In Love, Never Say Never

Thinking that Ashton had left to handle the issue with Nicolas, I headed downstairs to make a phone call.

It was only when I arrived at the living room that I saw him and the kids all sitting on a sofa, each one of them as quiet as a mouse.

My husband was holding a tablet, probably working. Gregory was having online classes with earphones plugged in, while Summer was reading a thick book. Even Audrey was keeping herself entertained by sitting down at a table and practicing her handwriting.

There was something amiss about the entire scene.

Ashton was the first one to notice my presence, putting his tablet down and walking over to place a kiss on my forehead. “You’re awake.”

“Mhm,” I nodded. “You guys…?”

Audrey immediately jumped up at the sound of my voice, loudly announcing, “Mommy! Daddy was being mean and didn’t let me talk!”

Summer quickly reached over to tickle her little sister in an attempt to get her to shut up. “That’s because you were being too noisy and woke Daddy up! It would be bad if you woke Mommy up too, you tiny monkey.”

“No, I didn’t!” Audrey argued through a fit of giggles, scrambling away from Summer’s hands. “Uncle John said—”

her uncle, she instantly stopped herself short and pursed her

that easily fooled by a kid who wore her heart

you sleep

the morning and helped Audrey wash up,” Summer interrupted before

that mean that he’d taken John’s place and only slept

at my heartstrings a little. Just then, John walked in from outside, meeting my knowing gaze and then taking a look at

other side of the living room, mumbling in a small voice, “Don’t blame me. Audrey’s your biological child, so she ran to find you guys as soon as she woke

hand. “So you went back to sleep

couldn’t argue with him on that, and it seemed like he was

go upstairs to rest for a while longer.

the day before had been because

finish that thought. Regardless, we were no longer in our young

Ashton laughed. “I’ve been surviving on three or four hours of sleep for the past few years. Don’t worry about

rough time while being the Hall family’s

have plenty of chances to rest in the future,” he reassured. “But I want to handle all our current problems before anything else. Next time, you’ll be free to determine when I sleep and how much