AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Reagan!”
I grin. It’s quite entertaining seeing Emma this flustered. She still hasn’t sat down.
“Ilike your suit,” Caroline offers as a shy blush creeps up her cheeks. “And your tattoos.” Apparently, she’s spotted my neck tattoo, judging from the direction of her gaze.
“Kiddos!” The nanny calls from the kitchen. “Dinner’s ready.”
Emma kicks a lumpy thing under the sofa. “Go on, guys.”
Caroline’s upper lip juts out as she turns to me. “Are you coming for dinner? I don’t mind sharing.”
I smile at the selfless offer. “Thanks, Caroline, but I’ll have to come back another time.”
“Oh.” Her mouth turns down at the corners. “Okay.”
Emma comes up behind the girls and puts a hand on each of their shoulders. “Go on. I’ll be right in.”
“Auntie Em, can you help me wash my hands?”
“Reagan, you already know how to wash your hands.”
“But I wantyouto do it. You’re never home for dinner. Please? Pretty please?”
Emma’s face breaks into a tired smile. “Of course I’ll help.” She sneaks me an apologetic glance and ducks into the kitchen with both girls trailing behind her.
Josh, however, stays exactly where he is. When I get to my feet, so does he.
“The reporter agreed that he will leave you guys alone,” I remind him. “You have nothing to worry about anymore.”
Josh frowns as he sticks his hands into the pockets of his pants. They’re way too small for him. His ankles should definitely not be on display. It doesn’t take a lot to notice that as cozy as this apartment is, it’s also on the verge of crumbling.
The carpets are threadbare and stained. The upholstery is barely hanging on. The coffee table is propped up on makeshift coasters to keep it level and one wall is gradually losing a fight against an encroaching water stain. None of it can possibly be healthy for Emma or the children.
“Thank you,” he says, so quietly that I barely hear him. Josh shifts in place for a moment as his eyes drop down. He gets a steely sheen in them as he mumbles, “One day, I’m gonna be big enough to protect them myself.”
I don’t do him the indignity of smiling or talking down to him. I just nod. Solemn. Man to man. “I know you will.”
Funny enough, I actually do believe him.
He nods. Then his gaze veers to the side and he starts with surprise. I follow his eyes to find Emma standing by the doorway, tears in her eyes.
She swallows hard and clears her throat. She’s about to say something when the girls run back into the living room.
“You’re still here? Are you staying for dinner?” Caroline asks, grabbing my hand and pulling on it.
“Yeah!” the little one shouts, imitating her sister and grabbing my free hand. “Stay for dinner!”
Emma’s soft voice manages to cut through the clamor. “You can, you know. If you want.”
“Thank you, ladies, but I have a late evening meeting I need to get to.”
The girls let out a long, disappointed chorus of, “Awww.”
Emma claps her hands. “Okay, guys, let’s give Mr. Oryolov some breathing room. Come on, dinner’s gonna get cold.”
She gestures for them to come, but none of them bother looking at her. I squat down in front of the two girls. “You know how I got to be as big as I am?” I chuckle when both their heads bob excitedly. “I ate my dinner. Vegetables and all.”
Reagan scrunches up her nose. “Ew! Even the brock-lee?”
