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“I hope that happens soon,” I said. “The more complicated things get, the more I just want to be able to live an easy, happy life with you and Noah.”
“So do I, baby,” he said, releasing my chin. “Any chance you made dinner? I thought they would have food at the meeting, but no such luck.”
“I made a casserole; it’s in the fridge. It’s an enchilada bake I found on the internet,” I said.
“Sounds amazing,” he said, leaning down to kiss the top of my head. “See you when you get out.”
I smiled up at him and nodded.
Cole walked out of the bathroom, and as I heard him go downstairs, I waded back to where I was sitting when he first came in. I examined the whistle again, turning it this way and that. The object was fairly simple but finely made, looking like he’d spent a lot of money on it.
I wondered if this whistle was used exactly for jostling someone out of a fit of rage or horniness. Had he gotten it at a sex shop? Were there sex shops for shifters? I’d never even thought of it.
Wondering if the whistle would make any sound I could hear, I lifted the instrument to my mouth and put it between my lips. I gave it a gentle little blow, but only heard my breath flowing through it.
Downstairs, I heard a plate clatter to the floor. “Fuck!” Cole shouted.
I was so startled that I tossed the whistle out of my hand. It skittered across the tile floor before landing on the bathroom rug in front of the sinks.
After a few more minutes, I heard Cole’s feet on the stairs again, and I dipped myself deeper into the bath water, covering my mouth and leaving my nose exposed so I could still breathe.
When he stuck his head in the bathroom, I was staring at him from behind the lip of the tub as if I’d been caught throwing the ball in the house.
He gave me an affectionately chastising look. “Didn’t believe me when I said it would be piercing?” he asked.
I came up out of the water enough to speak. “I wanted to see if I could hear anything that came out of it.”
“Well, now you know. So, emergencies only, please. Now I have a mess of enchilada bake to clean off the floor.”
“I’m sorry! I’ll clean it,” I said frantically.
“Easy, sweetheart, I’m just poking fun. No harm done, just wanted to give you a hard time,” he said, his playful admonishing giving way to genuine amusement. “I’m not actually upset. You’re just...” He trailed off and shook his head. “Actually, never mind.”
“I’m what?”
He huffed. “I’m getting to know you well enough now that I can sometimes predict what you’re going to do. I had a feeling you’d give the whistle a try when I handed it to you. When you didn’t, I figured I got it wrong. But you did it when I was out of the room, I’m guessing to protect my ears. And that choice is very adorably, sweetly, perfectly you. It just makes me happy when I get it right, even only half-right.”
I flushed. “Thank you,” I said. “F-for everything, not just the compliment.”
He smiled and winked. “Sure thing, sweetheart,” he said before leaving the room.
It was a relatively normal night after that, despite the anticipation of the next day. I got out of the bath and dressed in some lounging clothes: sweats and one of Cole’s T-shirts. For some reason, those clothes were the epitome of cozy comfort for me.
I went downstairs and settled on the couch next to Cole. He was talking on the phone when I curled up next to him. He pulled me in close and kissed my forehead as he spoke.
“Yeah. No, it’s been going well.” A pause. “Yeah. Wait, why isn’t he in bed yet? Ma, I told you to keep his routine as close to normal as possible. Yes, I know it’s a weekend—gah, all right, all right. Yeah, put him on.”
I grinned, amused by the bickering between him and his mom. As much as a growing boy needed his rest, I was glad Cole got to talk to Noah tonight before he went to bed. I could tell Cole was missing him from subtle comments here and there. His desire to share certain experiences we were having with his son was clear.
“Hey, buddy,” Cole said after a moment, his smile growing. “So, you convinced Nanny to let you stay up late, huh? Little Mister Charming—no, you’re not in trouble.” He paused and looked over at me. “She’s right here, you wanna say hi?”
My heart warmed, and I put out my hand for the phone. Cole handed it over to me, and I put it up to my ear.
“Hey, Noah! How have you been liking staying over at Nanny’s?”
“I love it! But I miss you and Daddy,” he said. “Gramps keeps trying to show me his coin collection, but they all look the same.”
“Ah, yeah, that can be tricky,” I said. “Noah, do you want a souvenir from Georgia?”
