تسجيل الدخول“Max. Issa.” My voice came out neat. Too neat. “We’re going home.”Issa didn’t look back. “In a minute, Mommy. Sofia is bonding with me.”“Sofia will survive without additional bonding.”“No, she needs me.”“She’s a cat.”“Mommy, Cannoli is almost choosing Arsenal.” Max half turned, still crouched.Cannoli walked away.Max immediately pointed. “He’s shy.”“He’s fleeing your social pressure.”Zach stood.A simple movement. But once he was upright, his body filled the yard. The black T-shirt clung slightly to his chest and shoulders, the tattoo on his arm shifting as he slid his hands into the pockets of his joggers. His hair still fell messily over his forehead, but his eyes had no sleep left in them. Those eyes were fully awake.I ignored him with a skill that deserved a place on my résumé. “Your five minutes are up,” I told the twins. “We’re going home, you’re taking baths, and then Mommy has work.”Issa finally turned, her hazel eyes widening, illegally dramatic. “But Mommy said fiv
My royal belly.”I looked at Issa’s little stomach, which she was patting with great authority, then at Max, who immediately started making stomach noises with his mouth.“Belly belly belly,” he said, giggling.“Nathan,” I said without taking my eyes off my children. “If they start calling me Belly at home, I’m sending you the therapy bill.”Nathan took a calm sip of his coffee. “I’ll forward it to the family finance department.”“Of course. I’m sure your family has an entire department for emotional damage.”His smile widened slightly. “We call it legal.”I hated that it was funny.Issa tugged at the hem of my jacket again. “Mommy, Handsome Uncle has a very big house.”“All the houses here are big, princesa.”“But his house looks like a villain with good taste.”Max nodded seriously. “It has a gate. Gates are cool. Our house doesn’t have a black gate.”“Because our house is not a criminal headquarters,” I said.“You want to see something?” Nathan bent toward Max and Issa, his face sl
“My royal belly.”I looked at Issa’s little stomach, which she was patting with great authority, then at Max, who immediately started making stomach noises with his mouth.“Belly belly belly,” he said, giggling.“Nathan,” I said without taking my eyes off my children. “If they start calling me Belly at home, I’m sending you the therapy bill.”Nathan took a calm sip of his coffee. “I’ll forward it to the family finance department.”“Of course. I’m sure your family has an entire department for emotional damage.”His smile widened slightly. “We call it legal.”I hated that it was funny.Issa tugged at the hem of my jacket again. “Mommy, Handsome Uncle has a very big house.”“All the houses here are big, princesa.”“But his house looks like a villain with good taste.”Max nodded seriously. “It has a gate. Gates are cool. Our house doesn’t have a black gate.”“Because our house is not a criminal headquarters,” I said.“You want to see something?” Nathan bent toward Max and Issa, his face s
He leaned slightly against the side of the mansion’s black gate, coffee tumbler still in hand, his gray hoodie falling perfectly across his shoulders. His hair was dark, damp at the ends, like he had either just showered or just come back from a run that somehow had not made him look like a regular human being.His eyes were not as sharp as Zach’s, not that cold, but the lines were the same.Blue-gray.Expensive.Insolent.Younger than Zach. Brighter. Quicker to smile. Less handsome than Zach.“So you two are jogging?” he said to the twins, as if I wasn’t standing there with my blood vessels holding an emergency meeting.Max immediately puffed out his chest. “I’m an athlete.”“He just said his legs were hungry.” Issa snorted.“That’s a private medical condition.”Nathan bent slightly, his face going fake-serious. “Hungry legs are very serious. In Italy, we give them pasta.”Max’s eyes went round. “Legs eat pasta?”“If the legs are polite.”Issa looked down at her own shoes suspiciousl
We passed the mansion without incident. I didn’t even look over for too long. Very mature. Almost impressive. If there were security cameras, they would have captured a black-haired mother in expensive leggings, two children who looked like an ad for a chaotic family, and no criminal evidence except curiosity sitting in her cheekbones.We kept going to the far end of the neighborhood, where the road sloped gently upward and curved past rows of massive houses that each looked like the kind of place where people signed NDAs before dinner. Max started complaining after eight minutes.“My legs are hungry.”“Legs don’t get hungry.”“My legs want to go home.”“Your legs just started working.”“I’m still pretty, but I don’t like cardio.” Issa, who had been very glamorous earlier, now had flushed cheeks and short little breaths.“Me too, princesa.”“Why are we doing this?”“Because Mommy wants to be healthy.”Max turned his head sharply. “You’re lying.”I nearly tripped.Issa immediately look
I had just finished brushing my teeth when my bedroom door opened slowly, and Issa appeared there with hair like a baby bird caught in a storm, her stuffed bunny dragging from one hand, hazel eyes wet, bottom lip pushed out.I knew before she even spoke.“Mommy,” she said in a small, broken voice. “I’m sad.”I held my breath and lowered my toothbrush. “Why, mi amor?”She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. “I woke up.”I looked at her through the mirror. “That is... usually what happens in the morning.”“I wasn’t ready.”I rinsed my mouth, dried it, then crouched down. She immediately crashed into my chest with her entire chubby body, warm and smelling like sleep. Her hair poked my chin.I hugged her and patted her small back. “I’m not ready for a lot of things in life either,” I murmured. “But taxes still exist, preschool still opens, and you still have to wear pants.”She sniffled. “I want pink.”“Of course. You always want pink. If you ever ask me for beige, I’m taking you t







