She giggles, and I listen to the sounds of pillows being fluffed, the blanket sliding over the sheet—Mary getting comfortable in bed.
“Everyone's going to keep talking about this, you know,” she whispers.
“Good. Let them.”
“But Kai?—”
“What do you mean good, let them?”
“Mary, it’s fine. Perfect even.”
She's humming now—not really believing me but too sleepy to argue.
Completely, utterly adorable.
And my chest squeezes tight because I wish I was there with her instead of here in a boardroom in Volkov Towers with all the big bosses.
Very revealing thought.
One I keep entirely to myself.
Eventually she sighs.
“I'm never living this down.”
“Nope.”
“Oh my God.”
“Could be worse.”
“How?” Mary whispers, voice getting softer with sleep.
“They could think we're having twins.”
The gasp she lets out nearly kills me.
The silence on the other end turns soft.
Tender.
“Go to bed, Firecracker. You got school in the morning.”
“Mmm. I miss you.”
“Miss you, too, Baby.”
Fuck.
This is killing me.
“Goodnight, Tough Guy.”
And just like that, I'm smiling again.
Completely gone over this woman.
And not one damn bit sorry about it.