Page 54 of Chosen Road

I walked towards her then dipped down to lightly kiss her cheek. She startled and a dull flush of roses dusted her fair skin. This was the first time I’d kissed her in a year. She flipped her kindle face down against her chest.

“You reading?” I asked, keeping my voice casual.

I watched as she swallowed, and the roses deepened on her cheeks.

“You know me, always reading,” she answered, too casually.

I held out my hand. “May I see how it works?”

Her jaw fell open. “What?”

I gave her my best confused look. “May I see how it works?”

She hugged it to her chest. “Um, it’s just digital books.” She shrugged, brushing off my request.

I studied her flushed face, wishing my words, my hands, and my tongue, had caused it.

I held out my hand expectantly.

Her brows lowered over her eyes. “No.”

I smiled, then walked to the stairs. When I turned around, I caught her staring after me, a mix of heat and suspicion in her eyes.

I smiled and allowed the tease into my voice this time. “I’m going up to see the boys, Aphrodite.”

Her eyes widened and she barked out a laugh. I felt the smile fall from my face, and hers followed suit.

“What?” she whispered.

“It’s been so long since I made you laugh.”

I turned quickly and took the stairs before I cried like a baby in front of her, the sound of her short burst of laughter fresh in my mind.

Ten minutes later, when Yiayia called us for dinner, I’d composed myself. We filtered into the dining room where Yiayia sat at the head of the table and directed everybody to their assigned seats. This was new.

She directed Vander and I to sit across from each other on either side of herself, then placed Amber next to me across from Ruby, followed by the boys across from each other. The chairs were tucked a little too tightly together, especially on mine and Amber’s side.

I cast a sidelong glance at Yiayia, but she feigned innocence.

I was so big, and our chairs were so close, that I couldn’t help but regularly brush up against Amber. The first time it happened, she jerked away from me. That hurt in ways for which there were no words. I shrank back, body and spirit, to give her more space.

I bought that reaction when I put my hands and mouth on another woman. If I could punch myself in the face, I would. Over the next several minutes, Amber became increasingly tense, ruining what little progress we had made.

Touching me made her miserable, and I had vowed to ease her way. I pushed my chair back from the table and her startled gaze swung up to my face. I didn’t meet her eyes, afraid of what I’d see there.

I stepped behind her and grasped the back of Alex’s chair. “Buddy, let’s move you down a bit. Momma has barely enough room to get her fork into her mouth without elbowing me.”

Alex laughed and lifted his bottom. I moved his chair a good half a foot, then helped Amber shift hers over before retaking my seat.

I purposefully avoided Yiayia’s gaze. She didn’t believe me when I confided to her how bad things had gotten between us. I bet she believed me now.

Turning to Amber, I murmured, “Is that a bit better, beautiful?”

Amber’s throat worked as she swallowed, and she gave me a tiny nod.

Everyone was quiet, our painfully awkward exchange easily overheard. Amber shifted in her seat and rolled her lips between her teeth.

“So!” Ruby blurted out, breaking the silence. “About Vander’s tattoos, anything to say, Yiayia?”

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