Page 156 of Delicate Storm

“You didn’t have to do that.” I smile as Easton walks over, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“You needed it. I know you were with Isaac for at least an hour last night and you can’t have slept.”

“I lept,” Isaac announces, making me laugh.

“I dozed off here and there. It’s not a problem. It was actually nice. He doesn’t snore as much as you do.” The joke’s out of my mouth before I’ve thought about it and I gasp, mouthing a sorry as Isaac darts away to grab something.

“Why are you sorry? For teasing me?”

“No, because I shouldn’t really be talking about you and me in bed.”

“Isn’t that where Isaac found you?”

“Yes but…shouldn’t we be hiding it from him?”

“Nope.”

“Nope?”

“I had a good talk with him the other day. I told him that you might start sleeping over and that you wouldn’t be replacing his mom but that you were important to me.”

“The other day? As inbeforeyou asked me to stay over?”

“Yes.” Easton chuckles. “It was inevitable, so I wanted to make sure Isaac was okay with it.”

“And was he?”

“No, Paige. He told me he didn’t want you here but I invited you anyway.” He stares at me deadpan and I laugh.

“Okay. Geez. What did he really say?”

“He said that you’re important to him too.”

Jesus. My eyes well with tears, forcing me to frantically wipe them away. “God, sorry. I don’t know where that came from.”

Easton reaches forward and pulls my hands from my face, pressing a kiss to my fingers. “You care. That’s what that is.”

“I do. I care so much.”

Isaac chooses that moment to run back in and then metaphorically attaches himself to me for the rest of the morning, happily waving goodbye when his dad departs.

We spend the next two days together, playing at the park, swimming, and watching Easton’s game on Monday night, which is conveniently late afternoon for us. Isaac keeps me sobusy that by the time he goes to bed on day two, I’m exhausted, but also feeling more alive than ever before.

I thought I’d be nervous having to take care of another human for a few days, but he makes it easy. It feels natural.

After switching on the monitor, I text Easton to let him know Isaac’s asleep and grab my sketchbook from my bag, stretching out on the couch. I’ve just started working on the outline of a new drawing when my dad calls.

“You didn’t tell me that Christian was at the event Saturday night,” he says as soon as I answer.

“Hello to you too, Dad.”

Dad ignores my teasing and launches straight into his questioning. “Did he do anything? Say anything?”

“He was his usual annoying self, but nothing I can’t handle.”

“Okay, good.” He sighs in relief. “Sorry, I panicked. The Mikklesons have our money. The first part of the plan worked. Now we have to wait. I’m a little on edge because of it.”

“You and me both. But I’m fine.” I don’t tell him that Easton came to my rescue. It’s better to leave that part out. “How did you find out anyway?”

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