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“Keep him away from my daughter,” Zoe huffs before going back to the door. She steps in and straightens her clothes, going back to the kids like nothing happened.
Valen returns, looking awkward as hell, but the tension leaves the moment Valarian spots him and jumps up off the floor.
“Dad!” he squeals, rushing over. Valen catches him and picks him up, kissing his cheek and hugging him tightly. “I missed you,” Valarian gushes, squeezing tight.
“I missed you too,” Valen tells him before setting him on his feet. Zoe watches them, and I notice Casey does, too, before looking up at her mother and snuggling against her. It must be hard seeing Valarian with his father. Casey sees hers, but usually only for five minutes when he stops in randomly before telling her some lie about needing to go to work. Yet, she hasn’t seen him since Officer Richards found out.
“Are you staying for dinner?” Valerian asks. “One of the chefs sent up stuffed peppers; you’ll like those.”
“There’s plenty there. She always sends up too much,” Zoe says. Having calmed down, her eyes dart to Valen’s neck, and she raises an eyebrow at me before smiling. Of course, and she would be happy. I look at her just as Valen speaks.
“I was hoping to stay the night. Tatum is playing secretary in your lobby, and since Marcus is definitely off the table now…” Valen says, looking at me.
“You can stay for dinner, but we don’t need a guard,” I tell him.
“Please, Mom? He can sleep in my bed; I’ll share with him,” Valarian whines.
“That’s not necessary, Val. We have a couch, but your father has…” I stop, knowing he already admitted to wanting to stay, proving he has nothing better to do.
“One night, andonlyone, Valarian,” I tell him before also looking at his father so he knows not to ask for a second night.
“Ah, see? I get to stay for the night,” Valen tells him as Valarian tugs on his hand, dragging him towards his puzzle.
ChapterForty-Eight
It feels strange having Valen under my roof. Awkward. Everything I usually do for Valarian, he suddenly asked his dad to do, like cut up his food. I’m suddenly no longer needed; he asked for his father when it was his bath time. Most of my evening was spent twiddling my thumbs, since I only had to heat dinner up. Yet, Valen never once complained and actually seemed to enjoy his son’s constant attention. I dread when he eventually leaves, knowing it will make my bond ache, so I know I’ll be taking my pills that are hidden in the cupboard. Hopefully, I can sneak them past Zoe.
Even as I went to put Valarian to bed, he asked if his father could tuck him in. I know it was childish, but nights were the only time I got to spend with him, really, so it bothered me more than it should. I’m so used to juggling things between Zoe and me that it feels unnatural having someone willingly helping us, ruining our usual routine. I suddenly have time on my hands, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Once Valarian was tucked in bed, Valen returned to the living room. He scratched the back of his neck before looking at the empty spot beside me on the couch.
I roll my eyes before moving over. He smiles, coming to sit next to me and draping his arm across the back of it.
“Finally, Casey is down for the night,” Zoe says, coming out in her pajamas while braiding her hair. I’ve always been envious of how she can do that. I had tried and ended up only making a knotted mess, yet she does it so effortlessly.
Zoe comes over and sits down on one of the kids’ bean bags, the bag almost swallowing her petite frame as she sinks in it.
“I’m so damn tired,” she yawns, covering her mouth with her hand. “Ugh, and tomorrow will be worse. We’re down three staff in the kitchens, one in the children's’ playgroup, two waitresses, and have a full house,” Zoe sighs.
“Emily must also have the bug. She never showed up for work tonight,” I tell her, getting up off the couch and walking over to the bookcase for my folder.
“I already checked the rosters for tomorrow,” Zoe tells me. I sat back down with the folder, going to the events calendar.
“I know. We’ll have to manage. I can work the lunch and night rush if you can handle the kids in the morning.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll wake you at eleven. If we’re still down the next day, we can swap. Macey already pulled doubles two days in a row,” she says, and I nod.
Zoe glances at the planner. “What are you looking for?”
“We need to find a date to move the Alpha meeting forward,” I tell her, but the earliest date I can make work would be one week earlier, so instead of three weeks, it would be two.
“The 12th?” I ask him, and he looks over my shoulder, flicking through the pages before scrubbing his hand down his face.
“What’s wrong with this coming Friday?” he asks, looking at the empty slot.
“That’s six days away, it wouldn’t be enough notice. And I am not sure if I can get supplies in early enough,” I tell him.
“Get in what you can. The rest I’ll organize from one of my hotels and have it sent over. You still want to announce it, right?”
