Page 35 of Mr. Almost

Ari lunges for him as he steps inside the apartment.Mason catches her, pulling her in for a hug while he buries his face into her neck, making her giggle.

“Daddy, that tickles!”

“Sorry, baby, now I have a question for you and Mommy.”

“What’s the question?” Ari asks.

Mason looks over at me and smirks. “I was wondering if you and Mommy would like to go on a date with me today.”

I suck in a breath.

Ari looks at me. “What’s a date?”

“A date is when you take someone you like out and go do something,” Mason tells her while still looking at me.

“You want to take me on a date? I’ve never been on one before,” she tells him earnestly.

He squeezes her tight. “Well, then today will be your first if Mommy says it’s okay.”

“What were you thinking?” I ask.

“Well, I was thinking the zoo, but it looks like it could rain, so I thought we could try the aquarium instead.”

Ari taps his shoulder, getting his attention. “What’s an aquarium?”

“It’s like the zoo, but for animals that live in water,” he tells her.

Her eyes light up, and she looks at me, clapping her hands together. “Can we, Mommy, please?”

“Yeah, can we, Mommy, please?” Mason teases.

I nod, keeping a straight face. “As long as you two promise to behave.”

Mason sets Ari down. “Go get your shoes.”

“I’m so excited, I’m going on a date!” Ari yells as she runs down the hall.

I turn and walk into the kitchen to grab a water bottle and snacks to put in my bag. That way we won’t have to buy anything while we’re out. Places like the aquarium are expensive, and I just can’t justify the cost. Not yet.

I feel Mason step up behind me, and my breath catches as he brushes my hair away from my neck.

“I’ll be as good or as bad as you want,” he murmurs before pressing a kiss to the shell of my ear.

I squeeze my eyes shut and force myself not to sway into him. “Behave.”

Mason chuckles, sending chills down my spine.

“Ready!” Ari says loudly as she comes rushing down the hall.

“No running,” I say breathlessly.

Fuck. Why does he have that effect on me?

“You ready, Mommy?” Mason asks.

“Please stop,” I beg.

“Fine, for now.” He winks.

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