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I’m so tired that when I head downstairs on Saturday morning, I find that I’m the last one up. Theo and Violet are already in the family room and she’s helping him with a puzzle. Since today is my day off, I’d planned to spend it with Theo. I love playing football, but I hate when the schedule doesn’t allow me a lot of time to see my son.
“Morning.”
“Morning,” Violet says and spares me a quick glance.
“Hi, Daddy. Look, I’m almost done with this puzzle.”
I step over to the coffee table where they’re working and see that it’s a puzzle with a picture of a bunch of Lego characters. I don’t recognize it, so I assume Violet must have picked it up at some point.
“Good job, buddy.” I ruffle his hair and smile at him, then I turn my attention to Violet. “Sorry I’m up late.”
“No apology necessary.”
“Yeah, but it’s your day off.” I cringe and push my hand through my hair.
“It’s not a big deal. I don’t have plans until later, and I wouldn’t be up and out of the house by now anyway.”
“Okay, well, I’ll still make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
She waves me off, then looks down at the puzzle and does a little clap when she sees that Theo has finished it. “Excellent job! That only took you”—she pulls her phone from her back pocket and looks at it—“ten minutes and thirty-seven seconds.”
Theo’s head whips in my direction. “Wanna try and beat me, Dad?”
“How about you let me grab some breakfast first? I got a text from your aunt and uncle and they’re planning to swing by to hang out with you in a little bit.”
Since Evan and Bianca are about to head off to school on the other side of the country, they want to spend time with him before they leave.
“Yay! I can show them the Lego set we finished this week.”
“Do you mind if I go grab something to eat?” I ask Violet.
“Go. It’s my turn to try to beat Theo’s time.” She rubs her hands together as if she’s a villain, which is almost laughable since she’s the kindest, most patient woman I’ve ever met. She’s also the sexiest, but according to her, I’m not supposed to notice that.
I head into the kitchen and fix myself some oatmeal, then at Violet’s insistence, I go upstairs and have a shower and change. When I come back down, I can tell the twins have arrived just from the decibel level of the TV.
Evan must’ve turned on some video game for him and Theo to play because that annoying music that plays on a loop on all those children’s games rings out through the house.
I walk into the family room and am surprised to find Violet still there. I figured once my siblings arrived, she would’ve headed off to do her own thing. But I immediately figure out why she stayed, and it has me clenching my hands at my sides.
“So, what do you do for fun, Violet?” Evan is sidled up beside her on the couch while Bianca and Theo are playing the video game.
Violet shrugs, seemingly unaware that my brother is trying to chat her up. “Yoga, hang out with friends. I enjoy hiking on some of the trails around here.”
“Maybe we should try yoga together sometime. I’ll bet that kinda thing makes you really flexible, right?” He arches an eyebrow.
I clear my throat to make my presence known. “Leave her alone, Evan.” I grab the remote from the coffee table and turn down the volume on the TV.
My brother raises his hands in front of him. “What? I’ve heard yoga is really good for the body.”
Bianca scoffs and shakes her head. “Yeah, right.”
“Besides the fact that I’m pretty sure Violet isn’t looking to date a college kid, she works for me, which makes it inappropriate. Leave her alone.” My voice is stern, and I’m surprised I don’t burst into flames from the hypocrisy of that statement.
A quick glance at Violet has her avoiding my gaze, but her cheeks pinken.
“I don’t mind an older woman.” He leans into Violet’s side.
“All right, that’s it. Get up.” I walk over to stand by Evan’s side and motion for him to get off the couch.
