A movement next to me causes me to glance across at Kingi. He’s rested his hand on the sofa cushion between us, and as I look, he turns his palm up and beckons his fingers, requesting I move toward him. Then he lifts his arm up, indicating he wants me to move next to him. His expression is kind. He’s seen my emotion, and he wants to comfort me.
I shouldn’t… I mustn’t…
But I have no willpower left to say no. I want the comfort, and I want to be close to him. So I shift along the sofa, curl up next to him, and slide my arm around his waist as he lowers his around me.
Thea looks up, sees us, smiles, and goes back to coloring.
I stay there like that for the rest of the movie. There’s something about Kingi that grounds me and brings me out of my head and back down to earth. His body is heavy and solid. I sneak my fingers beneath the hem of his tee onto his skin, enjoying the warmth, and the way he stirs and murmurs his approval. He smells amazing. Yesterday he was clean shaven, but today he has a little stubble; he’s probably going to grow his beard back again. The stubble darkens his cheek and provides a delicious masculine touch. I want to run my fingers along his jaw and feel my nails scrape on the bristles.
I could have lain there like that all night, but eventually the movie ends. “Is it okay if I give Thea a bath?” I ask Kingi.
He nods. “Use the main bathroom—there’s a big bath in there. I’ll run it for you.”
Sure enough, there’s a large sunken bath, and Thea squeals with delight when she goes in and discovers it full of bubbles. I help her get in to make sure she doesn’t slip, and I wash her hair for her, while Bearcub comes up and tries to eat the bubbles. Thea blows them onto him and then laughs as he races around with them in a big pile on his head.
Kingi sits on the carpet outside the bathroom and talks to us, and when Thea starts singing the songs fromThe Little Mermaidwhile she plays with the bubbles, he joins in, getting all the words wrong, of course. I smile, listening to them and imagining that one day my life could be something similar to this, with my own husband and child. Is that in the stars for me? And who would play the role of adoring husband?
I can’t help but continue my fantasy, and wonder what it would be like to be married to Kingi. He originally admitted he couldn’t see himself settling down, especially because of what’s happened to his parents, but since then he’s made a few comments that have suggested he’s beginning to change his mind. Maybe before that, he envisaged being marriedto someone like Sabrina—a high-maintenance girlfriend who would almost certainly make his life a misery. But perhaps now he can see the benefits of a long-term relationship with someone he truly loves. A partnership where you work together against the trials and tribulations that life throws at you. The thought of having someone at your side to love and protect you in that battle is hugely appealing.
As is the regular sex, of course.
Trying not to think about that, I hold the towel up for Thea as she gets out, find her pajamas while she dries herself, and plug in the hairdryer. I brush and dry her hair for her and braid it while Kingi asks her what she wants for a bedtime snack and gives her a few options.
We go back out into the kitchen, and Kingi prepares her choice: a slice of toast with peanut butter and a glass of milk.
While she’s eating that, Nina calls me on my phone. After a brief chat, I pass the phone to Thea, and she talks to her mum while Kingi and I go into the kitchen and unpack the clean dishes from the dishwasher.
“How is everyone?” he asks.
“Dad is doing well and apparently has a bit more color. Nina said Mark has been quiet. He’s asleep now.”
Kingi nods toward Thea. “You know that she was the one who found him?” He passes me a couple of plates.
I stare at him, my jaw dropping. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, she told me.”
I’m stunned. None of them mentioned it when I turned up at the house. Ohhh… the poor girl.
I’m also surprised that she confessed to him. “You say you can’t picture yourself as a father,” I tell him, “but you obviously have a way about you with kids that makes them open up to you.” It’s clearly one reason why they want him at the Foundation.
“It’s because I’m still one myself,” he says with a grin.
I smile, because I’m meant to, but it’s a self-deprecating comment, because that’s not the reason. It sounds as if he makes them feel that their thoughts and feelings are valid. He makes them feel seen.
I glance over at Thea. She’s sitting on the sofa, listening to her mum talk. I don’t want her to feel as if I’m eavesdropping, so I turn back to Kingi.
“How are your parents doing?” I ask as I remove the glasses and put them in the cupboard.
“I saw Mum today, actually.”
“Oh? How’s she doing?”
He hesitates, staring at the dish in his hands. Then he turns to place it in the cupboard. “Not good.”
“Oh no, why?”
“It turns out my dad is having an affair.”