Page 37 of Who We Are

Okay, it’s not the same without Tristan, but I will not tell her that.

“You did?” She arches a perfectly delineated eyebrow. “What was Mase doing?”

“Well, I changed Grace’s diaper while he got the baby bottle ready.”

Ainsley nods a couple times as if she understands and then spins around, walking toward the door. “Come on, Matthew. Let’s get you breakfast. I guess you worked for it.”

“Since we’re in such a great mood, can I borrow your computer to do some of that… work?”

“Is that how you go to work at the office? I doubt the suits would approve,” she huffs, spinning her body around and giving me that inquisitive gaze. “When are you going back to La La Land?”

“Next week. I decided to change my schedule and travel every other week. Unless the people at the company start bitching about my absence. It all depends…” I trail off, not wanting to add that the suits might take the opportunity to kick me out and take over.

“Depends?” She sighs dramatically. “I don’t like that word.”

I don’t like it either. If I could change things, I’d move the entire company to Seattle—or Vancouver. My leverage to skip my usual trip is to keep an eye on the record company, Ainsley’s music academy, and… well, everyone’s business—literally.

“For the next three months, you’ll see me around more. I’ll be helping you too.”

I don’t tell her about my conversation with Mason. He brought to my attention that Ainsley is overworking herself—during her sabbatical.

Ainsley twists her mouth, but before I let her speak and give me the speech that she’s invincible, I say, “You have to figure out your blood sugar levels, Ainsley, and you have a kid to care for. My princess needs her mama, so you must step back and take it easy.”

She has type 1 diabetes. She knew how to control her sugar levels until she got pregnant. Now it’s all about recovering while nurturing her baby daughter.

“You need a life, Matthew. Your own little family. A wife or a husband,” she says, giving me a hug and not discussing my little hiccup with Tristan.

Thank fuck she listened this time. I would hate to argue about my sex life with her.

“Get rid of that emotional constipation and stop trying to dip that spoon into so many ice creams. Focus on one thing. But thank you for taking care of me. I love you so much for that.”

“Ice creams? I don’t eat ice cream. That’s your sister-in-law, the one who would shoot her own husband for a pint of rocky road.”

“No, but she’ll do it for an entire Ben and Jerry’s truck.” She laughs, pulls me out of the room, and takes me to the kitchen.

It’s good to have someone to pamper me sometimes. No one is better than my sister for that shit. “Meanwhile, we can talk about organizing your life. Help you settle down.”

Oh please, no. I’m going to become her new fucking project.

Damn it.

ChapterTwenty-Four

Thea

I’m usually a morning person,but shit, today I can’t.

This is already a hideous Monday. I immediately remind myself that bad energies are what make my day shitty. That and the big headache I have today. Going to bed at three in the morning wasn’t a great idea.

I blame Matthew Decker and his oh-so-awesome conversational skills.

Take a deep breath and let the rest go, Thea.

Good karma, positive thoughts.

I clear my thoughts, pushing away all the negativity, and I begin with my morning routine.

First order of the day, counting last night’s tips. My lips pull into a smile when I find four hundred-dollar bills and a napkin.

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