Page 95 of Game On

I slid out of bed and found my sweatpants, yanking them on. “I’ll get her.”

Liam was asleep, but Rosie was awake, her tiny hands grabbing onto the top of the crib. She looked like a little prisoner, trying to make a break for it. “Little miss, what you doing up?”

“Want Mommy!”

“Sleeping,” I lied. “Just like you should be.”

“Mommy!”

But I picked her up anyway because I couldn’t help myself. I took her over to the changing table to check her diaper, but she was all good, and then I set her back down into her crib. I hummed the Dragonspire theme song to her while I took her Bruiser plushie and danced it around her tiny body. She giggled, and by the time I was done, her eyes had drifted shut, and she was back to sleep.

I shut the door behind me and realized we’d never turned off our consoles. I powered them down and turned off the TVs before going into my bedroom.

Lily was washing up at the sink in my bathroom. She had changed into a pair of Space Invaders pajamas pants and a matching top. She was such a little nerdy gamer girl, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

I leaned against the doorway while she brushed her teeth and smiled at me through the mirror. Her toiletry bag was strewn across the sink, and I liked the signs of her in my condo.

“Did she go back to sleep?” she asked.

“All good.”

“I heard you singing to her. Thank you, I could have gotten her. Did Liam wake up?”

I shook my head. “Nope. Must be luck. He’s been fighting me on everything. I hate that I have a long road trip next week.”

Her mouth formed an ‘o’ and it was like a light switch went off in her head. “Ooh. That’s why. He’s having trouble with you leaving, right?”

I nodded.

“He’s having separation anxiety, so he’s acting out.”

I sighed. “Your sister said the same thing.”

“We’re right.”

“I have the day off tomorrow. I was gonna take him ice skating again. He’s been begging me for weeks.”

“That sounds fun. He just needs attention from you. Believe me, I get it. You work your fingers to the bone to provide for that little life, but you have to be there for him too.”

She wasn’t talking about me. From the way her face contorted into a frown, she spoke from experience. Veronica let it slip that Lily wasn’t getting any child support from her ex. Lily was working so hard, but she needed all the help she could get. I understood that more than anyone.

I grabbed my toothbrush and brushed my teeth while she walked over toward the bed. We chatted while I washed up like it was a normal night for us. I offered a night in because I knew it was easier with the kids, but it felt almost like the four of us were our own little family tonight.

I slid into bed beside her, killing the lights, and brought the comforter over top of us. “You should come.”

“Hmm?” she muttered, half-asleep.

“Tomorrow. To the rink with me and Liam. Probably too early to get Rosie on skates, but I can skate her around the rink.”

She opened her eyes and looked like she was considering it.

“Unless you have to work.”

“I do, but…” She trailed off. “I can shift around my hours. I want to spend time with you before your next road trip.”

My heart felt full at her words. Like she’d missed me as much as I missed her.

“Good. I want that, too. This is a week-long stretch. I want to spend as much time with Liam as I can before I go.”