Page 70 of About Last Knight

He grabs my hand and walks me into my bathroom. He turns on the shower and leaves a towel for me. “Take your time. We’ll be out here.” He closes the door behind him.

I take off my robe and take a long, hot shower.

Afterward, I get dressed and feel a little better.

When I walk back out into the kitchen, I see a big, full breakfast is set up. Obviously, the boys went out and bought everything we needed. I even see coffee from my favorite coffee shop. My boys are so good to me.

I put on my best smile and sit with them. Trevor rubs my arm. “Are you going to tell us what happened?”

I take a deep breath. “Just a few issues with the man I’m seeing. Nothing for you to worry about.”

He shakes his head. “You don’t always have to put on a happy face, Mom. If something’s bothering you, tell us. Maybe we can help. Or at least give us a name so we know where to go.” He smiles.

Hayden asks, “I assume it’s that Declan guy that I met a few weeks ago. You two seemed pretty hot and heavy when I saw you.”

I nod with a fresh set of tears in my eyes. “I thoughtlessly paid for some expensive items for his daughter. I think he likely felt emasculated. I didn’t mean anything by it. He only just realized my financial situation. He’s clearly struggling with it.”

The boys all nod in understanding. Payton says, “It’s not easy for them. Kylie struggled with it too. She’s always afraid people will think she’s with me for my money.”

Hayden agrees. “Jess too.”

Trevor smiles. “Cassandra embraces it. She calls me her sugar daddy. Though she obviously makes a lot of money, so it’s easier for us to joke about it.”

I look at both Payton and Hayden. “How do you overcome it?”

Hayden shrugs. “Just reassuring her that love isn’t about dollar signs. Money is something we have. It doesn’t define us. It doesn’t change how we view people or who we are.”

Payton agrees with him.

Trevor asks, “You’re really down about this, Mom. You clearly care a lot about him. Are you in love with him?”

I think for a moment. “He’s told me that he loves me. I haven’t expressed it to him, but I’m pretty sure that I am.” I know I am.

Trevor looks surprised. “Wow, Mom. Is this a first for you?”

I’m not really sure how to answer that, so I’m silent.

Trevor rolls his eyes. “We never believed that you and Dad were really in love. You didn’t fool us.” Hayden and Payton both nod in agreement.

Tears well in my eyes again. I whisper, “I’m so sorry.”

Trevor shrugs. “It’s okay. We’re just happy that maybe you’re finding your way now.”

He stands. “While we do love spending quality time with you, I think you have somewhere else you need to be right now.”

They tell me to just go and that they’ll clean everything up. I hug and kiss them all goodbye.

I head over to Declan’s apartment at around noon. He answers the door looking miserable, in nothing but boxer briefs and an opened button-down shirt. He looks like he didn’t sleep either.

He doesn’t say anything. He just opens the door wider for me to come through, which I do.

Once he closes the door, I look at him. “Declan, I’m sorry if my buying the clothes for Jade upset you. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was excited to take her shopping and got carried away.”

He slowly nods. “I want to pay you back.”

“Okay. If that will make you happy. Fine, you can pay me back.” I take a breath. “I missed you last night.”

I try to touch him but he pulls away. I sigh.

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