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“Did you mean it about bringing the kids here on Saturday?”

“Yeah, but I think we’ll leave earlier, and I’ll book a hotel overnight. I feel this will be a two-day trip with those three,” I quipped, and Meadow began laughing.

“That’s probably an honest assessment,” she agreed. As we crossed the parking lot, I heard a squeal of tyres and saw a vehicle careening toward us. I shoved Meadow hard, and we both fell. I caught her and twisted, so she landed on me.

She gaped at me, wide-eyed, as the car sped by and disappeared. Several visitors came running over.

“Dude, are you okay?”

“Hey, lady, are you injured?” voices called out their concern.

“Chill?” Meadow demanded, fear in her voice.

“I’m fine. Did I hurt you?”

“No. I think I’m more shocked,” Meadow replied, scrambling up. People helped her stand as two guys hauled me to my feet.

“Anyone get the plate?” I asked.

“It was covered, sorry, man,” a guy said.

“Thanks.”

A couple handed us the bags I’d dropped, and I walked Meadow back to the car. What the hell had that been about? A random idiot driver or something more dire?

Meadow

Well, I ached again. Chill had cushioned the landing, but it had jolted my body.

I relaxed in the bath with Epsom Salts and hoped they would ease the stiffness. Damnit, today had been really good; that near miss had soured it a bit. There was always one idiot about. I wrapped up, got out of the cooling water, and climbed into bed. The kids were already down, and Cassian was studying.

A knock caused me to glance up as Chill poked his head in.

“Hurting?” he asked.

“A little. Believe it or not, Chill, you’re hard to land on,” I said, and he chuckled.

“I brought you some arnica cream and some muscle relaxant.”

“Thanks. Probably going to need that tonight. I didn’t say it, but thank you for today. I really enjoyed it.”

“Good, you deserve spoiling. But next time don’t fight me over who pays,” Chill warned, and my jaw set mulishly.

“I can pay.”

“Babe, I know. But I’ve got money. I wanted to treat you, and having to battle you constantly took some of my enjoyment away,” Chill said, as he leaned on my wall.

“Oh.” That was something I’d not considered. Gerard never spoiled me like that, so I didn’t expect Chill to. The fact I could buy whatever I wished had gone to my head.

“Hey, it’s a learning curve for us both. For example, you don’t need to work, and I don’t want you to, but you will. I want to pay for everything, but you’ll want to pay half. You won’t accept a dictatorship, so we’ll compromise. That’s how we make it work between us,” Chill said with a warm smile.

I stared at him hard.

“What?” Chill frowned.

“I’m searching for the horn. You’re a unicorn.”

“Nope, I’m a stubborn-assed man who got his head out of his ass.” Chill walked over to the bed, sat on the edge, and cupped my face with one hand.