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"Of course," she says excitedly "That would be awesoet in for a visit Is that cool?"

"Totally," I say, and then as an afterthought, "Maybe I should invite my parents for a visit?"

"Oheach other's parents?"

"I guess we are," I tell her with a grin

"Okay," she says with a nod "That's one thing What else do you want?"

"You know I'h, and Sports WorldDo you think you could et a sitter and come with me? I hate that shit and would really like you to be thereyou knowtostupid"

Jules' eyes warm and her lower lip purses out in sy"

I breathe out a sigh of relief because while I really don't need Jules there, it would et some extra time with her that week

"And the third?" she prompts

"This coames in Boston," I tell her hesitantly "I'd really like you to come with me"

"You want me to come to Boston with you?" she asks, her brows furrowed "With the kids?"

I give a shake of my head "No I want you to lad to have them for the weekend"

"I can't," Jules blurts out without givingfrom an overly protective place as well as a place of insecurity in her role as awhat is appropriate

I have to let her work this out, but I' you back?"

"I just can't leave the kids for two days," she says firmly

"Technically it will be three days," I tell her, but before I can let that deter her further, I say, "And who says you can't? Where does it say that mothers can't have time away from their kids?"

"Well," she sta settled in with me--"

"Five and half months," I tell her bluntly "They're settled"

"I don't want to keep pawning the kids off on Kate," shecloser to the heart of the issue

"Kate has watched the kids twice for you," I point out "So you and I could go out And if I'ht for a slumber party so she and Zack could have some alone time"

"Yeah, but--"

"No 'buts,' Jules," I say firmly, and I squeeze her hand a little harder I lean across the table and lower my voice so she knows I' woive them what they need ButI need you too and we don't have a lot of ti youpleasecoive me some time, okay?"

Jules' face immediately crumples before ust

"I a sorry," she says in a s Fuckof course we need some time to ourselves, and GodI'm so sorry You're always the one that takes the backseat to everything"

"It's okay," I assure her quickly as I see the sheen of tears for in her eyes

"No," she says in a ragged breath as she jerks her hand away fro herself out of her side of the booth and onto ainst mine, cheek to cheek, as she whispers, "God, MaxI'o with you If you still want me to"

I press my palm to the back of her head, hold her there for awith apology

"I'ht on hers and make better use of it

I kiss her hard and fiercely, leaving her breathless and without words when I pull away I use it as an opportunity to set her straight "I don't take a backseat to everything, Jules You're the one that does that This trip will be as much for you as it is for me, okay?"

She nods at ht be on the verge of filling with tears I want to tell her I love her and that I will do whatever I can to make this ith us, but it's not the time That time has to be special