Page 107 of The Opposite of Romance
Let me out?
I grip the doorknob, only to realize what the sound that woke me up was. They’ve locked me in.
“What if I’m thirsty?” I ask them.
“Check your nightstand,” Liv responds, with excitement in her voice.
A cup of coffee sits on it, a small plate of cookies next to it.Fuck, they’ve thought about everything.
“Good thing I have a bathroom here,” I yell, and hear a deep, manly chuckle from the other side of the door.
“What do you expect me to do?” I aim the question at him, since he’s the only adult on the other side.
“Enjoy yourself. Read a little.” His shrug is practically audible.
I groan out, “Fine.” I plop my ass back onto the bed. The giggles reappear before disappearing fully.
I guess it’s time to relax. They made the coffee how I like it, so I take a few sips before opening the book I was reading last night. I can’t remember the last time I had the morning to relax. Mornings are typically a rush from the moment I open my eyes with making breakfast, preparing lunches, and getting myself and the kids ready to get out. But today, I get to enjoy the peace.
Searching my brain for the best use of this time, I decide on a bath. I luxuriate in the warm water with a book in hand, feeling like I’m in a parallel universe. A part of me fears what awaits me when I get out. Logan’s great with Liv and Ash, but he’s not trained. He’s not a parent. And they outnumber him two to one. I perk my ears, trying to hear if someone is screaming or crying, but nothing comes. Finally, the water turns cold, so I get out and dry myself with a soft towel before rubbing scented lotion on my legs.
Not sure how much time has passed, but I’m dressed and ready when the lock finally clicks and the door bursts open.
“Happy birthday!” Asher screams before jumping into my embrace. Liv follows behind while Logan leans on the doorway, looking sexy in his workout clothes.
When Liv and Ash get off the bed, he approaches, pulling me in for a kiss. A kid-appropriate kiss that still leaves me hot and flustered.
Pretending we’re only friends lastedfourfull days. Then we shared the whole truth with the kids. He told them how much he loved me, how much he lovedallof us, and I barely kept my tears at bay.
“Ready?” he whispers into my hair. My skin tingles.
“For what?”
The only response I get is a smirk, but I take his hand and follow him downstairs. We pass the kitchen, which is a mess, but I see the breakfast served on the dining table.
Saliva pools in my mouth and I realize I’m hungry. But Asher jumps in front of me. “Do you want to see your surprise first?”
“Isn’t this it?” I ask, pointing to the table.
“Noo.” He rolls his eyes as if I’m ridiculous and leads me outside to the deck. I don’t notice right away, but as he pulls my hand in the right direction, I realize there’s an addition to the barbeque and dining area. Suspended from an arch supporting the roof are two mesh reading chairs, adorned with comfy pillows. The roof is just long enough for it to be comfortable in the rain as well. And the chairs can spin around to face either the fire pit or the woods. In front of it, there’s a playground. It’s not huge, but it has a climbing wall, a rope ladder, a small tree fort on the top, and a tire swing. Asher’s already climbing up to the fort, obviously thrilled.
“It was their idea,” Logan says.
Liv stands proudly next to the reading chairs, waiting for my reaction.
Tears appear in the corner of my eyes. “This is amazing,” I mutter out.
She chose the reading chairs so we could read together. My moody pre-teen gave me the best gift ever—the gift of knowing she still wants to hang out with me. Asher chose a gift for himself, but in that, he gave me the gift of peace, which is amazing on its own. I can comfortably read in my chair and know he’s close by, enjoying the playground.
I pull Liv into a tight hug, and she melts into me, hugging me back.
“How did you do all this?” I ask Logan, my eyes glossy.
“Well, we were preparing for it for a while. Liv mentioned the idea while I was still working on the deck.”
I pull him into the hug with us. The idyllic, romantic moment breaks when my stomach grumbles.
“Asher, time to eat!” Logan calls him, and he listens in an instant.
