Page 15 of Learning to Run

“I keep forgetting you haven’t always been with us.” Frowningat how rude I’d been, I poked Cash. “You tell it better.”

He snorted but snuggled close and started explaining asBates went very still. “That’s just because you jump around and end up tellingthe story in a thousand pieces that are all in the wrong order.”

Bates jerked with laughter, but we both got head kissesinstead of giggles. “You don’t have to share anything you’re not ready for.”

I’d gotten over their brand of weird a long time ago, so Ididn’t mind if Bates knew. Besides, he was our Dom, so he should know all theweird things about us.

Cash understood that too because he just shrugged and keptgoing. “Our moms were best friends growing up, like from diapers onward, andthey married their high school sweethearts. They got houses next door to eachother and continued doing everything together, including having kids at thesame time.”

“It’s honestly kind of weird.” I frowned up at Bates,interrupting Cash. “I mean, I get doing everything with Cash but they’re odd.”

Bates looked like he couldn’t decide if he wanted tosympathize or laugh. But Cash saved him from having to sort through hisemotions when he continued our epic saga. “But neither woman was reallyinterested in being a mom…Gareth’s was worse, though.”

I interrupted again, unable to help myself. “She keptforgetting me.”

Cash glared at me. “Who’s telling this?”

“You.” He was so dramatic, but he was leaving his part outso I helped. “His mom didn’t forget him, but she was more interested in doingstuff with my mom, so he was left with his dad a lot…and babysitters.”

Rolling his eyes, Cash ignored me. “His parents just keptforgetting they had a kid and mine didn’t really want one hanging around allthe time. I remember when we were in elementary school and they wanted to go onvacation. My parents sent me to visit my aunt, but his parents forgot to askanyone to take him.”

I’d ended up having to stay with the neighbors for a week.

It’d been awkward because I’d been sent over with just myschool backpack with some clothes stuffed in it.

But honestly, that’d been one of the better vacations myparents had taken.

“Some people just weren’t meant to have children.” I wasreally glad that Cash’s mom only wanted one kid, though. “But you took goodcare of me.”

He never forgot me and he’d made sure his mother remindedmine that I existed enough for me to have lunch money and stuff. So it’d allworked out in the end.

Looking up at Bates again, I jerked my head toward Cash.“He’s always been kind of bossy and dramatic. We just didn’t know it wasbecause he had a Dom side too.”

I wasn’t sure what we’d have done if we’d realized it backin high school.

I wasn’t sure what we’d have done if we’d realized a lot ofthings back in high school.

Bates let out a breath, looking slightly confused, but thatwas reasonable since it was all nuts. “I don’t know what to say but I’m gladyou had each other, and I think most Doms don’t realize what they are until abit later anyway.”

He was probably right. “Yeah, there’s so much else going onin high school like schoolwork and sports and paying bills and buying groceriesthat kids just don’t have time for domination and submission.”

Bates blinked and looked odd for a second before nodding.“You’re right. And I’m starting to understand how Cashel got to be such a goodcook.”

Cash sighed. “Yeah, I had a lot of practice.”

“I tried to help.” I made a face at Cash when he laughed. “Ido dishes very well.”

Nearly giggling, Cash gave me a quick kiss as he smiled atBates. “He’s too distracted in the kitchen. He starts making dinner and thenends up leaving it half done and making cupcakes instead and then he’ll forgetto put those in the oven and start doing laundry.”

“One time. I did that one time.” Well, I’d done that exactscenario one time. But the distracted thing happened more than once for somereason. “There are a lot of steps in cooking and you’re better at managingthings like that.”

Bates almost managed not to laugh.

When he was done snickering, he gave us both more kisses ashe smiled. “At least you didn’t set anything on fire?”

“Yeah. I’m not Brady.” I was just easily distracted.

“That’s only because he never gets to the oven turned onpart,” Cash tattled, looking happy to have thrown me under the bus. “But he’sright, he does clean very well.”

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