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“It does,” I answer with a little surprise.
“It’s all natural. Not that toxic storebought stuff,” Rosilyn explains.
“Well I can’t hate that,” I say. “Do you want some coffee?”
“Oh no, I’ve been up since six with these two. I’ve already had a pot!” She laughs loudly and her eyes glance around the room. Almost as if she’s looking for something. “So you had an okay night? Restful?”
“I…did.” I stutter and I’m not sure why it comes out like that.
Maybe because you spent half of it with Ethan’s dick inside you…
“Thank you,” I add.
“Anytime. We are just around the corner. Always here.” She smiles and I smile back. My phone buzzes and I look down. Ethan. A jolt of something hot shoots through my veins like a shot of tequila.
“Mommy can we watch the new Sonic movie?” Jax tugs on my dress.
“Actually, bud, we are going to a festival with Ethan.” The words slide out of my mouth so easily I don’t realize until afterwards that maybe I shouldn’t have.
My eyes dart up to meet Rosilyn’s and she is looking at me curiously. “Your boss?” She mouths.
I force a smile and shake my head. “Yeah. Work thing. Sort of.”
“Hmm.” She smiles but there’s something behind it. “Well, Luca. That’s our cue to go. You two have fun!”
“Bye Rosilyn. And thank you.” I wave as they leave and then turn to Jax, telling him to go put clothes on. As I stand in the kitchen filling a backpack with sunscreen, water bottles, first aid and all the things moms bring basically everywhere, I suddenly stop. I know Rosilyn knows the man from the coffee shop is my boss. I did tell her that. But I don’t remember telling her his name is Ethan.
Jax comes out, ready to go, just as Ethan walks in.
“Hey champ. You ready to go on some questionable rides and eat too much cotton candy?”
“Yeah!” Jax lets out.
Ethan looks over at me and his expression drops a little. “Are you alright?”
I shake off the previous moment and force a smile. “Yeah. I’m good.”
The festival is everything you’d expect from a small town festival and it’s refreshing. While Golden is part of the metro Denver area, it still has a cute main street and a cozy feel that almost reminds me of western Colorado. I was born and raised a city girl and I never saw myself liking small towns. I definitely didn’t ever see myself living in one. But after finding peace and safety in Grand Junction, just me and Cassie and Jax making life work, I came to find it comforting. And with the busy little streets, the rides in the distance, the friendly faces of the vendors and the smell of popcorn and spun sugar and fried bread in the air, I can’t help but be happy.
“I want to go on rides first!” Jax is hopping up and down. “And get my face painted. And, look, Mommy! Balloon animals! I want a balloon animal.”
“Hold on, bud,” I say while trying to keep him in one spot. “One thing at a time.”
“We can do it all,” Ethan says and I look at him. “If it’s okay with your mom.”
Jax looks up at me with pleading eyes and Ethan smiles. Who am I to say no to that? To any of it? I smile and nod and Jax jumps again with ayippee!Before taking off in the direction of the balloon animals.
“You’re going to spoil him,” I say as Ethan and I follow.
“Is he used to being spoiled?” He asks and I feel a pang in my chest.
“No. He isn't.”
“And if I had to assume, you aren’t used to it either.”
“Nope. And I’m not used to it either.”
“Well. Let’s change that. Even if it’s just for a day,” he smiles down at me. Then he leans in a little and lowers his voice. “No one has to know.”