I’m tucking Finn into bed, and Christ, it feels good to be back in charge of the bedtime routine. Don’t get me wrong, Blair’s brilliant with him, and the lad adores her. But these quiet moments before he drifts off? They’ve always been ours.
“Da,” Finn says sleepily, snuggling deeper into his pillow. “Are we going to the summer festival this weekend?”
I pause, one hand still smoothing his duvet. The festival. Right. For one weekend every August, the town transforms into a bustling carnival of music, food stalls, and families everywhere you look. Last year I left Finn in Struan and Douglas’s capable hands and stayed home with Gus, a book, and a dram. Crowds, noise, forced merriment? My idea of hell.
But this year . . .
Blair’s in the granny flat right now, chatting with her parents. I know fine well she’d love the festival. The music, the community spirit, all of it.
“Aye,” I hear myself saying. “Maybe we will.”
Finn’s face lights up, even through his sleepiness. “Really? With Blair too?”
“We’ll see, lad.”
He grins and closes his eyes, satisfied. Within minutes, his breathing evens out, and I press a soft kiss to his forehead.
“Love you, Finn,” I whisper.
I’m heading downstairs when I hear the back door open and close. Blair’s call must be finished. Perfect timing. Finn’s asleep, which means I can pull her into my arms and keep her there a while. Doesn’t matter that she’s been in my bed every night for weeks. I still can’t get enough of her.
I pad through to the kitchen, where she’s at the sink, pouring a glass of water. I don’t bother with words. Just slip in behind her, hands at her hips, mouth brushing her neck.
She tilts her head back with a soft smile, giving me better access. I take the invitation, trailing my mouth along the line of her throat. My hands slide up from her hips, across her stomach, then higher, fingers brushing over the swell of her tits.
Her breath catches, but instead of leaning into me, she covers my hands with her own, stilling them. “Lachlan,” she murmurs, gentle but firm. “Wait.”
I lift my head, frowning slightly, searching her face.
“There’s something we need to talk about.” She turns in my arms so we’re face to face, her hips brushing my crotch in the process. My cock had already been thickening, and thisreallydoesn’t help, but I shove the hunger down and make myself listen.
“Aye? What is it?”
“It’s only a week until school starts back.”
I let out a low breath. “The summer’s flown by. Hard to believe.”
She watches me, waiting. When I don’t say more, she rests her palms lightly against my chest. “Which means... it’s not long until my job here ends.”
“Aye.” The word comes out rougher than I mean it to. I rub the back of my neck, stalling for time.
I’ve been avoiding this, pushing it to the back of my mind every time it tries to surface. What happens when Finn’s back at school? When Blair’s got no reason to stay?
The thought of losing her laugh in the kitchen, her daft voices at story time, her warmth in my bed... it’s like contemplating losing a limb.
“You’re wondering . . . what next?” I manage.
“Yes.” Her voice is steady, though her hands press harder against my chest. “I don’t mean to pressure you. I just... I need to know what’s coming next. For me. For us.”
Us.Such a small word, carrying so much weight.
“Aye. We do need to talk about it. But there’s something I need to do first.”
Her brow furrows, but she waits.
“You told me once that I should take Finn to Corraig. Show him where he spent his first few years. Where he, his mum, and I lived together.” The words taste heavy. “You were right. I need to do that, and I think it’s time. For him. And maybe for me too.”
I drag in a breath. “I’ve kept that door shut a long time. Before I can think about what’s next, I need to open it.”
