go?” Julian quickly changed the subject.

“It was good. I think I needed to deal with the shit that happened when I was overseas,” I admitted aloud, which was weird.

“I’ve been telling you that for years,” he added.

“I know, I know. I think I finally was able to come to terms with what happened to me. It was needed. I know it was fucked up for not telling Maeve, but I needed to sort it out in my own head first.”

“You should talk to her.”

“I plan on it. I just have to find the right time.”

I looked at her and watched as the gentle breeze tousled her long blond hair. She was wrapping the girls in their towels and getting them dressed.

“I’ve gotta go get the girls in bed.” She turned toward her friends, and they all complained.

“Stay with us for a few more minutes.”

I walked over to her, and even though I offered earlier, and she turned me down, I would try again. She was the type of woman who made me want to be a better man. She was my family.

“Can I walk them home? Julian is going to come with me.” Julian only nodded. He had asked me earlier when I came in to discuss a business trip we had to go on this week, purposely planning it around Maeve’s work schedule.

“They need to be tucked in.” She was hesitant. These were her kids. I knew as much as it affected her that I left, it also affected them. I couldn’t be the type of person in and out of their lives like my mother. If I could be a role model of sorts for them, at least for this period of time, I needed to show up for them.

“I can do it.”

“Julian can help. He needs practice,” Tatum chimed in, rubbing her growing belly.

“Okay. Fine.” She walked over to hand me their bag, and just as she was about to move away from me, I grabbed her waist and leaned down toward the shell of her ear.

“Can wepleasetalk later?” I was not above begging.

“Can you give me some more time? I just need time.” I nodded, understanding where she was coming from, but it still fucking stung.

“And that is how the prince fell in love with the princess.” I concluded a story for Kelsie, who begged me for one last book after I put Kinsley to sleep.

“Christian?” the little girl asked as I tucked her into her bed. I leaned down so that I was eye level with her.

“Yeah?”

“Do you think my mom will ever find another Prince Charming? My dad found one after they broke up, but do you think Mom will?" If only she knew...

"I think so, Kelsie,” I responded, nodding quickly.

“Will you be her Prince Charming?”Fuckkkkkk.How could I tell a six-year-old that I wanted to so badly, but I might have blown my chance.

“I don’t know, sweetie. I hope your mom will let me.” I offered a quick smile before tucking her into bed and saying good night.

I walked downstairs, and Julian was at the kitchen table with his laptop that one of his security team brought down from his house.

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