Page 117 of Make Me Swoon

“You needto behave for Grandma and Grandpa,” I tell my kids as I help them with their overnight bags.

Our son, Graham, and our daughter, Lila, both nod at me as they skip after each other and I sigh, knowing that they’re going to be hyper most of the night. They’ve been excited about having a sleepover at their grandparents’ house all week and I know that Atlas and Darcy are just as excited to spend time with their grandkids.

Harvey and I are headed out for dinner and a night alone for our anniversary. We’ve been married for four years and since we had our kids, we don’t get as much alone time as we’d like.

Both of our hours are crazy and we’re usually rushing in the morning to get the kids ready for preschool.

We still live next door to Rooney and Sayler, although both of us had to move to a new apartment building with bigger apartments. They had two kids too, both boys and they’re best friends with our kids.

It’s Sayler and Rooney’s anniversary today too. Sayler and I actually shared a wedding. It was Sayler’s big dream and since I never pictured my wedding, I was more than happy to let her plan it for the both of us. My only contribution was the food and liquor.

“Hey!” I greet Darcy as she opens the door for us and she grins at me.

“Hey guys! Go ahead and go in. Grandpa is setting up the living room so we can have a movie night tonight,” she informs the kids and they take off.

“Bye guys! I’ll see you tomorrow!”

They yell bye back and laugh.

“They’re very excited about tonight.”

“Oh, we are too,” Darcy promises and I smile.

Darcy and Atlas are the parents that I wish I had growing up. They are so supportive and loving and I swear I’ve never seen them argue.

“Thanks again for watching them. We’ll be back tomorrow morning with breakfast.”

“Sounds good! Have a good night, honey,” she says as I wave and head back to my car.

I still work for Max Schultz at Wild Thyme and over the last five years, I’ve turned it into one of the hottest spots to eat in all of Pittsburgh. I have a great sous chef who covers for me twice a week so that I can be home with my family. Harvey always takes the same two days off at Eye Candy Ink so that he can be home with us too and I love how into family he is.

He’s a great husband and an even better dad. He’s the one who helps them get dressed and ready for bed. He reads to them every night before bed and takes them to the park most mornings. Him and Rooney even have play dates most weekend mornings before Sayler watches them for the rest of the day.

I hurry back to the apartment and pull up just as Harvey does. He had to work today but he must have finished with his client early if he’s home already.

“You ruined my surprise!” I tell him as he comes over to open my door.

“Want me to wait in my car for a little bit?” he asks, passing me a bouquet of flowers and a box from my favorite bakery.

“Cinnamon roll cookies?” I ask him and he nods.

“And those macarons that you love.”

“You’re the perfect man,” I say with a sigh and he grins.

“I try.”

He takes my hand and I let him lead me inside and up to our apartment. I had planned on being home before him. He’d come inside and I’d be wearing that lingerie that I picked out last week. We’d end up ordering dinner later. Hopefully much later.

“Where did you want to go to dinner?” he asks as I set the flowers down on the kitchen counter.

“I’d like you to give me five minutes and then I’ll tell you.”

“Alright,” Harvey says with a confused smile on his face.

He takes the flowers from me and grabs a vase and I kiss his cheek.

“Be right back,” I promise him.

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