Chapter 6 #2
“That was fun!” Kai said. “Can we do it again?” I watched the two of them, marveling at Jasper’s sense of play and order, Kai’s eagerness to assist.
“Sure!” Jasper grinned.
“I won’t be long,” I said, schooling my face into a more neutral expression. Kai had no concept of time, and Jasper was a busy man. I didn’t want to encroach on his space—or his schedule—any more than we already had.
And honestly, I needed to get out of his apartment.
It felt too personal, too intimate, being in his space.
I was about to exit the bedroom when I heard Kai shout, “Sick! That bathtub is as big as a swimming pool!” Unable to resist looking, I cringed as Kai hopped into the tub. “You could have a party in here!”
“You could,” Jasper answered Kai, but he was looking at me. His eyes were hooded, and I knew he was imagining the last time we’d taken a bath together.
Great. And now, so was I.
My cheeks heated, and I spun away. I’d said we needed to keep things professional, and yet here I was. A few days in and more than a few lines crossed.
“Thanks again for coming to help me,” Jasper said to my back. “I know you have a lot on your plate, and this is outside the normal scope of your duties. I’ll make sure you’re compensated for your time.”
“That’s not necessary.” When he opened his mouth as if to protest, I said, “I’m serious. I don’t want or expect anything in return.”
“Maybe that’s the problem.” He held my gaze, and I sensed there was so much more loaded into those four words than what he was saying.
Slowly, I opened my eyes, feeling as if it was…
late. I sensed it was still the weekend, but I was adjusting to a new time zone, and the first week of work at the LA office had been intense.
Plus, I’d stayed up way too late last night, scrolling through Dimitri’s art catalogue as I put together a plan for Jasper’s home.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so invigorated.
Now, I just felt tired. But something about the way the light filtered through the curtains of my bedroom made me wonder just how late it was.
I blinked my eyes open, and Kai was standing beside me, peering down at me. Blink. Blink.
“Jesus.” I startled, placing a hand to my chest. “What are you doing, Kai? You scared me.”
I was definitely awake now. My heart was racing. So much for a relaxing Sunday morning.
“I’m hungry.”
“Okay.” I stretched, trying to calm myself. “Give me just a minute, and then I’ll come make breakfast. Do you want to cuddle first?”
He shook his head. “I’m sooo hungry.”
I yawned and rolled to my side, clutching my pillow to my chest, still not eager to get out of bed. “How long have you been up?”
“I think the clock said six-one-two. I was working on my new Hulkbuster. Come see!” He bounced on his toes, full of energy.
6:12? Jeez. He was going to be a mess later.
“What time is it now?” I massaged my temples.
He picked up my phone, and I squinted against the bright screen. I held up my hand to shield my eyes, and he said, “Seven three nine. Oh look! There’s a new message from Dad.”
“Seven thirty-nine,” I said, taking the phone from him.
Kai was learning how to read, and I didn’t want him to see what Craig had sent. Not until I’d screened the contents of the message first.
Kai pouted, and I knew he missed his dad. “But I wanted to read his message.”
I opened Craig’s message. It was too damn early for this. But Craig was Kai’s dad, and I was glad to see him making the effort. Hell, if our roles were reversed, I’d be trying to call Kai every day. Probably multiple times a day.
Craig: Is now a good time to video chat with Kai?
I wasn’t sure there’d be a better time. We needed to run some errands. Get some things ready for the week ahead. And hopefully do something fun together. I didn’t want all of Kai’s memories with me to be of me working or us doing chores.
Me: Yes. Call anytime.
Almost immediately, the phone started buzzing in my hand. Jeez. That was fast.
I handed it to Kai; he could answer it. His dad was calling to speak to him, not me. And I needed some coffee before I dealt with anything, let alone my ex.
“Hi, Dad!” Kai waved at the screen, a big smile on his face.
“Mate. How are you? Have you been working on the Hulkbuster I sent you?” Craig asked. Because, to him, being a good parent meant spoiling your son. Though, at least he’d asked to chat with Kai without any prompting on my part. That was something.
“Yeah.” Kai hopped up. “Want to see?”
“Of course,” Craig said, and I let out a breath of relief when Kai took my phone—and Craig—down the hall to see it.
I pushed out of bed with a groan. I gathered my hair and twisted it up in a clip before padding out to the living room. Kai was sitting on the floor, with the pieces laid out on the coffee table before him. My phone rested against the box so he and Craig could talk while he assembled it.
I couldn’t believe he’d spent almost an hour on it. I supposed I should be grateful to Craig for the extra sleep. As if he’d really had anything to do with it.
I went to the kitchen and started gathering the supplies for chocolate chip pancakes, keeping one ear on the conversation between Kai and Craig. Craig was asking him about LA and the things he’d done. The kids he’d met. Kai gushed about Jasper, and then Kai gave him a tour of our accommodations.
When Kai made it to the kitchen, he held up the camera so I filled the screen. “Say hi, Mum!”
I waved, forcing a tight smile. All the while, I tried not to let my annoyance show. It wasn’t Kai’s fault that he was excited to show off our current living space. I just didn’t know why I needed to be part of the tour.
“Hi, Hal. Nice place,” Craig said, the nickname grating on me. “Think there’s room for me?”
Kai was so excited he nearly dropped the phone. “Are you coming to visit?”
I narrowed my eyes at Craig. What was he up to? “Can I please have the phone?” I said to my son, taking it before either of them could discuss it further. Kai pouted, but I ignored it. “I’ll be right back,” I said to Kai. “See how much you can get done on the Hulkbuster while I’m gone, ’kay?”
“Okay.” Kai slunk back to his seat on the floor.
I went into my bedroom and closed the door. “What was that about?” I hissed, hoping Kai wouldn’t overhear.
“What?” Craig lifted his shoulder. He was dressed in a button-down shirt, as polished as ever, while I was fresh out of bed with messy hair.
Since I was still in my pajamas sans bra, I kept the camera angled so that he could only see from my neck up.
“I have some business in LA in a few weeks, and I thought Kai and I could celebrate his birthday early. Even if not, I want to see Kai. See both of you.”
I frowned. “I really wish you hadn’t said anything to him without talking to me first. What if something comes up or your plans change?” It wouldn’t be the first time it had happened.
“My flight is booked. I’m coming. And I was hoping I could stay with you for a few days while I’m there.”
He…what?
The fact that Craig planned to come to LA had my heart pounding. But asking to stay here… What the hell was he thinking?
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said. For my own personal sanity. “I wouldn’t want to give Kai the wrong impression.”
“I only asked so I could have more time with him.”
“I understand that,” I said, though I was doubtful. “But I think you’d be more comfortable in one of the other rooms at the Huxley Grand. And you’d still get to spend plenty of time with him. You could even have him stay with you in your room for a few nights if you’d like.”
For a minute, I didn’t think Craig was going to let it go without more of a fight. But then he said, “Fine.”
I made a note to myself to book him a room, just in case he “forgot.” It wouldn’t be the first time Craig had pulled something like that—completely ignoring my wishes in favor of his own. All while playing it off as an “accident.”
I was done letting Craig—or any man—dictate my life. And how it had taken me so long to see what he was doing and to put an end to it was beyond me. I might not be ready to look for love, but I could certainly show my son what it meant to love and respect yourself.