Page 87 of Late Nights & Love Lines
I brought her here with no intention of helping her clean up her mess, but when I find nothing but honesty in her glassy eyes, I pick up the vacuum handle and turn it on.
I toss Kade a rag and show him how to wipe down the walls. He makes more of a mess than he is helpful, but it keeps him busy while Seren and I tackle the impossible feat of eradicating baby powder from every nook and cranny.
21
I’LL NEVER TELL YOU A LIE
SEBASTIAN
“Single Dad Hotline, I’m your helper, how can I help you?” Rowan asks.
“Will you please add my fucking number into your phone?”
Her soft laughter rings through the phone and under her bedroom door.
“Can I come in?” I ask, pressing my forehead to the cool wood surface separating her from me.
“What? Where are you?”
I knock softly on the wood frame, and her gasp soothes my racing mind. I’ve been home from the hospital with Miles for three days, but the second I walked through the door, life sped into fast-forward mode. I’ve been putting out fires ever since.
Her door opens, and she stares up at me through her lashes, wearing something resembling pajamas, but I’d be forced to blind a man if anyone else saw her in them.
“Are you okay?” she asks, holding on to the doorknob as if it’s the only thing keeping her upright.
I nod, basking in the sight of her. “Can I come in?” I ask again.
She sucks in her bottom lip and bites down on it before nodding and moving to the side.
The entire room smells of her light floral scent—roses. It engulfs me, and reminds me that this is home, here, with her and my children.
Rowan quietly closes her door and climbs back into bed, pulling the covers up to her chest. I follow her but sit on the edge.
“I got a pretty hefty cleaning bill today,” I say with raised brows.
She rolls her eyes. “I’ve already sorted that out with both Leo and Lottie. Seren didn’t do it, but because she didn’t want to rat out who did, we cleaned the place together. I’m not sure what to say about the bill. Do you want me to pay it?”
“Why would you pay it?”
She shrugs. “Because I didn’t force her to tell me who did do it?”
I shake my head with a huffed snort. “No, it’s okay. I’ll pay it. I’m glad she trusts you to tell you the truth. She cares about you, Rowan. A lot.”
Her swallow is loud in the otherwise silent house. “I know. I like her too.”
“I was kicked out of the nanny camp program.” Saying it out loud sounds ridiculous.
Rowan lifts her knees to her chest and cradles them while resting her chin on top.
“I heard,” she says. “I’m sorry about that. Lottie didn’t see any other way to stop the prank wars from snowballing.”
My shoulders have been a permanent accessory to my ears since finding out because what the hell do I do now?
“How’s Miles tonight? By the time I got Kade into bed, the light was already off in your room.” Her voice is my ownpersonal lullaby—soft and melodic, but with a hint of sadness that never goes away.
I have Miles sleeping with me right now so I can keep an eye on him. Letting him out of my sight for too long brings back the fear of seeing him crumpled on the floor.
“He’s good. Kids are a lot tougher than we are sometimes.”
