Confused, Benjamin turned to look at her. “It isn't a bruise? But it's blueish green.”
Arissa giggled. “It's a common occurrence in children.”
Benjamin's frown deepened. A common occurrence in children?
He turned to Gavin. “Gavin's bottom doesn't look like that.”
Hearing that, Gavin flushed shyly.
Arissa's lips curved as she put Jesse down. She told the kids to go to bed before she gave Benjamin an explanation.
“Not every kid has that. When they grow up, the lesion will disappear. It isn't a bruise,” she revealed.
Benjamin had no idea about that.
Arissa glanced at him. “It's perfectly normal.”
Tim shot them a look and whispered, “I have it, too.”
“Is that so?” Arissa asked him cheerfully.
Tim gave a tiny nod.
He scurried back to bed and pulled the blanket over his head to cover his face.
Arissa smiled. My son is so cute when he's embarrassed.
“Zachary has it, too!”
She sat beside Tim and patted his head before pulling the covers up for Gavin and Jesse.
“Sleep tight.”
“Okay!”
Jesse shut her eyes obediently.
Gavin yawned and got up. “Mommy, I need to pee!”
“All right.”
She picked him up and helped him with his shoes. Turning at her shoulder, she asked, “Tim, do you want to pee before going back to sleep?”
Tim stole a glance at her.
Seeing that, Arissa carried him up and helped him with his shoes.
“Go pee with Gavin.”
“Mm!” Tim ran away.
Arissa then met Benjamin's gaze. “Why did Jesse fall off the bed on the other side?”
She remembered sleeping beside Jesse, but the little girl ended up falling off at the other end of the bed.
A flash of embarrassment appeared on Benjamin's face. “I moved her there.”
Stunned, Arissa glanced at the bed before comprehension dawned.
“Did you sleep here earlier?”
Benjamin shot her a look. “Can't I sleep here?” he declared.
Arissa's lips twitched, but she said nothing else.
He moved Jesse away so he could sleep next to me?
Her heart began to race. Does Benjamin want to get closer to me? Or was he merely trying to take advantage over me?
At she stared at him strangely, Benjamin felt embarrassed. He went to the other side and climbed into bed.
“Sleep.”
Arissa was rendered speechless.
Why do you have to say that word so loudly? Fortunately, the kids didn't rouse.
Shortly after, Gavin and Tim emerged from the bathroom.
She tucked them into bed and said, “Sweethearts, goodnight!”
“Mommy, come and join us in bed!” Gavin urged.
Chuckling, Arissa made sure they were comfortable in the bed.
“I need to go to the bathroom, too. Don't wait for me.”
“Okay!” Both boys closed their eyes quietly.
Arissa went to the bathroom and washed her hands hastily. When she came out, she switched off the lights.
“You switched the lights off before you get into bed. Can you see in the dark?”
As she was stumbling in the dark, Benjamin switched on the bedside lamp.
Arissa was startled by his action.
“There is a remote control here. Don't you know it exists?”
Benjamin only switched off the lights when she snuggled into bed.
I forgot about it, all right? Arissa rolled her eyes inwardly.
She was too sleepy to argue with him. Pulling the covers up, she lay beside the kids.
Soon, she drifted off to sleep.
Benjamin heard them snoring, but he couldn't go to sleep.
He lay on his side. As the moonlight shone through the windows, he glanced at Arissa and the kids in bed.
A smile nudged his lips.
They are sleeping soundly. They wouldn't know if someone move them out of the bed.
Arissa rolled over and nearly tumbled off the bed. At that sight, Benjamin felt his heart sink to his stomach.
Arissa then inched to the middle of the bed. Feeling disturbed, the kids mumbled in their sleep and inched toward Benjamin.
The second time Benjamin noticed she nearly fell off the bed, he got up and went to her.
He lay behind her and placed his arm around her waist naturally to pull her into his arms.
Her familiar fragrance entered Benjamin's nostrils, and it gave him a calming effect. Not long after, he fell asleep, too.
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