Chapter 22
This felt like the longest fucking two weeks of my life.
But I was done. With Siren House. With Gianna. With all that extracurricular shit. I had to focus on what mattered. My money and most importantly…my family. And right now, that meant sitting at this table, watching my wife laugh at something Ava said.
I leaned back slightly in my chair, swirling the bourbon in my glass as I studied them.
Eva looked good tonight. Soft. Relaxed. That tension she’d been carrying the past few weeks had eased just a little.
The kids were loud, talking over each other, arguing about something per usual.
They were fierce adversaries at times but loved each other just as strongly.
Couldn't say shit wrong about them to one another.
My babies. My beautiful and devoted wife. This was my life. This was what I built. So why the fuck did it feel like I was forcing myself to sit still in it? I took a sip, letting the burn settle in my chest.
“Daddy, you're not listening,” Ava said, snapping me out of it.
I blinked, refocusing on her. “I heard you, Sweetpea,” I replied smoothly. “You said your brother cheated.”
“I didn't cheat!” he shot back.
I smirked. “Sounds like cheating to me.”
They both started talking again, louder this time. Eva laughed, shaking her head as she reached for her wine. My eyes drifted to her. Her gaze slid to mine, holding it. Watching me. Reading me. She knew me too well.
“You okay?” she asked finally, casual on the surface.
I set my glass down, leaning forward slightly. “I’m good,” I said. “Better than good, actually.”
Her brows lifted just a little. “Oh really?”
“Yeah.” I nodded once. “I’ve been thinking…”
That got her full attention. The kids quieted down a little too.
"I've been moving around too much, spreading myself thin. It’s unnecessary,” I said.
Eva’s fingers stilled around her glass. “And?” she prompted.
“We're taking a trip,” I added. “This weekend.”
The twins lit up.
“Where?!” BJ grinned.
“Are we flying?!” Ava clapped her hands.
“Can we go swimming?!” They both shouted out.
I huffed a small laugh, waving my hand. “Yeah, yeah. All of that. How does Hawaii sound?"
They started celebrating instantly, already planning outfits, and arguing over who was bringing what. I barely heard them because I was watching Eva. Her expression didn’t match theirs. She was still.
“You just decided this?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Nah. I wanted to surprise y'all."
“No heads up? No discussion?”
“It’s a good idea,” I said simply. “We need it.”
A moment passed.
She studied me, long and quiet. “We…or you need it?” she asked directly.
The insinuation was loud as hell, but I held her gaze, not flinching. “We need it, baby,” I repeated.
Her eyes searched mine. Finally, she exhaled softly and leaned back in her chair. “Okay,” she said.
But it wasn’t in agreement. Just acceptance for now. But I would take it. I reached for my glass again, taking another slow sip as the kids kept talking, the energy at the table rising again.
Everything was fine.
It had to be.
Because I was done.
I meant that.
I did.…
Didn’t I?
My jaw tightened slightly as I stared down into my glass.
Yeah.
I was done.
I had to be.