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“Okay,” he says quietly.

I press a kiss to the top of his head. “That’s my guy.”

***

I flop down onto my bed, skin still slightly damp from my shower, wearing nothing but a pair of boxers.

Theo went down easy tonight.

Thank. Fuck.

No tears. No second round of “I want Mama.” Just one book, one glass of water, one extra hug. I waited an extra ten minutes outside his door anyway. Old habit.

Now the house is quiet again.

I grab my phone from the nightstand. I’ve been texting Veronica off and on all day—mostly when Theo was climbing on jungle gyms or busy throwing wood chips at other kids at the park. I told her I’d FaceTime once he was asleep.

Veronica Wheelmen

Free now.

It takes less than a second for my phone to light up with her call.

“Hey! Busy day?” she asks brightly. She’s already in bed too, hair down, makeup still on.

“Yeah,” I say, pushing myself up against the headboard. “Work was nuts. And then Theo was having a hard time tonight.”

I see her eyes flick downward, lingering on my chest before snapping back up.

“Any chance I can come see you while he’s asleep?” she asks casually.

I give her a flat look.

She sighs dramatically. “Alright. I guess we’ll just have to make do with FaceTime.”

She adjusts her phone, the camera angling slightly lower.

“Yeah?” I say lightly.

“I miss you.” She pouts, dragging one strap of her tank top down her shoulder.

I smirk. “How much?”

I shift slightly, letting her get a better look at me too. If we’re playing this game, I can play.

She bites her lip, eyes fixed on the screen. “Enough that you’d forget all about your long, exhausting day.”

I huff a quiet laugh. “That so?”

“Mm-hmm.” She tilts her head. “You look good, by the way.”

“So do you.”

She shifts her camera again, sliding her tank top down enough that I get a full view of her naked breasts.

I lean back against the headboard, letting out a slow breath through my nose.

“You’re trouble,” I mutter.