I’m using the term “kid” purely based on age-difference, because this brother is taller and seriously ripped, and could quite possibly wipe the floor with me.As it is, he doesn’t seem particularly aggressive.
“Yeah,” Remi underscores with a slightly sharper edge.
“I like your mother.Simple as that,” I state, taking my seat.
I keep my eyes on Linc, but hear the younger of the two scoff.I ignore that, because I have a feeling Remi will ultimately take his lead from the older brother’s response.
“She doesn’t date.Hasn’t dated since our sperm donor hightailed it out of town.”
I’m surprised by the sudden bitterness in the young man’s voice.He may present as if he doesn’t have a care in the world, but this last comment gives me the impression there is much more under the surface than he’d like you to know.
“Technically, we haven’t had a date yet, but I’m hoping to change that,” I offer.
“And you think she’ll say yes?”
“I think so.”
Suddenly, both boys look up and direct their attention over my head.I don’t have to hear her voice to know she is standing behind me.
“I know so,” she says firmly, putting a hand on my shoulder.“And I don’t need you boys meddling in my business.”
Remi snorts.“You meddle in mine,” he returns stubbornly.
“Child, you may have turned sixteen today, but you are still my responsibility.I am your parent.But even then, you won’t find me grilling your girlfriend, or yours for that matter,” she adds, shifting her focus to Linc.“If I have an issue with you dating, I will talk toyouabout it.I would’ve liked my sons to have shown me the same respect.”
The speech wasn’t directed at me, but still I could feel the scorch.I actually feel a little sorry for her sons, who look like they’ve been duly scolded.
The hand on my shoulder disappears, but seconds later Tessa is back carrying the cake with one single emergency candle stuck in the middle.
Then she smiles and asks, “Are we ready for cake?”as if she didn’t just quietly tear a strip off those boys.
I like this woman better every day.
The giant piece of carrot cake she serves me takes care of my yearly sugar quota, and will undoubtedly add more unnecessary padding to my midsection, but I wolf it down anyway.I’m not really a sweets guy, but this is damn tasty.
When I finally drop my fork on my empty plate, I’m full to bursting.Both boys already inhaled their food and asked to be excused, so it’s just Tessa and me at the table.
“Bess is a goddess,” she declares, leaning back with her hands on her stomach.“But I don’t think I can get up.”
“Then stay put, I’ll take care of the dishes.”
I manage to carry the dirty plates and the leftover cake to the kitchen.The cake goes back in the box on the kitchen island, and I dump the plates in the sink, where the dinner dishes ended up as well.Running hot water, I quickly rinse them and stack them all beside the sink.Then I fill the sink with soapy water and start washing them by hand.
“We have a dishwasher, you know,” Tessa points out from behind me, pressing herself to my back.
“Yeah, well, save it for the breakfast dishes.”I twist my head around to give her a kiss.“I won’t be around for those.”
She mock-pouts.“You won’t?”
“Unless you want me to…” I tease.
She chuckles.“Oh, I want, don’t get me wrong.Unfortunately, I think a sleepover might be a little too fast-moving for my boys.”
I shake the water off my hands and turn around, pulling her against me.
“Good thing I have a nice big bed and no one to take into account.But no rush.”
She grins up at me, a faint blush on her cheeks.“Tell my body that.”
