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“I’m going to get dinner out of the oven.”
While Banks showered both boys with attention, I worked quickly to get dinner on the table. Five minuteslater, the three of us were sitting down to eat while Henry had his dinner, too.
“How was work?” I asked.
“Good, I guess. Things are a little hectic for Blaze, so I’m doing what I can to help him out. How was the park?”
My eyes slid to Rhys. “He’s loving the slide right now, and it terrifies me.”
“I suspect these things aren’t going to get easier the older he gets.”
No. No, they weren’t. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t looking forward to every ounce of stress I knew I’d be feeling as Rhys continued to grow and try new things. The breath holding and clenched jaw I’d had in the living room only minutes earlier was just the beginning. Of that, I was certain.
“Speaking of him getting older,” I started. “I wanted to let you know that I’ve come up with a couple of ideas for favors.”
“Favors?”
“For Rhys’s first birthday party, Banks. What else would I be talking about?”
He shook his head, his lips twitching. “Doesn’t it seem excessive?”
I didn’t want Banks thinking I was trying to make him do things that were unnecessary. “It’s customary to do, but if you’d rather not, I can just cross them off the list. He’s your son, Banks, so whatever you decide you want is what we’ll do. I’m just trying my best to help make sure you don’t feel overwhelmed with everything by waiting until the last minute. I want Rhys to have a nice party, however you want that to happen.”
Banks tipped his head to the side, quietly assessing me.
“What’s that look for?” I asked.
He shook his head, dismissing whatever thoughts he had running through his mind. “Nothing. What did you have in mind for the favors?”
I didn’t like that he wasn’t sharing whatever he’d been thinking. Even still, I decided not to press him on it. “It’s okay if you don’t want them. Really. Besides, most of the people that are being invited are adults anyway.”
“I want the favors,” he insisted.
After taking a moment to study him, to discern if he was being honest, I went on to tell him about the favors. Of course, it led to an entire discussion about the party, more than one dinner conversation could handle. But in the end, we got enough worked out that I’d have plenty to keep me busy for the next couple of days.
Following some play time together after dinner, Banks continued with the tradition of handling Rhys’s bath time. I used that time to clean up from dinner and take some time to myself to shower and get ready for a quiet night with my man.
Though I loved having some time to myself, the truth was that I found I didn’t need much of it. Maybe it was because I’d experienced being alone for so many months with the dreadful thought in my mind that it would always be that way.
I didn’t know.
What I did know was I adored my time throughout the day with Rhys, and I cherished the time the three of us, along with Henry, had when Banks got home from work. But nothing compared to how much I loved my time alone with Banks after the rest of the house was quiet and had gone to sleep.
Tonight was no different.
Banks had walked into the bedroom after putting Rhysdown not that long ago, and he immediately went into the bathroom to grab a shower. When he walked out in nothing but a towel, a smile played at my lips.
“A little presumptuous this evening, wouldn’t you say?”
He cocked a brow. “Am I, though?”
Banks clearly knew me too well already. Then again, this had sort of become our norm. We’d curl up in bed together and spend some time talking to one another before we wound up doing a fair bit of touching and kissing that ultimately led to lovemaking.
I pressed my lips together and shook my head.
His eyes danced with delight before he moved about the room, taking care of a few things. He made one final trip into the bathroom, lost the towel, and finally joined me in the bed.
After we were tucked close to one another and had shared a few kisses, I said, “Today was a great day.”
