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“I’m sure Beans would love a baby goat, but he’s pretty rambunctious and I don’t know how much a baby goat would love him. That’s nice you got to give one some attention, though.” I turned to Rory. “Did you like the baby goats?”
The toddler nodded like a bobblehead and Luna pulled out her phone to show me pictures. It felt like a rare treat and impossibly sweet to see her with them.
“Do you want to sit with me so Auntie can eat her dinner?”
Rory examined me for a moment before reaching out to be collected. Stella’s expression was warm as I sat with her youngest daughter and held the plate so she could eat. Luna ate with gusto, and I hoped it was still warm.
“Do you have plans for kids, Luca?” Stella asked.
“Only if Luna does.”
“Auntie, you’re going to have babies?!” Nova shrieked.
“I don’t need to have babies,” Luna replied calmly. “I get all my special kiddo time with you and Rory. If I had my own, I wouldn’t get to do that with you very often.”
“Oh, I guess that’s true. Mom didn’t have as much time for me when Rory was born. Okay, don’t have any babies. I want to stay the favorite.”
Luna laughed. “Thanks for the blessing, kid.”
“You really don’t want any?” Stella probed me again.
“Um, I’m not opposed to kids, but that’s not really my choice.”
“Exactly.” Luna leveled aglare on her sister. “If Luca wants kids, he can find a different uterus. I am totally happy being in auntie-land.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. I was just curious. That’s something that should come up with new relationships so you know everyone’s on the same page.”
“I don’t think there’s going to be any shortage of kids on my side of the family,” I added. “I haven’t gotten to be an uncle yet, but it seems way more my speed. Less pressure than being a parent.”
“Can I be your favorite, Uncle Luca?” Nova asked.
“You’re gonna have to split the top spot with your sister. It wouldn’t be fair for me to pick a favorite.”
“She wouldn’t know.” Nova dropped her voice to a whisper. “It can be our secret.”
“Okay,” I whispered back. “But you can never tell.”
Nova puffed up like a peacock, pleased with acquiring the top spot that I was still mentally splitting between the two girls. Luna watched the two of us with a sparkle in her eye.
“I think it’s time for dessert,” Stella announced.
“Cake time!” Nova bounced out of her seat to acquire the treat I’d brought. It was a strawberry cream cake I’d been practicing to make sure the sponge was nice and light.
The tween inhaled her portion, the rest of us eating more sedately, Rory opening her mouth like a little bird for me to spoon bits for her.
When the night finally ended and Luna and I went downstairs, she spun around when the door closed behind me, pressing me against it. “You were way too fucking cute tonight. Thank you for being so good with them.”
“They’re important to you so they’re important to m?—”
Luna cut me off with a kiss before stepping back with a lascivious smile. “Luca Antony Marino, I think I’m going to have to keep you.”
My phone buzzed, a call from Stella coming through.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“I don’t know how to feel right now,” she replied.
“What’s going on?”
