“Callum was adamant that he didn’t want me to get him anything. Said he already had everything he wanted, but that didn’t sit well with me. So instead of buying him something, I booked us a trip.”
Cleo’s eyes light up. “Oh, that’s a good idea! Where are you going?”
“We’re going to Ireland. I’ve never been, and he keeps saying he wants to take me someday, so I figured why not?” I shrug.
“Oh, you’ll love it.”
“I hope so.”
“Will you be taking Emily with you?”
I nod. “Of course, and our guards, too. I figured if we want a kid-free night, we trust one of them to watch her for us.”
“That’s a great idea. Maybe I should book us a trip. Make Kai take some time off.”
“Do it. If you want, I can hook you up with the travel agent I used. She’s awesome.”
“I’d love that. Thanks.”
The server comes by and drops off our bill.
“Come on, let's pay and then go spend some money,” Cleo says as she slides out of the booth while holding Emily.
I snatch the bill off the table before she can. “I’m buying.”
* * *
“Astór, I’m home,”I call out as I put my keys on the hook next to the garage door.
Leaving the mud room, I walk further into the house.
“Hey, how was your day?” Autumn asks as she comes down the stairs.
“Long, how was yours? Did you have a good time with Cleo?”
I meet my wife in the middle of the room and pull her into me.
“I did,” she says before standing up on her tiptoes, kissing me. “I missed you, though,” she says when she pulls away.
“I missed you more.” I sigh, running a hand over my face.
Autumn frowns as she looks me up and down. “That bad?”
“It was just a long one,” I say vaguely.
Even though we're married and I trust her completely, I don’t want to burden Autumn with work-related things. We skirt around the subject and keep things vague. I only tell her what I have to. If it involves her or Emily.
“Come on, I put your food in the warming drawer.”
She grabs my hand and pulls me back into the kitchen.
“Sit.”
I do as she says and take a seat on one of the barstools.
“Emily asleep already?” I ask as I watch her flutter around the kitchen.
“Yeah, she missed her nap time today, so she was exceptionally tired. I tried to hold off until you got home, but…” She trails off.
