The Conspiracy of Baby-Switching novel Chapter 108

Nala brings our drinks, and I hold my glass up. The kids smile as they raise theirs to meet mine. "To the Big Apple."

Mark throws the Uno card down onto the table. We're playing with the kids...again. We've converted Mark into a long-suffering Uno champ too.

I glance over to my beautiful Vee sitting alone on the other side of the plane, she's looking out the window with her book in her hand and then I notice something. She's wearing her diamond tennis bracelet I bought her all those years ago.

She put it back on.

Vee glances up and catches me staring at her. I wink and she smiles softly.

I feel it all the way to my bones.

I need her, I need us to be officially together, and while we haven't had sex, she's going to hold me at arm's length...she already is.

Tonight, I fix it. Tonight...she's mine.

Violet

The sun is just beginning to set as the car pulls into the underground parking lot, and the kids stare out the window in awe. Gabriel chats away, happily explaining everything to them, all the while I feel myself spiraling.

The last two times I was in New York were so traumatic for me that somehow it's triggered a million emotions. I feel unexpectedly angry with him, I feel scared for me, but more than anything, I feel terrified for my children.

What have I done?

If we don't work out... We're here already.

The thought of going home with the two children alone is more than I can bear.

Gabriel's warm hand squeezes mine and I glance up. "Are you okay?

You're very quiet."

I force a smile. "Just tired."

He pulls me close and kisses my temple and I ease out of his grip. "Stop," I whisper.

We're not telling the children we are together yet...remember?

Ugh, this is so like him to assume control.

He gives me the side eye and I turn to stare out the window. I don't know what the fuck is going on with me right now, but I need to snap out of it.

And quick.

It was me who said we could try again. I can't say that I forgive him and then drag things up and throw them in his face forever. The relationship will be doomed before it even begins.

New York is just a place, it's not a behavior, I remind myself.

They both shake their heads and I smile at their innocence. Maybe I should be horrified.

"Hop in." Gabriel smiles. "This will take us up to our house." "There's a house here?" Dominic whispers.

"Yes."

"On top of the parking lot?" Lucia scrunches up her face in question.

"That's weird."

Good grief, these children are country bumpkins.

"Isn't this fun." I pull them by the hands into the elevator, and Lucia cowers behind me.

Gabriel bends and picks her up. "It's okay." He smiles and pushes the button and the doors close. "It's like a rocket ship."

As we ride up, Dom squeezes my hand so tight that he nearly cuts off the circulation.

The numbers over the door rise, and with every floor we go up, I feel a little more of my excitement return.

We're actually doing this.