CHAPTER 71: 71-AND THE TAUNTING BEGINS

Iris:

We then stopped at a mall to get tents and other supplies for the picnic, as the children were calling it.

We got out of our cars and headed straight to the aisles, grabbing what we needed.

Lara was once again acting like she had never gone to a mall like this, one without only luxury brands, so she wandered around taking videos of herself as if she were experiencing such aisles for the first time.

Meanwhile, my kids were running around with Luca, grabbing all sorts of snacks they wanted.

"Are you sure that’s it? You don’t want anything else?" I asked Kash.

I must have caught him off guard because he looked startled.

Since we weren’t speaking much, hearing me talk to him softly must have thrown him off.

"Yeah–yeah, sure. Did you get everything?" he asked in the same soft tone.

"Yeah, I did. No, I mean, maybe you forgot something important. Like protection."

The moment I hit him with sarcasm, he realized I wasn’t being nice.

I was simply being cocky because he had brought Lara with him.

I guess he thought it was fair since I had Luca, but I knew I didn’t really have a choice.

"Right. Did you buy some for Luca?" he shot back, trying to sound aggressive and clever.

"No. We don’t really use protection. He is very experienced."

The second I said it, I watched the color drain from his face.

"I don’t want –to know— what you— two do," he stuttered, repeating himself before turning to leave. But he stopped and faced me again.

"And if I find out that you two are getting intimate in the presence of my children, or during the time that’s supposed to be their time, it will end very badly." Kash warned, and I knew it was just his jealousy talking.

"Kash, you don’t need to worry about how we manage our time. Trust me, Luca and I know exactly what we’re doing," I said, catching the way the veins on his temples tightened. "I mean, look at him. He’s great with the kids."

I pointed toward the aisle where Luca and my children were.

They were sitting in the trolley while he ran around with them, making them giggle and laugh.

He was as childish as they were, so it worked perfectly.

Kash glared at me, then looked at his children.

"Yeah. It’s my time to spend with them," he hissed childishly before bristling and storming toward them.

I didn’t stop him. This was exactly what I wanted. I wanted a reaction.

I wanted him to feel even a fraction of the pain I’d felt all these years imagining him and Lara together.

After we got all the stuff. We returned to our cars.

The rest of the car ride passed in silence.

Thankfully, Luca was too busy on his phone to bother me anymore.

Finally, we arrived. The mountain was beautiful. The moment my kids got out of the car, they ran toward their father.

Throughout the drive, they had begged me to let them sit with him.

However, the problem was Lara. She was in the same car as him.

I knew Kash would be thrilled to know his children wanted to ride with him, but I wasn’t comfortable with it.

At this point, I wondered if I understood people better than Kash did, or at least, these people in particular.

"The air here is so pure," Lara remarked, hugging the invisible air and swaying playfully.

I noticed that as soon as Colin and Amy reached their father, Lara quickly wrapped her arms around him, trying to keep his attention.

"Kids, go help your mother with the stuff," Lara told them, her tone light but her intent obvious.

"Kids, come over here! We’re planning to set up our tents," I called, making them run happily toward me.

Kash kept his hands in his pockets, looking around as the wind tossed his hair and coat.

"Is he always that uptight, wearing a suit and trying to make others feel small?" Luca wondered out loud.

I didn’t respond. It seemed better to ignore him than start another argument. He wasn’t worth it.

Finally, it was time to set up the tents. We decided to pitch them in the middle of the clearing, and anyone who preferred to sleep in the cabin could do so.

Of course, I knew Lara would head straight inside.

She was already glancing around and complaining about mosquitoes and bugs. I couldn’t really blame her.

I wouldn’t want my kids out in the open if there were too many insects either. But we had mosquito nets and other precautions ready.

As soon as the drivers stepped in to help, Luca intervened.

"What’s the fun in letting someone else do it? Let’s do it ourselves! Kash and Lara, me and Iris, let’s see who sets up their tent first!"

Luca turned what was supposed to be an important trip into a picnic.

My kids loved the idea, and that was the only reason Kash and I, both visibly annoyed, reluctantly agreed.

Then it began. Lara excitedly hugged Kash again before they grabbed their tent and started setting it up.

Meanwhile, Luca and I argued every step of the way, literally over everything.

The mountain was wide and full of greenery. It was covered in tall trees that danced slowly with the wind.

A clear river wound below, shining in the sunlight and cutting through the forest like a beautiful partition.

From the high cliff, the clouds looked close enough to touch. Their shadows moved beautifully, and the wind here was a little too strong.

Lara and Kash began to fix their tent at the same time, while Luca and I decided to do ours. Our little kids were the two little referees.

"Well, let’s do it then. I hope your boyfriend isn’t bitter about losing once again," Kash commented for the first time.

He usually didn’t take part in teasing or mocking, but this time he did, so I realized it was serious.

"Don’t worry about me. Even if I lose this little game, by the end of the day I’ll be the one sharing a tent with the most gorgeous woman in the world."

Luca, however, was always one step ahead when it came to bullying someone.

He wrapped his arm around me and leaned in, pressing his lips against my cheek.

Disgust ran through my body, and I fought hard not to punch him in the face.