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Keith’s smirk was victorious. “For always beats Loki, Mommy!”
“Of course he does, especially when he takes a cheap shot,” I said teasingly, and pulled him into my arms.
“What’s that?” Keith asked, excitement dancing in his eyes at the thought of learning something new.
“It’s what you just did to Uncle J.” I forced back the laugh that was begging to be released when I glanced at Jagger, now lying on his back, still holding his stomach with one hand and attempting to stop Aly from flopping on him with the other. I directed my attention back to my son and whispered, “Can you do something for Mommy?”
Keith nodded vigorously, his blue eyes even brighter. “Yes!” he whisper-yelled back to me.
I squatted down to whisper in his ear, and loved the way he wiggled with anticipation. “Can you go say you’re sorry to Uncle J for taking a cheap shot?”
He deflated, and when I pulled back, was giving me a look as though I’d just crushed his dreams. “I guess,” he said with a sigh, and trudged slowly over to Jagger. With the same look and sigh, he mumbled, “Uncle J, I’m sorry for taking a cheap shit.”
“Oh gosh,” I groaned, and dropped my face into my hands as Jagger barked out a laugh. “Stop laughing,” I hissed, then looked back up at Keith. “Baby, it’s shot. Cheap shot.”
Keith shrugged. “That’s what I said!” He looked between Jagger and me, and I could tell he didn’t know if he should start laughing as well, but the confusion held out. “Does this mean I didn’t beat Loki?”
“Nah, you definitely won this one, bud,” Jagger said, his words still laced with amusement.
“Yeah! Hammer frow!” Keith yelled, then tore off out of the main room, back down the hall toward our room.
I walked over to pick Aly up, and lifted an eyebrow as I stared down at my brother. “Did you guys watch anything other than The Avengers while I was at school?”
Jagger’s eyes widened. “Do you want me to name all the Marvel movies?”
“No need. I get it.”
The front door opened, and I turned to see Grey walking in with boxes of food.
I glanced quickly to the kitchen, but didn’t see any food out. “I thought you were making breakfast,” I said to Jagger, accusation creeping through my tone.
He shrug
ged impishly as he walked away to help Grey. “Had to get you out of bed somehow.”
“Being jumped on by a toddler would have done the job, you didn’t need to make me worry about the safety of the building.”
“She’s so dramatic in the mornings,” he mumbled as he took the boxes from his wife and passed a kiss across her forehead. Jagger’s eyes narrowed as they darted over Grey’s face, and remained on her as he slowly stepped back toward the kitchen. “And you look extremely happy for someone who barely slept last night.”
I made a face. “Ew.”
“Not like that!” Grey said quickly.
“Aly, Charlie.” Jagger shot me an annoyed look. “She was up all night with Aly.”
“Anyway!” Grey took Aly from my arms, then swayed away from me. Her eyes were only for her daughter, but her singsong voice floated back to me. “Favor repaid, Charlie. You’re welcome!”
“What favor?” When Grey didn’t immediately answer because she was busy cooing at Aly, I thought of her excited smile, and wariness crept over me. “Grey . . . what favor?”
Her golden eyes danced when she nodded in Jagger’s direction. “You have a job now.”
Jagger held up his box-filled hands. “I don’t know why she’s gesturing to me. I didn’t do shit.”
Keith’s war cry announced his presence before I heard the sound of his slapping feet against the hard floor. “Cheap shit!”
“Well, that’s rude and so not appropriate, bud,” Grey murmured.
“Jagger,” I bit out when he laughed loudly. “Keith, baby, it’s cheap shot.”
