Page 46 of Blinded By Hate

“I have no clue. But he won’t find out.”

Rowan shakes his head lightly. “You’re playing with fire. Literally.”

“It’s okay if I get burned, as long as I have her.”

Rowan was about to say something but the door of his office opens.

Apollo and Mateo, Rowan’s two sons, come running in. “Papa, papa! We made pictures!” Mateo says with a lisp.

He is about four, I think.

I never really paid attention to their ages. But I know Apollo is seven or eight.

He has a daughter, Rosalie, but she is with her mother somewhere in the house. Mateo and Apollo are always getting into trouble, causing Rowan and his wife headaches.

But Rowan and his wife love a busy and loud house.

Rowan stands from his chair and grabs Mateo, holding him on his hip as he looks at the picture. Apollo stares at his father with a big smile on his face.

“Looks amazing, Mateo. Let me see yours, Apollo.”

Apollo gives his father the paper and Rowan smiles as he looks down at the picture. He loves his family, that much I’m sure of.

Anytime I see him with his kids or his wife I always wish that was me. Yes, being alone is peaceful and calm but I can’t help but want someone, a specific someone, to have a family with me.

I had that but then it all fucking burned down.

“Mama said mine was better,” Apollo says with a smirk, looking just like his father.

“Liar!” Mateo says before looking at me. “Uncle, look at my picture and say it’s better!”

I laugh at Mateo. I walk towards them and look at the pictures. Rowan eyes me probably thinking, ‘you better not break their little hearts you little shit.’

“Both look amazing.” I smile at them, but that’s not the answer either of them were hoping for.

“Where’s your mother and sister?”

“In the kitchen,” Apollo says before running out of the office.

We all leave Rowan’s office. Rowan is still holding Mateo as we walk inside the kitchen and see Rowan’s wife, Jane, and his daughter baking while laughing. Rowan’s daughter is around nine years old but she still looks so tiny and young still.

Rowan puts Mateo down and he walks behind his wife, placing his lips on her neck while she squeals and blushes. She turns around and kisses him back passionately.

“Ew! Papa, that’s gross,” Apollo yells while grimacing.

“Shut up, you idiot. They are cute,” Rosalie says with a smile as she watches her parents just fall in love.

Rowan stops kissing Jane and he wraps his arms around her.

“Hi, Hayden. I didn’t know you were here today. How are you?” Jane asks.

I can see why Rowan is so obsessed with her. Jane has beautiful brown curly hair and dark brown eyes. She is wearing a blue summer dress that compliments her skin well. But her smile is what makes me understand why Rowan loves her so much.

I love seeing Jaclyn smile.

It’s one of my favorite things on this fucking planet.

He was her bodyguard for a good few months before they started dating. She used to have selective mutism but then after a while she started talking with Rowan and they became closer before dating.