Page 108 of Toxic Temptation
“What did you do?” he asked me last night, those big gray eyes full of accusation.
“Nothing.”
The look he gave me dripped with suspicion. “If you say sorry, maybe everyone will stop being mad at you.”
“Who’s mad at me?”
He bit his lip, shrugged, and walked away without another word. Eight years old and already mastering the art of making me feel like shit. In his defense, he has good teachers.
How the hell did I become the villain here? All I did was set boundaries. Stick to our agreement. Try to protect him from getting attached to people who won’t be in his life forever.
So what if everyone thinks I’m the bad guy? I’ve never had a problem with that before.
The fact that I care now? That’s the real problem.
“Is Vesper gonna be here soon?” Luka bounces into my office, backpack already slung over his shoulder.
“She should be. Come on, let’s head outside.”
We walk out to the circular drive just as Vesper’s Toyota pulls up. Waylen’s already there, leaning through her open window like they’re sharing state secrets.
The sight of them with their heads together makes my jaw clench.
Vesper spots us first. She touches Waylen’s arm and he straightens, clearing the path for Luka to beeline to her window.
“I’m so glad to see you!” Luka bounces on his toes. “You haven’t been around at all lately.”
My sentiments exactly. But when I say it, I’m demanding and controlling. When the kid says it, it’s adorable. Double fucking standard if I’ve ever seen one.
“I’m here now, aren’t I?” She keeps her eyes on Luka, carefully avoiding so much as a single glance in my direction. “And we’re going to spend the whole evening together, just you and me.”
“Why can’t you spend the night here with us?” Luka presses.
“I’m swamped at work these days. It makes more sense for me to stay at my apartment.”
“Then maybe Uncle Kovan and I can come spend the night with you again?”
He glances back at me hopefully, and I have to look away. The kid wants us to be a family so badly it’s written all over his face.
“I won’t even be home tonight, Luka,” Vesper says quickly. “I have a shift right after I drop you off.”
His shoulders slump. “Aww.”
“Hey, don’t be sad. We have a full evening of fun ahead of us. And guess where we’re going?”
“Ice cream?”
“Sure… if you don’t mind getting it at the science museum cafeteria.”
Luka practically levitates. “Really?! We’re going there now?”
“It’s time you experienced the science museum the way it’s meant to be experienced: with crowds and chaos and kids running everywhere.”
He snatches his backpack from my hands, suddenly forgetting all about convincing Vesper to stay here with us. “Let’s go!”
Waylen opens the back door and Luka scrambles in, forgetting all about me the second dinosaurs enter the equation.
Traitor.
