What on earth?
There are bits of wood and colorful paper scattered around the living room. By the bulging trash bag, I assume there was even more lying around before. Sienna and Lucas freeze when they see me. Chloe smiles brightly, and Christopher has the distinct look of someone being caught during mischief. The three of them are standing in a straight line, so close you'd think they’re glued to each other, or trying to hide something.
"I made you two cards," Chloe says, running toward me. "One is with a unicorn, one with a phoenix. Which one do you want?"
Stunned, I take both cards from Chloe—neither even remotely resembles a phoenix or a unicorn—and lower myself to her level, then kiss her forehead. "Thank you, pumpkin, I'll take both."
"We saw all your pictures of the vanity table in your office and wanted to surprise you," Sienna says. In unison, she and the boys step to the side, revealing a vanity table, which looks suspiciously like the one I have been desperately searching for… for a client.
"Do you like it?" Christopher asks, and I swear the four of them are holding their breath. And you're not telling the four people you love more than anything on this earth, who've spent hours working on this, that you were looking at it for a client. Nope, I'll take the secret to my grave.
"I love it." It's not even a lie; the only problem is that I have no need for one. I'll remedy that as soon as possible. "Thank you."
"We were going to clean up before you arrived," Sienna explains, "but we got carried away."
"We'll do it together," I say, hugging each of them. When Christopher's arm hooks around my waist, I can't help but melt into him, wishing we could stay like this for hours.
***
Rain starts pouring shortly after lunch, confining us to the house. Lucas and Chloe are taking a nap, the excitement of the morning clearly having worn them out, while Sienna's on the porch, talking to Ben on the phone. I have to start working on the festive dinner I have in mind for tonight soon, but there’s still time.
Christopher and I are alone, and as he shuts the door to the living room, I'm convinced he's preparing for an hour-long cuddling session. But then he says, with no traces of his usual good humor, "We need to talk."
I sit up straighter on the ottoman, my stomach coiling instantly. "What's going on?"
"What do you know about Ben?"
I squint, sure I must have misheard him. "How do you know about Ben?"
Christopher paces around the room, jamming his hands inside his pocket. "Sienna was texting him constantly while we were building your vanity table."
"So?"
"She said you allowed them to do work on a project together."
"I did."
He opens his jaw, stopping midstride. Then he throws his hands up in the air like I just announced I'm planning to run the marathon naked or something. "Are you insane?"
"Huh?"
"Do you k
now what all seventeen-year-old boys have on their mind?"
"I've dated seventeen-year-old boys. I know very well. I know Ben. He's nice, and he's one of her closest friends and her lab partner. They often work together."
"You might not know this, but working on a project together is usually code for making out at their age."
I can barely keep back my laughter as I watch him. He's all but breathing fire out of his nostrils.
"I know for a fact it's not the case. I'm very close to Sienna, and she tells me everything."
"When can I meet him?" Christopher barks, resuming his pacing. His features have softened a little—but very little.
"Judging by your lunatic reaction, never." I try to work severity into my voice, but utterly fail because all this shows me is how much he cares. Decisively, his caveman tendencies are hot, not annoying. And in this moment, I know I've fallen in love with this man. The realization is humbling and exhilarating at the same time.
"I don't get it," Christopher says, snapping me back to our conversation.