REIKA

NINETEEN

—I'll be there in a minute.

I mind linked to him to let him know I was on my way down. Alban had arrived and was waiting for me at the garage as we had agreed to. After looking at Arji one last time to make sure he was fine, I headed to the elevator. My son was distracted, building with bricks in front of the TV that was on, playing his favorite show. It was late already, but I kept him up so he could spend some time with his father. Arji had a long day, and I knew he would fall asleep soon. Good. I didn't want Alban staying here for long. I cleaned up as well as I could in under two hours and the place looked decent.

Sneaking out of the apartment, I took the elevator down. I knew Dad had put cameras in the elevator, so I went inside with Arjun and put tape over them about an hour ago. When he called me to ask about it, I told him it was a game me and Arji had. That, and that I wanted to have some privacy. Dad didn't complain nor ask why, and I was glad about it.

Once Arji's party was done, everyone wrapped things up, and I stayed for a while longer to help Dad with the cleaning. Grandma Sage took Arjun inside and tried to feed him some actual food for dinner while we all cleaned around. Once the clowns packed their things and were on their way out, they passed by where I was cleaning with Dad, and Alban winked at me.

I had to bite my lip to hold in the smile. Without being able to control it, I felt like a teenager obsessed with a boy band. That small gesture made my heart race, and I wasn't expecting it. I wanted to blame the bond, but I couldn't. That was all me.

I was so fucked!

The elevator doors opened, and I walked to my car to find Alban leaning against my SUV. This time, the hoodie he was wearing wasn't as big as usual. It had a zipper on the front that he had left open and I smiled when I saw the rest of his outfit. That man had a simple dark navy blue button-up shirt and black jeans. It looked like he made an effort to look good. Alban took a shower and wore cologne. His hair inside the hoodie was well groomed as well, but he needed the hoodie until he got upstairs because the cameras could still catch him.

"Just remember what I said, not a single word about who you really are. He's watching TV so I'll tell him you are my friend, OK?" I repeated the rules and he nodded his head nervously. I saw him rub his hands before putting them in his pockets.

"Come," I commanded, and he followed me. We got inside the elevator and he kept his back to the camera.

—There's no need. I already put tape over them.

I mind linked, and he turned to look.

"Ah! Arjun always leaving his darn toys in the car!" I complained out loud as I winked at him. Whoever was in charge of my surveillance could still hear us. Alban just smiled and looked fixedly at me. His black eyes focused on mine until the elevator doors opened up. Walking out, I broke the connection, and he cautiously walked behind me. I took my shoes off at the entrance, placing them in the rack where we keep all of our shoes. Alban did the same, silently understanding we didn't use shoes inside the house.

After his shoes were off, I gave him a quiet signal with a finger, asking him to get closer to me and we walked to the living room where Arji was stupefied looking at his show. Taking the remote control in my hand, I turned the TV off and cleared my throat, getting my son's full attention.

"Arjun, baby, I... um... Mommy brought over a friend. I would like for you to meet him." I pointed at Alban. He had taken the hoodie off and was standing next to me, nervously squeezing and twisting the hoodie in his hands.

Arjun's big eyes traveled from me to Alban, and a big smile spread across his face. My child tossed aside the thing he was building, and rushed over to hug him. Alban was taken aback by our little monster's sudden excitement, but quickly dropped his sweater on the floor and opened his arms, catching Arjun in the air as he jumped on him. Lifting Arji up to his chest, he hugged him tightly, as his confused eyes quickly searched for mine. I didn't miss how his dark eyes immediately became glassy to the point of having a tear wanting to roll down.