Chapter 168: Learn to Bark Like a Dog...

Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Learn to Bark Like a Dog...

"Grandpa took me fishing! There was a fish *this* big, a really, really big one, but I didn’t catch it. The fish got away. Grandpa said it was okay, and that we could just catch another one."

Ryan Grant sat cross-legged on the sofa, gesturing excitedly.

Caroline Whitman leaned back on the sofa, listening to him chatter on about the fishing trip and humming in response every so often.

Before long, Adrian Grant emerged from the kitchen carrying several dishes. He glanced at the big and small figures on the sofa.

The big one was leaning lazily against a throw pillow.

The little one was vividly pantomiming how the fish that got away had slapped its tail.

"Time to eat," he said.

Tiny immediately slid off the sofa and dutifully ran to wash his hands.

Caroline Whitman instinctively touched her lower back. As she pushed herself up from the sofa, she looked up and met Adrian Grant’s gaze.

He had just set down the last dish. He walked over to her, his expression perfectly straight, and his large hand came to rest naturally on her waist. "What’s wrong?" he asked the moment it touched her.

Caroline Whitman glared at him, chiding in a low voice, "What do you think? And whose fault is that?"

Adrian’s hand was on her waist, and he intended to give it a little rub, but as far as Caroline was concerned, it was no different from flirting.

"And you’re still touching it," she said, swatting his hand.

"I’m just helping you relax," Adrian said innocently.

He paused for a moment. "I’ll give you a *proper* massage tonight."

"...Ha."

’He really didn’t need to add the word "proper".’

Caroline saw right through him but decided not to call him out on it.

After dinner, Ryan had his usual homework session with Adrian, after which he was whisked off for a bath.

When he came out, he insisted Caroline read him two stories before he would finally climb into bed.

After Adrian got the boy to sleep, he went to Caroline’s room to give her a relaxing massage.

Fortunately, Adrian had the good sense to act like a proper masseur this time.

...

The night before Adrian’s business trip, Ryan was especially clingy.

He wasn’t just clinging to him, but to Caroline as well.

Tonight, after his bath, he refused to go back to his own room. Clutching his little pillow and blanket, he stood by their bed with his face tilted up. He didn’t say a word, just blinked up at them with wide, innocent eyes.

After two seconds of being subjected to that earnest little face, Caroline surrendered.

She lifted a corner of the covers and patted the space beside her. "Come on up."

At her words, Ryan immediately scrambled up like a little bunny.

This time, he didn’t lie on the edge of the bed. Instead, he went right between them, carefully placed his little pillow down, and then snuggled under the covers.

"Daddy, you have to be back for my birthday," he said, a small hand emerging from the covers to tug on Adrian’s sleeve.

"Mm, I will."

"Daddy, Mommy and I will be good and wait for you at home."

Adrian looked down at him and reached out to brush the stray hairs from his forehead. "Good boy."

"Daddy, I already miss you. What should I do?"

The little guy started chattering again, making no effort to hide how much he would miss his father.

Ryan understood the difference between going abroad and just leaving the province.

As far as he could remember, his dad had never been so far away.

Caroline leaned against the headboard, listening to them talk. ’This little kid is such an emotional support powerhouse,’ she thought. ’The man hasn’t even left yet, and he’s already laying on the "I miss you"s.’

’Even the most cold-hearted, ruthless person would melt hearing this little munchkin so openly express how much he’d miss him.’

Adrian was clearly touched. A father’s love shone in his eyes. "Okay, I know. I’ll be back as soon as I can."

"Hehe. In that case, Daddy, you have to miss us too while you’re over there, okay?"

Ryan chattered on, his imagination running wild with scenarios of what Adrian would be doing abroad. He also mentioned he’d never been on a plane and asked when he’d get to fly on one too.

The boy didn’t have school at the moment, so he stayed up chatting late, not falling asleep until after 10 p.m.

When Adrian left early the next morning, before the sun was up, Ryan was still fast asleep.

Caroline walked him to the door and gave him a light peck on the lips.

"That’s it?" Adrian was clearly unsatisfied with the fleeting kiss.

"Greedy!"

Caroline rose onto her toes again, her lips lingering on his for two extra seconds.

As she pulled away, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulled her back in, and deepened the kiss. He didn’t let go until she tapped his shoulder.

"Text me when you land," Caroline said.

"Okay."

Adrian agreed, then turned and walked out the door.

Caroline had to take the boy back to her family’s home that morning, so she wasn’t able to see Adrian off at the airport.

That evening, she moved into her family home as well, deciding to stay there with the boy for a while. It was more convenient than running back and forth every morning.

This was probably the longest business trip Adrian had taken since they’d gotten together.

For the first two days after he left, Caroline felt fine. It was nothing she wasn’t used to.

But by the third day, a feeling that something was missing began to creep in.

’They’ve only been together for less than two weeks,’ Caroline wondered. ’How can the withdrawal be this strong?’

’We’re still texting, after all, even if the time difference means the replies aren’t always immediate.’

Time difference aside, however, Adrian was still a very dutiful father. He made sure to video call his son at 8 p.m. sharp every evening.

Ryan would, as usual, report on his entire day, detailing everything from what he ate for breakfast to the new toys his maternal grandpa had bought him.

He’d also report when Mommy got off work and what stories she’d read to him that day.

When he was done reporting on his own day, he would then demand to know what Adrian had eaten and done.

’Honestly, Caroline didn’t even need to check up on Adrian herself. She already had a little agent keeping tabs on both of them for each other.’

"Daddy, do you miss me?"

"I do."

"Daddy, do you miss Mommy?"

"Very much."

’Huh? Why did he use "very much" when it came to Mommy?’

’But that wasn’t important.’

"Mommy, Daddy says he misses you very much," the little guy relayed, turning his head to look at his mother, who was in the middle of applying a face mask.

Caroline, her face covered by the mask, said nonchalantly, "Tell your dad I miss him very much, too."

The little guy turned back to the screen and giggled. "Daddy, did you hear that? Mommy says she misses you very much, too!"

"Mm, I heard."

"Daddy, it’s Friday today. Three days have already gone by. When are you coming back?"

"My birthday is next Wednesday. Will you be back by then?"

"I’m coming back the day after tomorrow."

’The day after tomorrow?’

Ryan counted on his fingers. "So... you’ll be back on Sunday?"

"Barring any delays, I should be home on Monday."

’Monday?’

’Three more days...’ she thought.

"You can’t trick me! Last time you said three or four days, but now it’s five!"

"I wouldn’t lie to you. If I do, I’m a puppy," came Adrian’s voice, full of assurance.

’Caroline listened from the sidelines, suddenly afraid that Adrian might actually have to bark like a dog for Ryan one day...’

"Okay, it’s a deal then!"

Ryan stuck out his pinky, wiggling it in front of the screen.

On the other end, Adrian raised his own hand, making a pinky promise with him through the screen.

After the video call ended, Ryan put down the phone, completely satisfied.

After Caroline peeled off her mask and washed her face, her phone lit up again.

It was a call from Adrian.

She answered. "What’s up?"

Adrian said, "I didn’t get to talk to you at all today."

Caroline pursed her lips. "Didn’t we just talk?"

His deep chuckle came through the phone. "Does that really count as talking?" he asked.

Before she could answer, Adrian added, "I miss you so much. So this is what it feels like to really miss someone."