“I doubt that,” I said. “I’m sorry, but I really do have to go. They’ll want breakfast. Plus, I really want to get back in there and see Sean again.”
“You miss him already?” Janie asked.
“I do,” I admitted softly.
“Girl, you’re in trouble.” She laughed and we said goodbye.
I hung up the phone and shook my head, still in disbelief that something so amazing had really happened to me. As I made my way back inside, Sean came out of his room. We both made it to the kitchen at the same time.
“Are the kids up?” he asked, glancing around.
“No.” I shook my head. “Not yet.”
“Come here.” He growled and grabbed me roughly around the waist. Pushing me against the counter, he kissed me passionately and gripped my ass in his hands. I laughed, but it quickly turned into a moan as our kiss deepened.
“Emily!” Sarah yelled from the top of the stairs.
Sean sighed and stepped away from me, running his fingers through his hair. I could still smell the shampoo he’d used, and it made me want to kiss him again, but instead, I turned toward the stairs.
“Down here, sweetie!” I called.
Sarah ran downstairs and immediately plopped herself down at the kitchen table. I hugged her good morning and got her a bowl of cereal. I planned to make a big breakfast, but after my conversation with Janie, I didn’t have time. The kids would both be too hungry to wait around for an hour. Sure enough, when Tommy joined us at the table, he announced that he was “starving!”
I laughed and got him a bowl as well.
The four of us sat together and ate slowly. Tommy and Sarah relayed their dreams from last night to Sean and me. They were silly, and we all laughed until Philip finally made it down to join us.
“Hungry?” I asked. “We’re just having cereal today.”
“Slacking already?” he teased.
“Ha. Ha.” I nudged him as I walked by to get him some coffee.
After our talk, I felt closer to Philip. We became friends in that moment, and I was glad. He obviously meant so much to Sean and the kids that I wanted to be a part of his life too. Sean and I had only spent one night together, but already, I wanted something more from him. I wasn’t sure what exactly that was yet, but I knew I wanted something real.
“What should we do today?” I asked, looking from Tommy to Sarah and back again. “Any idea?”
“Water park!” Tommy said.
“The closest waterpark is two hours away,” I said sadly. “That probably won’t work today.”
“Okay,” Tommy said. “Then can we go to the bookstore? You said you wanted us to read more!”
“I was thinking something a bit more exciting,” I said, my voice leading.
Sean frowned at me, but I just grinned. I already had a plan forming that I knew everyone would love. Tommy frowned, too, trying to puzzle out what I meant.
“What do you guys think of the zoo?” I asked.
“Really?!” Tommy screamed. “We’re going to the zoo?”
“If you want,” I said. “What do you think, Sarah?”
“I love the zoo,” Sarah said with a mouthful of fruity pebbles. “But isn’t it far away?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“The zoo is all the way back in California, isn’t it?” she asked. “Where we used to live.”