Page 27 of Bully

I used her hand to lift her from her seat and put her on my lap. Cupping her chin, I kissed her tenderly.

“Did I tell you I love you today?”

She smiled and nodded. “Yes, but you can tell me again.”

After kissing her quickly yet sweetly, I told her, “I love you.”

Innvy wrapped her arms around my neck. “Mm… I love you too.”

* * *

Back Home

The momentInnvy’s arms wrapped around me from behind, I felt peace. I felt secure. I felt like I was home. That’s what she’d always been to me. That’s what we’d been to each other. Home. From our first night together, there had always been this inexplicable connection between us. We never felt like strangers—always felt like soul mates. And after our crazy return home, her embrace was exactly what I needed.

We underestimated baby girl’s attachment to us—especially Innvy. We assumed since she’d be with people that she was familiar with that Innah wouldn’t miss us too bad. While she was her normal self while we were gone, as soon as she saw us, she had afit. Baby girl wailed, hard and loud, in Innvy’s arms for like an hour straight. And it wasn’t a normal cry; it was an angry cry. She didnotwant to let Innvy go. She literally clung to her, and that made me feel like shit.

We didn’t even leave my parents’ home immediately because we couldn’t tear them away from each other. After a little over an hour, Innah finally settled down. We headed home, and by that point, she wanted me. Her little eyes rolled and fists were balled as I apologized for staying away so long. Eventually, she went from just sitting in my lap with my shirt balled in her fist to actually babbling and interacting with me like she normally did.

Innvy and I did her food and nighttime routine together. After I read her a few books and put her to sleep, I went to my bedroom to shower. I wasn’t sure where Innvy had been… more than likely in the theater or game room.

As she moaned, she brushed her nose against my back then kissed it. “You always smell so good,” she complimented.

“Mm.” I turned to wrap my arms around her and face her. After giving her a kiss, I told her, “And you always look and taste good,” before kissing her again.

Innvy released a content sigh as she kissed me back. My hands lowered to her ass, and I pulled her close.

“Sweetheart, we can’teverdo that again,” I said sadly against her lips.

“I know,” she agreed, exhaling a shaky breath. “Not like that at least.”

Hand in hand, we walked over to my bed and climbed in. “I thought she’d be okay since she was with her grandparents. Princess was really mad at us. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a baby that mad.”

“I wonder where she gets her temper from,” Innvy teased, getting comfortable on my chest. “But seriously, I wasn’t expecting that either. She has a thing about strangers and doesn’t want to be away from me when they are around, but I didn’t think she’d respond to our absence like that.”

“So… next time we take a trip, we have to bring her,” I decided, lifting her hand to kiss. “Maybe we can find a travel nanny or pay one of our mothers to do it. That way when we want alone time, they can have her and we can focus on each other.”

“I like that idea, because we definitely can’t stay away for that long again until she’s much older. The max has proven to be a three day weekend. She can’t go any longer without seeing us right now.”

“Are you going to have a busier week?”

Innvy groaned. “Yes. I had all my appointments for the last few days pushed back, so I’ll be working closer to fourteen to sixteen hours instead of my usual ten to twelve.”

Kissing the top of her head, I carefully considered my words. I didn’t want to make it seem like I wanted to come back home and change things for her, but her long days weren’t going to work.

“I’m going to say something, and I want you to hear exactly what I’m saying. Don’t add to it or take away,” I warned.

“Uh oh.” Her grip around me tightened, causing me to chuckle. “Okay. What is it?”

“I’m proud of the success you’ve achieved, but when you launch your skincare line, won’t you be even busier come this fall? Your days are already packed, Innvy. I’ll be starting back up with my responsibilities soon, but I don’t want to feel like I never see you and Princess. Is it possible for you to work less hours and we align our schedules so we work at the same time? When I get done with mentoring and the stores, I want my girls.”

Innvy sat up and leaned against the headboard, so I did the same.

“Admittedly, I started working such long hours because I was avoiding home. Avoiding not having you. All I did was work and have the baby, with an occasional pop out on the weekend when Neo and the guys forced me. Work is my passion, but it’s also been a distraction. I can cut back some now.”

Pushing her hair off her shoulder, I kissed it. “I’m sor—”

“Mm mm,” she interrupted before giving me a quick kiss. “Stop apologizing. That was my choice on how to handle your absence. While I don’t regret it, I knew it wasn’t the best.”

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