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39
EMMA
“Are you guys ready to start school next month?”
The pancakes have just hit the table, but not even the scent of butter and maple syrup can keep my stomach from twisting when Ruslan speaks up. I shoot him a glare, although he misses it because he’s looking at the three children sitting opposite us.
Reagan looks unsure. “Will my friends be there?”
Josh puts a reassuring hand on his sister’s shoulder. “It’s gonna be great, Rae. A new start. A big adventure.”
She cringes. “That’s what Aunt Em said before she took us to that scary place.”
I grimace. I’m never gonna live down that cockroach-infested motel. But before I can assure her that she’ll never have to endure a place like that again, Ruslan beats me to the punch.
“So youdon’twant to see the huge playground at your new school?”
Her eyes go round. “They’ve got a playground?”
“The biggest playground you’ve ever seen.”
He hasn’t even glanced my way. Nor has he so much as asked for my opinion. A part of me was still hoping that Horace Mann had just been an insurance policy to secure me custody of the kids. Because there’s no way he would make such an important decision without consulting me, right?
Wrong,as it turns out.
Ruslan’s gaze veers to Josh and Caroline. “There’s more, too. Basketball courts. A ballet studio.”
Say something, Emma!I yell at myself.The more he talks, the more he’s going to convince them.
But I can’t think of anything to say right now that isn’t just some variation of,What the actual hell, man? We were supposed to be a team!
Josh’s eyes are sparkling with excitement. “Can we go see it?”
Ruslan nods. “I have a tour scheduled next week. We can’t go sooner because the school has a very strict security protocol. Only scheduled visits are allowed.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Why on earth would a private school require those kinds of precautions?”
“Because only the most important people go there.”
Josh looks as thoroughly confused as I am. “Butwe’renot important.”
Ruslan puts his hand on Josh’s shoulder. “All three of you are important tome.”
Dammit.
It’s so hard to be pissed at the man when he says shit like that with those sincere amber eyes and those sexy lips. Hell, it’s hard to remember why you’re pissed at him in the first place.
But I’m determined not to let him bulldoze over me. If I start playing the doormat now, that shoots the whole “equal partner” concept to hell and I don’t want to set a bad precedent. I have to make sure my voice is heard.
Just not in front of the kids. Because they need peace and stability. Seeing your parents fight—well, whatever you’d call us, at least—is the exact opposite of that.
“I’m done with my pancakes!” Caroline declares. “Can I go play in the garden now?”
Reagan immediately starts chiming in, “Me, too. Me, too!”
The little one hasn’t finished her breakfast but I’m willing to overlook that because I need to prepare my soapbox. “Go on. Scram, you rascals.”
Once the kids have left the table, Josh trailing along after them, I turn to Ruslan, face screwed up in determination. “Can I see you in your office?”
