Page 16 of Thor

“Okay. He said if you wanted it, you would start next week. I’ll let him know.” Jonah whips out his phone and shoots off a text. The rest of breakfast goes by with small talk and watching Jonah with the kids. I always wondered what kind of father he would be and now I know he would be the absolute best.

Once breakfast is over, a man and woman walk into the room. The guy is absolutely gorgeous. I know men don’t like to called that, but he is. The woman he’s with is also very pretty. Is it something in the water here? Everyone looks like they should be models.

“Madison, this is Will and Nova. Will is the children’s nanny and Nova helps keep the family’s houses clean.”

They both reach out their hands and I shake them. When Will grabs my hand, he smiles wide and reveals the dimples in his cheeks. “You are absolutely stunning. You must tell me what your skin routine is.” He winks at me and a nervous laugh bubbles out of me at his compliment.

He’s asking for my skin regimen when it really should be the other way around. His skin is flawless. He puts the term “smooth as a baby’s bottom” to shame.

“Oh, don’t act coy with me, sweetheart. You must know you’re a looker.”

I know I’m blushing because his smile widens. “It’s not being coy, Will. It’s being humble. Not everyone walks around saying how beautiful they are,” Nova retorts.

“But if God made me this jaw-dropping gorgeous, he must have wanted me to brag about it,” he fires back.

I can’t stop the giggle that comes out of me. He isn’t modest at all. Normally people like that annoy me, but with him, you can tell he’s not being snobby about it. Nova rolls her eyes with a smile and begins taking dishes to the sink.

“Okay, Will, I need you to take the kids to the playroom. I have some things to discuss with Madison. I promise to let you get her into some trouble on another day,” Cara says.

Will throws his arms around Cara’s neck from behind while kissing the top of her head. “Best boss ever!” he cheers. My mouth drops open and everyone laughs.

“I promise it’ll be the good kind of trouble. Will makes one hell of a margarita.”

“You drink with your employees?”

Geez, I sound so judgmental, but I didn’t mean it that way. I was only curious. Luckily, it looks like Cara didn’t take offense at all because she grins at me.

“I don’t see them as my employees. They spend just as much time around my kids as I do. They’re family.”

Wow. That was unexpected but so sweet. I can tell Cara meant every word of it. Will smiles at her as he begins ushering the triplets to the playroom while he carries Chase on his hip. Once they’re gone, Cara asks me to follow her. Viper and Thor get up and trail us to the living room.

As I sit down, I notice a laptop on the coffee table. Cara grabs it and hands it to me. I look at her in complete confusion.

“Thor told us yesterday that you haven’t seen your family in years. This laptop is secure in every way. I own a security and tech shop. The firewalls and security system I have on that laptop are the best of the best. No one would even come close to hacking it. I shipped one just like it to your parents overnight. They should have received it by now. I left a note inside the box instructing them how to use the laptop. You can video call them as much as you like and not worry about cutting your time short. I know it’s not the same asseeingthem but?—”

I don’t allow Cara to finish. I rush off the couch and wrap her in a tight hug. My tears flow uncontrollably. The thought of seeing my parents and brothers is indescribable. The burnerphone I use is as old-school as you can get. It doesn’t receive pictures or allow video call options.

“Thank you. This means everything to me. Thank you.”

When I pull away, I wipe my face, but the tears just keep going. Jonah brings me flush against him, holding me tight as I cry. “It’s no problem at all, Madison. If you need anything while you’re here, just let us know. I have to head to the clubhouse. I have work to do but I’ll see you later for dinner,” Cara tells me. After Viper and Cara leave Jonah pulls away to look down at me. I miss the feel of his arms in an instant.

“I’m going to head to the clubhouse for a few hours to give you some privacy.”

“You’ll come back, right?”

Jonah palms my face and places a soft kiss on my cheek. “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away, Maddy.” He turns and walks out the door. I’m left standing in the living room feeling like a big pile of mush. A decade later and the man still has the power to make me melt.

After a few moments of standing there, I head up the stairs and plop down on my bed. My hands tremble as I open the laptop and power it on. After the laptop is completely powered up, I notice a tab on the home screen that readsfamily. I double click the icon and a window opens. When the first ring comes through, I jump. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. These are my parents. I talk to them every day but somehow this feels different.

By the third ring, the camera cuts to my mom and dad who are smiling with tears streaming down their faces.

“Mom. Dad,” I croak.

“Oh, my sweet girl. It’s so good to see your face. H-how did…” Mom’s voice breaks with a sob.

“Jonah’s best friend owns a tech shop, and she supplied the laptops for us to safely talk without worrying about he who must not be named trying to trace the calls.”

“Baby girl, we miss you so much. Did Jonah say when you would be able to come home?” my dad asks.

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