Page 28 of Alfie: Part Two

He nodded once, satisfied, and pointed his knife at the kitchen island. “Then you just sit here shirtless and look pretty for me while I prepare dinner.”

I grinned. Fair enough. I could do that. I jumped up and sat my fine ass on the island, only to wince, ’cause fuck me, I was sore. West moved too. He brought his cutting board and ingredients from his usual spot next to the stove so he could becloser. Then he brought out his phone and found a playlist for us, and I approved. In fact, I recognized it.

“Is this our old cooking playlist?” I had to ask.

He inclined his head and went back to slicing the eggplant. “I haven’t changed it.” He let out a breath and flicked me a brief glance. “Nor have I listened to it much. You kind of took music with you when you moved out.”

I understood him. After our break, music had faded out of my life too. There’d been nothing to celebrate, and I hadn’t wanted music to lift my spirits. Or, the few times I’d tried, music had failed. Instead, it’d become a workout tool. I’d used it to keep my pace up when I went running. I’d used it to distract Ellie. I’d used it to stay angry.

Becoming a part of Liam’s world—and Finn’s and Kellan’s—I’d noticed how much I missed music. As well as the impact it could have on me. Blasting Dropkick was usually a surefire way to get me going, and now…now I knew everything was gonna turn out fine. Nothing was gonna be half-assed or “eh” or “somewhat” or “kinda.” Life was an all-out affair. I wanted to live it fully.

“We will dance again, papi.” I leaned in and kissed his cheek, and he smiled a little. “We’ll have music back in our life.”

His smile softened, and he put down the knife and stepped between my legs. “I like the sound of that.” He kissed me as a new song came on, and it made us both grin. He even turned up the volume. We’d danced to this one before. It was one of those soft rock, feel-good songs, where we’d obviously replaced “her” with “him” when we’d used the kitchen as our arena.

“My life and my thunder,” he murmured into a kiss.

“And I’m never gonna leave.” I deepened the kiss briefly and cupped his face in my hands.

“Swear to me.”

“On my fucking life, baby.” I mirrored his smile and pecked him a few more times, and I started bobbing my head to the beat?—

“Um, hellooooo!?”

Oh shite!

We jumped back from each other as if we’d been doing something wrong, and shock ran through me as I threw a glance at the doorway. Fucking perfect. Ellie stood there with her hands on her hips. Trip too. He cocked his head, possibly trying to understand what he’d walked into. Colby followed and stopped short in the wide doorway.

“Uh. Is this a bad time?” he asked.

“Our daddies kissed!” Ellie exclaimed.

Fuck, fuck. West and I exchanged a quick look, and we knew we had to roll with the punches on this one. It wasn’t like we were planning on waiting to tell them about some changes we had to look forward to. But…maybe we’d hoped to discuss those changes first.

I cleared my throat and slid off the counter.

“I suppose we should talk,” West announced. He gestured at the kitchen table. “Children, have a seat, please. Colby, you’re welcome to stay too.”

Was he? Yeah, of course he was. West had all but adopted him at this point.

For doing his best to avoid the mafia, West was hella associated with gangsters. His ex-husband was affiliated, his future husband was affiliated, and the kid he was trying to bribe into going to college was affiliated.

I was just sayin’.

“This is so weird,” Ellie whispered to Trip. Not that she knew the definition of whispering, but she tried.

Trip didn’t say anything. He just glanced curiously between West and me.

Colby looked like he wanted to make a run for it, and I couldn’t blame him. But he didn’t say anything either, like Trip. They took their seats at the table, and Ellie climbed up in the chair at the head. How symbolic. Our little ballbuster.

Trip was more concerned about his castle. He literally placed his arms along the sides of the project, creating a barrier of protection.

West and I sat down across from them, and I let him take the lead. He’d always been better with words.

“I’d like to start by asking if you remember when we all lived together in this house,” he said, always so patient. He just knew the right approach.

Ellie scrunched her nose. “A little. I remember when I got my other room at Daddy’s house.” She nodded at me.

---