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“Marley got sick,” I added. “I didn’t want to leave until her fever went down.”
“Oh no. I hope she’s okay.”
“She felt better this morning. No fever.”
“That’s good.”
“Nate’s couch is super comfy,” Olivia shared, lips smacking as she chewed. “It’s like a big, fluffy cloud. Too bad we can’t all fit. That’s why Mama and Nate had to sleep in Marley’s room.”
“Together?” Brian asked.
I quickly shook my head as Oliver spoke up.
“Yep. We found them this morning.”
“Again, not how it sounds—we were sitting with Marley and we both fell asleep. Everyone remained vertical.”
I looked down at my children’s plates, grabbed the serving spoon, and gave them each another enchilada when they were both nearly finished with their first.
“Do you guys want more?” I asked, but I wasn’t waiting for an answer. And too bad if they didn’t. Maybe if they had another helping, they’d quit oversharing.
“What’s vertical mean?” Olivia asked.
“Up and down,” Syd answered.
“Oh.” My daughter nodded as she processed that. “Well, Mama, your head wasn’t up and down. Not really.”
I quickly looked at her. “Olivia, yes, it was.”
“No, it wasn’t. It was sideways.”
“That’s called horizontal,” Oliver said.
“Yeah, it was horizontal!” Olivia punched the air. “I knew that.”
“Anyone else picturin’ what I’m picturin’?” Jamie asked.
“Jen.” Brian’s gaze was serious.
Okay, really? Were they all concluding the same thing here?
“My head was on his shoulder—that’s how I fell asleep,” I said. “Seriously, you guys?” I scowled around the table. Then I looked between my kids. “Both of you, eat. No more talking.”
Olivia sank in her chair and pushed around the food with her fork. “But I like talking,” she mumbled. Oliver didn’t seem to mind the order of silence. He was enjoying his meal too much. His cheeks were already stuffed full as he tried fitting in another bite.
“Slow down, please,” I said.
He pulled the fork back and breathed loudly through his nose as he chewed.
“Let’s talk about something else,” I suggested. “Like you two.” I gestured between Syd and my brother with my fork, asking, “When’s the wedding?”
Sydney immediately grinned, threw her arms around Brian’s neck, and yanked him closer so she could kiss his cheek. “Yes, Trouble. When?”
Brian fought a smile as he glared at me.
I was able to successfully divert all conversation until after the meal was over and my kids had moved away from the table. Once they fled into the other room to play with Sir, Syd’s adorable boxer pup, I sat back in my chair and relaxed. I didn’t have any issues talking about Nate. I just didn’t want to do it in front of Oliver and Olivia. The threat of it stressed me out a little.
“Sleepovers, huh?” Jamie draped his arms over the empty chairs flanking him. Cole had left right after the meal. It was just us four, not counting the kids.
“And you’re going out with Travis this weekend? I didn’t peg you as the type to juggle multiple guys, Jenna.”
I slid my gaze over to Syd, who knew all about my plans this weekend. Funny thing was, I had not shared them with anyone else sitting at this table. And Travis didn’t seem the type to brag, so Jamie knowing all about my plans came from one person and one person only.
My future sister in-law didn’t hide her guilt well. She immediately looked behind her and scanned the room, like she was forgetting to do something.
“Did I turn off the oven?” she asked.
I seriously needed to stop confiding in other women.
“That’s not at all what I’m doing,” I spoke up.
“Yeah, Jamie.” Syd sat forward and narrowed her eyes down the table. “She can’t do anything with Nate until the end of summer. In the meantime, Jenna’s dating around. That’s not juggling two guys.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m dating around. This weekend—”
“All this time you and the kids are spending with Nate,” Brian cut in, turning my head. “You think that’s a good idea?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I mean, you’re with the guy practically every day, Jen. Oliver and Liv are gettin’ attached. Anyone can see that.”
“Okay. And?”
“What happens when this doesn’t work out?”
I felt my body melt against the wood. “When it doesn’t work out…because it won’t work out. That’s what you’re telling me—you know it won’t?”
“Why would you say that?” Sydney asked him, dropping her voice lower.
Brian kept his gaze laser-focused on me. “I don’t know it won’t, but I’m wonderin’ if you’re even considerin’ the possibility of this thing not pannin’ out. That guy has some serious baggage. What’s gonna happen to the kids if you two fall apart? Do you think they won’t be affected by that?”
“He’s got a point,” Jamie added.
I ignored King Gossip and stared down my brother. “The kids would be around Nathan whether or not we dated, Brian.” Was he completely forgetting the fact that I babysat Marley? What the hell? “It’s not like I’m putting ideas into their heads or sharing how much I like this guy. I haven’t said anything even remotely close to that. And you act like I wouldn’t be careful once Nathan and I got together. Of course I’d think about Oliver and Olivia. I’m always thinking about them. What’s the matter with you?”
