Nothing Without You | 2gether AU

12 - Home Truths

Tine's POV

I got up early. I didn't want Win to wake up in a strange place and find Wat and me in bed together. It needed a conversation at the very least.

I lightly pecked Wat's forehead and crept up the steps to where Win was sleeping in his fort bed. He looked cherubic and exactly like his dad. I adjusted the blanket that he'd kicked off.

If I squinted and tilted my head a certain way, then the way the light was falling on him made him look a little bit like me too.

Way to clutch at straws, Tine.

I navigated around my tiny kitchen space carefully as I set about making breakfast and a packed lunch for Win.

My home was pretty much just one large room, so there wasn't much that shielded the noise, subdued as it was. Wat stirred and propped himself up on his elbows.

"It's not fair how you can look this good this early in the morning" he said, his voice husky from sleep.

I smiled at him and went about making a stack of pancakes with a variety of sweet and savoury toppings that Win could experiment with. I wasn't sure what he would or would not like.

Wat hugged me from behind and kissed my neck. He smelled like toothpaste and soap and somehow managed to arouse me with just that.

I leaned into him.

"I'll go back to my apartment today" he said, placing a kiss on my shoulder and propping his chin there.

I nodded woefully and poured a ladleful of pancake batter that spit and sputtered like my heart on the hot pan.

"I'll drop you there after we take Win to school. I'll sleep at the Master's house tonight. I'm headed there for dinner after work" I said, not letting my dismay creep into my voice.

Wat held me tighter, my back against his chest, his arms around my waist.

"Can't you come over to my place after dinner? I don't think I can sleep without you anymore. You've spoiled me, Tine Teepakorn" he whispered.

"Daddy?" called Win from above, his voice confused and a little scared. I ran upstairs and carried him down to Wat.

While Wat helped him get ready for school, I set breakfast out for us.

I saw my dream of a family coming true as I watched Wat and Win bantering over who got which pancake. True to his name, Win won most of the battles.

*

Win jumped out of the car and ran off to his teacher with a bright smile and a vigorous wave at us.

I saw Earn leading Bright to join Win. She turned towards us, searching for Wat presumably.

She spotted me and her eyes grew round with surprise. She raised an eyebrow and a wide smile played at her lips.

I blushed. Wat looked at me and then at Earn. He sighed.

"Might as well join the PTA right away. Earn spreads news like wildfire. I wouldn't be surprised if she adds you to the parents' social group in the next five minutes" said Wat, covering his eyes with a weary hand.

"This is easily explained, though, right? I mean I could just be a solicitous client who drops his architect's son to school at the crack of dawn" I squeaked, hoping that saying it out loud would make it sound less stupid than thinking it. It didn't.

Earn was already making her way towards our car.

"Good morning Tine, fancy seeing you here. Hello Wat, I was worried something had happened to you, Win was being dropped and picked up by others. What's happening?" she asked. Her eyes switched between us meaningfully.