Page 103 of Exposed

Nigel clapped, splashing bubbles out the side of the tub. “Cheers, Mr. Jacob.” He grabbed the champagne glass that was sitting next to him.

Jacob lifted a cup filled with a deep amber liquid that was balancing on the edge of the tub.

I quickly grabbed it out of his hand. “What is this?” I asked.

“It’s not a snifter of cognac like I prepare for you, Master Matthew. It’s just a sparkling apple cider. Mr. Jacob is a boy. And he can’t drink that until he’s 18.”

“Not until he’s 21, you mean.” I handed the glass back to Jacob.

“I don’t think so. It’s 18 for hard liquor and 16 for wine, right? But actually, it’s all up to a parent’s discretion. Or a grandparent’s. I’ll consult Tanner to see if he’ll allow it.”

“No. Absolutely not.”

Jacob quietly sipped his glass of sparkling apple cider with his pinky out. Nigel must have taught him to do that too. And why were there so many bubbles? It seemed like there were more bubbles than water. And where had all those ducks come from? I jumped. Had one of them just flapped?

“Aw look at the two of you,” Brooklyn said. “Are you both cleaned up for dinner?”

“Sí!” Jacob yelled.

“Mr. Jacob,” Nigel said. “Use the world’s most sensual language for your gorgeous mother.”

Excuse me?

Jacob nodded. “I meant oui!”

Brooklyn laughed. “Okay, both of you out before you start to shrivel.” She wrapped a towel around Jacob’s shoulders and then did the same to Nigel.

Nigel gave her the most flirtatious smile I’d ever seen as she rubbed his shoulders with the towel.

How was Brooklyn okay with any of this?

***

“There,” I said and stuck the last star to the ceiling above Jacob’s bed.

Jacob smiled up at the stars.

“Wait, it gets better.” I jumped off the bed and hit the lights.

The stars glowed lightly.

“Wow,” Jacob said. “I can see Daddy in my room, Mommy!”

I smiled and ignored the way my chest hurt. That’s what I’d wanted. To give him the stars. I cleared my throat. “I’ll give you two a minute.”

“Wait,” Jacob said. “Can you read me my bedtime story?”

“You want me to do it?”

“Oui.”

“Let me turn the lights back on,” Brooklyn said.

“I have a better idea.” I pulled out my phone and hit the flashlight feature. I sat down next to Jacob on the bed and took the book he handed me.

“This one is my favorite.”

“It looks like a good one.” I turned to the first page and lit it up with my phone.

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