Chapter 0234

Jerome and I get Daniel into the house with relatively little trouble, though Daniel's loud humming of the Gilligan’s Island theme

song has me looking anxiously up the stairs. The absolute last thing I want right now is Natalia coming out of her bedroom to

scold me for getting her baby boy drunk.

“Come on, Danny,” Jerome whispers as we work our way up the stairs, the nickname making me burst into a ridiculous smile.

“Help us out a little, here,”

But Daniel patently refuses, dragging his feet and making us work for every step. I’m panting a little when we get to the top of the

stairs, which makes Jerome raise a critical eyebrow at me. “A little out of shape, Fay?”

“Hey,” I return, glaring at him. “You didn’t have to do it in heels.”

Jerome laughs a little and starts towards Daniel’s bedroom. I go with him but he stops and shakes his head at me. “I got it from

here,” he says, giving me a small smile.

“Are you sure?” I ask, unlooping Daniel’s arm from my shoulder.

“Yeah,” Jerome says, turning his head to look at his boyfriend. “Trust me. I’ve got it.”

And so I watch them go, a little jealousy curling in my belly at the intimacy between them. It just seems so simple, in this moment

— how good they are for each other, even though their situation is impossible. How well they just...fit. Despite the impossible

odds.

And suddenly, as I turn into my own room and press the door shut behind me, I want a drink. Very badly.

Because while everyone else spent the evening enjoying their wine, and then getting obliterated at the bar so they didn’t have to

feel their emotions —

I spent my night watching Natalia’s every move and then babysitting Daniel.

So now? It’s my turn.

And I know precisely where I’m going.

Smiling a little, and feeling a little dangerous, I bend down to quickly peel off my shoes, tossing them on my bed before heading

directly for the wardrobe.

I regret that move, a little bit, by the time I get up the stone steps to the door which leads to Kent’s room — mostly because my

feet are freezing. I hop from one to the other as I hesitate outside his room, suddenly wondering if this was a good idea. I mean,

should I have texted first to check and see if he was free, or even awake?

What if he’s not even there? Or - I gasp a little as I realize that he might not be alone —

What if — what if Natalia is in there — trying to seduce him —

Oh my god, what if she succeeded and I walk into...

Dying, suddenly desperate to know, I press as lightly as I can on the door, which swings open the barest crack on silent hinges.

But I scowl as I’m greeted with the sight of Kent, sitting in his bed with a book open in his lap, looking directly at me over the thick

black frame of his reading glasses.

“Seriously?” I sigh, pushing the door open and leaning against the frame. “You knew I was here?”

“Did you think you were quiet?” Kent asks with a smirk.

“Well, kinda,” I reply, rolling my eyes a little.

“Stomp, stomp, stomp, pant, gasp, sigh,” Kent says, laughing. “Don’t expect to be hired to my stealth team anytime soon, Fay.”

“Don't expect me to apply for it, Kent,”

I shoot back, narrowing my eyes

him a little. Bu penildindmyset

sfartiay\to'gtin with glee as I take a

good look at him sitting there all sexy

in his underwear, reading his book.

Please read the original content at

.

“What?” he asks, frowning, suspicious of my change in mood.

“You have reading glasses?” I ask, my smile growing wide.

Kent smirks and pushes them back

up on his nose, looking at me through

them now. “Don't tr japhanceae I

abgutateseiray, he commands, his

voice low and rough enough to make

my stomach twist with anticipation. “I

look damn good in them.” Please

read the original content at

.

“Oh,” I say, flicking my hair back over my shoulder. “I would never shame the elderly about their age-related impairments. My

daddy raised me right.”

Kent laughs at this, really laughs, a

sound that makes me stand straight

and truly smile now as he reaches

out a hand to me begkgringate

f iti Croes the room to

ent, thinking that it's a little

ridiculous and unfair, how happy it

makes me to be able to make him

laugh like that. Kent Lippert, laughing.

I may be one of only a few people to

have ever heard the sound. Please

read the original content at

.