Since Evan was spared from clearing up after dinner, he went to the children and started asking them to get ready for bed.
“But, Daddy, Mommy is not gonna chase you out now. Do we still have to pretend we’re asleep?” Juan asked. The boy did not understand why they had to turn in early tonight.
“Yeah, Daddy! Mommy will see through us if we use the same trick again,” Kyle agreed.
Evan looked at them with a serious look and said, “You’re right. We’d have to try a different trick tonight. Y’all will have to sleep for real this time.”
“What? It’s still so early, Daddy! Why do we have to go to bed so soon?” Juan protested as he rolled around the bed and shook his head.
Likewise, Kyle was unwilling to sleep so early. “We didn’t even have time to play with our new Lego and iPad,” he told Evan. Juan swiftly came up next to Kyle and nodded in agreement.
Evan would definitely not let these two kids ruin his secret agenda. He stared at them and asked, “Do you guys want to go shopping tomorrow? I’ll get y’all new clothes and treat y’all to a nice meal.”
Kyle and Juan exchanged looks and nodded without hesitance.
“Alright then, go to bed early and get a good night’s rest before our adventure tomorrow,” Evan ordered.
So he’s bribing us?
Daddy’s only thinking about spending time with mommy.
What a bad daddy.
Evan knew what they were thinking in their little heads. He flicked them on the forehead and hurried them to bed.
Juan buried himself in the blanket unwillingly and mumbled to himself.
Seeing Juan caved, Kyle knew he could not do anything either. So he sighed and lay down beside Juan, ready to call it a night.
Over in another room, Evan told the girls the same thing.
Maya closed her eyes and kept telling herself that she had to sleep. I’m having good food tomorrow. I’m getting new clothes tomorrow. I need to close my eyes. I need to sleep.
And she really fell asleep in the end.
Beside her, Nina snugged underneath the blanket with the makeup organizer in her arms.
She really liked her new toy and she thought having a Daddy was not a bad idea after all.
……
Nicole was surprised to see all the four kids sound asleep when she came out of the kitchen.
But seeing Juan wriggling in the blanket like a worm and Kyle staring into the ceiling blankly, Nicole knew instantly that Evan was up to something.
She went to the living room and questioned Evan. “Why did you tuck them in this early?”
“So they won’t get in our way,” Evan replied nonchalantly.
“Whatever,” Nicole said before heading for her bedroom with her pajamas.
But Evan quickly followed her into her room. He locked the door behind him and turned towards Nicole before she could even react.
Nicole looked at him uncomfortably and said awkwardly, “You staying over tonight?”
“Why not?” Evan asked.
“You know we’re not married yet,” Nicole replied.
“You’re our kids’ Mommy, and I’m their Daddy. We don’t have to be married,” Evan said unapologetically.
“You’re unbelievable,” Nicole mumbled. She was not interested in having a debate with him. So she turned and went into the bathroom to change.
But before she could close the bathroom door behind her, Evan stuck his agile arm in and poked his head around the door.
“I hope you don’t mind us bathing together. It saves both time and water,” Evan suggested.
Nicole raised her brows at his tenuous statement and yelled, “I do mind, a lot!”
“Oh, really? It’s okay, cause I don’t mind,” Evan said.
He made his way into the bathroom without waiting for a response.
Seriously. This guy is brazenly shameless!
Nicole looked around disconcertedly, thinking what she should do next. But Evan reached for the showerhead and hot water started pouring out into the bathtub. The whole bathroom became damp and foggy in no time, and hot air filled the small space.
Evan took off his clothes and suddenly remembered something. He tilted his head towards her and said, “From what I remember, you’re more than willing to help me shower.”
“What?” Nicole crossed her brows and cried out.
“You even asked the kids to snap pictures of me naked,” Evan reminded her.
Why is he bringing this up now? Is he for real?
“That wasn’t what I wanted them to do! I wanted to…”
“It’s okay, we can do whatever you want tonight,” Evan interjected in a suggestive tone before she could explain herself.
Evan pulled Nicole close and his strong arms enveloped her securely, leaving her with no room for escape. He peered into her eyes intensely, compelling her to stay still.
“Don’t move,” he said commandingly.
His deep and magnetic voice suffocated her like a spell and his breath tingled across her delicate skin.
