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The living room was where we entertained. In the summer, we’d open up the glass alcove to turn the pool into an outdoor area for barbecues and such. The den…was where we watched TV. In sweats.
Penelope sank down in KC’s lounge chair with a sigh, and I opted for the couch that was practically Cam’s and mine.
“So should I remind you that my mom died because she wouldn’t stop working too hard?”
There it was.
“I remember the story, dear.” I set my coffee on the table. “You probably can’t tell me anything I haven’t heard these past couple of days—or anything I haven’t thought of. I know I overestimated my capabilities. I almost lost Cam in the process.”
Penelope hummed. “KC gave me the rundown yesterday. But Cam’s here now, isn’t he?”
I nodded. “He came home last night.”
“Good.” She offered a firm little nod. “You belong together.”
Sweet of her to say, but I was bracing myself for her usual bluntness.
She didn’t seem to be in any rush, though. She prioritized coffee—and looking at the photos on the walls.
My God, she could be frustrating.
“I think one of the things workaholics forget is that people need them.” And now she began, all while glancing at the photos. “I may have been an adult when my mom died, but she left a big void behind. My dad and I don’t have the same relationship we used to, because Mom was the glue.” She set down her mug too. “I’m not saying you’re the glue in your foursome—you all are. And if one goes, everything falls apart. So…when you get started on your recovery, Lucian, I want you to think about them.” She nodded at one of the many pictures of us together. “You’re a vital part of what the four of you have created.”
She knew exactly where to strike.
Cam’s words came back to me.
“If you’re not okay, we’re not okay.”
“You’re also part of a community that wouldn’t look the same without you,” she went on. “We’ve grown up together in a way—we went through our thirties together, when we were finding our way in kink and figuring out how to become adults. Well, you seem to have figured it out. I’m getting there. I think.”
My mouth twitched with mirth, but then I heard a snee—scratch that. Cam was having a sneeze attack. Two, three, four…
Penelope heard it too, so I didn’t need to explain myself.
“Excuse me one moment.” I got up and aimed for the living room, and I noticed Penelope coming with me. Fair enough. She wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to push Noa’s buttons.
In the living room, I slid open the glass doors some more and spotted Cam by the steps in the pool.
“I don’t like the sound of that, darling.” I grabbed one of the towels from a lounger and walked over to him. “Which of Master Greer’s kids do we blame?”
“Who knows,” he chuckled tiredly. “No one was sick that I could tell.”
Yes, well. Children were known to carry all kinds of germs.
“Hello, Mistress Penelope!” Noa waved from the pool and put on his polite face. “How do you do?”
“It looks like I can’t catch a break if you’re gonna be all sweet,” Penelope drawled. “First, Macklin begs me to go easy on Lucian?—”
“I do adore that boy,” I said, enveloping my boy in a towel. “Let’s listen to Macklin more.”
KC grinned, out of breath, busy doing his laps. His arm strength was incredible, and I was even impressed by what he put his legs through. Like when he jogged in the water with weights around his ankles.
“And now Noa’s being a sweetheart,” Penelope finished. “What’s a sadistic girl to do?”
“Be nice to us?” Noa supplied helpfully. “Personally, I would never ever tease you. I’m a good boy.”
Good lord.
