Not after what I saw.
His mouth tightens at the corners. “I was worried.”
“Were you?” My tone is casual as I head to the fridge and pull out what I need for scrambled eggs and bacon. “What time did you get in?”
Out of the corner of my eye, he flinches, startled. When I look his way, it’s to find him watching me with narrowed eyes. I give him a guileless smile, reminding myself to carry on like I usually do.
It doesn’t seem to soothe him, his jaw clenching tighter. I squeeze my fingers around the egg carton, reassuring myself that I haven’t done anything for him to be suspicious of.
He didn’t see me yesterday. Grafton didn’t introduce me to the perky intern before she skipped off to Christopher’s office.
He doesn’t know anything.
Hecan’tknow anything.
I set the eggs on the counter, shaking out my hand tohide the trembling. “Why are you wearing yesterday’s clothes?”
He looks down like he forgot what he is wearing. “Oh.”
“Christopher,” I start, voice gentle and sweet. “Are you okay? You seem”—I roll my lips inward, my eyes trailing over him pointedly—“out of sorts.”
“I’m fine,” he snaps. “Look, I was worried about you when I got in and you weren’t in bed. Next time, it would be nice if you could let me know your plans.”
I don’t even blink as I pull out the skillet and set it on the burner. “You want me to message that I’m sleeping in the guest room?”
His mouth closes with a snap. “Yes.”
I frown, tilting my head to the side. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Stop asking me that,” he grits out. He whirls away, grabbing a mug of coffee and filling it up for himself, his movements stilted. “I need to go into the office.”
“Okay,” I say agreeably. “Are you going to get changed?” I pause. “Maybe shower?”
His cheeks flush a dull red, but I pretend I don’t see, focusing on scrambling eggs. He slams his mug down on the counter, coffee sloshing over the edges, and stomps toward the door. Just before he leaves, I call his name.
“What?” he barks.
“I’m taking the kids to my mother’s place for a couple of days. She needs some help organizing a meal train for a neighbor who had hip surgery. Apparently, her children haven’t lifted a finger to help.”
His mouth works, like he’s chewing on his words. “What about school?”
“Mom’s only forty-five minutes away. I’ll still be able to drop them off as usual.” I plate up breakfast just as I hearfootsteps on the stairs, stopping any further argument from Christopher in its tracks.
A sleep-rumpled Mase appears in the doorway, heading straight for me. He wraps his arms around my waist in a quick side hug, completely ignoring his father.
“Morning, baby.” I hug him back.
He grunts, taking a seat at the island, eyes fixed on the plate I slide toward him. I look up to find Christopher gone, his steps thumping heavily on the stairs, and I bite back a smile as I tell Mase, “We’re going to Nanny’s after school today. Pack some clothes, okay?”
He blinks at me. “Why?”
I shrug. “She needs some help. I can still bring you back to Sterling Creek for school each day, and I figure while baseball is—” I break off when his expression falls. “It’s just for a couple of days,” I finish quietly.
He lowers his chin, poking at his eggs with his fork. “Is Dad coming?”
“Nope.” I pretend I don’t see the way he relaxes. “It’s just you, me, and Ginny.”
He looks up, his smile full-blown, and then he’s digging into his eggs with gusto. If anything tells me I’m doing the right thing, it’s this, right here.
