The Man Who Has No Sight - Victoria Quinn Page 0,57
mentioned her.”
“Interesting,” he said. “We’ll question him later.”
“Don’t embarrass him,” Margo said. “He obviously didn’t tell you for a reason.”
“Mom, you used to embarrass us all the time,” Tucker countered.
“I did not,” she said in mock offense.
“Whatever, Mom.” Tucker rolled his eyes and turned to Pria. “She was a terrible mother.”
Margo smacked him in the arm again, this time harder.
Deacon seemed oblivious to it, more focused on Derek.
I turned to him, seeing his handsome expression, the stubble coming into his jawline because he’d skipped the shave that morning. He was such a hunk. Even when I was with his family, it was impossible not to stare, not to think about how lucky I was to have him in my life.
“So, you’re going to Sweden, sweetheart?” Margo asked.
Deacon pulled his gaze away from his son, not even noticing the way I stared at him. “Yes, next week.”
“It’ll be so cold,” Margo said. “Make sure you stay warm and don’t get sick.”
He went along with it. “I will, Mom.”
“It’s just you and a few people?” Margo asked.
“Three of my colleagues,” Deacon answered.
“You think you’ll win another Nobel?” Tucker asked.
Deacon shook his head. “I’m expanding off research that was already honored, so no. It’s just an opportunity to tell the community what I’m working on. It’s an honor, regardless.”
“You think you’ll win another Nobel in your lifetime?” Tucker asked.
I turned back to the table of kids, seeing a pizza fight about to break out. “Let me put this fire out real quick.” I left the table and moved to the kids, subtly bringing down the food fight about to take place so they wouldn’t go home covered in food stains and their parents would think we were imbeciles.
I could hear Margo at the other table. “Deacon, Cleo is very fond of you…”
He was quiet for a bit. “I would hope so.”
“I mean, that woman is stupidly in love with you,” she said. “You should see the way she looks at you.”
If Deacon was annoyed, he didn’t show it. “I do see the way she looks at me.”
I was a bit embarrassed that it was so obvious to his mother, but she obviously liked me and approved of me for her son, so it could be worse. I came back to the table and acted like I hadn’t heard anything. “Well, I stopped the next great war from happening.”
“Good eye, baby.” Deacon’s arm returned around my waist, and he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, not caring if his mother and brother saw him shower me in affection. “Looks like they’re almost done. We’ll have to break off into groups to do the activities. You guys ready?”
“Ready to take care of some dumb kids?” Tucker asked. “Bring it on.”
“These kids are smarter than you, Tucker,” Margo said. “So, watch it.”
“Smarter than me…” Tucker turned to Pria and shook his head.
Pria shrugged with a guilty look on her face.
“Oh, come on,” Tucker said. “Really?”
She shrugged again.
We spent the afternoon taking the kids to the different exhibits, putting them into smaller groups because there were thirty of them. Some places were just too small to accommodate them all at once.
After a few hours, we returned to the main hall to do cake and presents. Derek blew out his candles and then opened a pile of gifts from the other students, and that took another hour all by itself.
Deacon took pictures and videos on his phone, smiling like it was the best day of his life. He was a happy father, living in a memory he would cherish forever. The sexiest thing about him was the way he loved his son so selflessly, that he would make any sacrifice for that little boy without complaint.
He was such a good father.
I sighed and took another big bite of my cake.
Once the party was over and parents came by to pick up their kids, Derek politely said goodbye to each one, talked with their parents, and then took a seat at the empty table, which was covered with abandoned slices of cake and pieces of wrapping paper.
We went around and helped the crew clean up.
“Did you have a good birthday?” I took a seat beside Derek.
“It was so awesome,” he said. “But now it’s over…and I’m sad. It’s like Christmas all over again.”
I smiled. “Don’t be sad it’s over. Be happy that it happened. And there’s always next year.”