A twinge of jealousy washed over me. Why couldn’t fate ever bring me someone? If my mother was here. she’d probably tell me it did, except I’d not been paying attention. Most likely true, but that’s neither here nor there at the moment. My pity party needed to stop.
Just then, a loud bang, followed by a child crying, had Jake bolting toward the back of the house. We followed suit to see their eldest daughter, Aubree, clutching a spoon, and one of the twins covered in a bowl of strawberries. “Sorry, Mom.”
I watched Millie pinch the bridge of her nose and scoop up the wailing toddler with her mini hair bun, I was sure that was Ava. Jake rushed over and took the little girl from Millie. “I got her.”
Just then, her twin, Aria, waddled in wearing a cute flower sundress and holding a pink teddy bear. She took one look at Josh and I stood in the doorway, and ran straight for Millie’s leg.
“Need help?” I asked over the commotion.
“I would love it. Could you pass the paper towels?” She pointed with her elbow to the counter. I rushed over and took them to her, placing some over the bright-red mess of strawberries.
“The thing with kids is, it’s always loud and messy.” Millie shook her head and laughed.
I laughed along, wishing that someday this would be me, but not according to my dating record. As my mother said, I could barely hold down a man, kids probably weren’t in the future.
CHAPTER 27
JOSH
I didn’t exactly know what to expect coming over to Jake’s, but so far, it’s been oddly nice. The kids are helping to keep us distracted, but every once in a while, I catch Jake elbowing Millie as they watch April and me. They definitely know something is up and I haven’t quite figured out our next move here. April’s part of the deal was done and now, it was my turn. It was a little more complicated now that we were sitting here at Jake’s, trying to figure out our new situationship. They certainly weren’t buying the friends angle.
“April, I heard it was your grandad’s birthday?” Millie asked when she was finally able to sit and join us now that we’d eaten and the twins were down for a nap. Aubree was busy watching a movie in the next room, leaving the adults alone. I noted that Jake’s hand automatically fell to her thigh once she sat next to him.
April nervously patted her hands against her thighs. “Yeah, yesterday was his ninetieth.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.” She smiled genuinely, then turned her head to me. “It was nice that Josh came with you.” And there it was, the subtle question ofwhat is going on with you two,but in the Millie way.
April started to twist her hands, then glanced at me sideways. I noticed a small smile at the corners of her lips. “Yeah, it’s kinda dumb. I was supposed to bring this guy I was seeing, but he broke up with me.” She paused, chewing her bottom lip.
I glanced at her, telling her it was okay, she didn’t need to say more. Jake and Millie wouldn’t push for more. April simply shrugged and continued.
“Anyways, I have this…thing?—”
“Rivalry.” I coughed into my hand, interrupting her. Making us laugh.
She rolled her eyes and continued, “With my sister, and she had doubted I was bringing anyone as it was, and I hated that she was right, again, so I asked Josh.” She glanced at me with a small smile and damn, if it didn’t make my chest expand. “He was kind enough to play the doting boyfriend for the party.”
I hated the way the wordsfor the partylingered as if that was all it was, especially after last night.
“I love that.” Millie chuckled. “God, what we do for some sibling rivalry!”
April laughed. “Seriously, right.”
“Oh, I’ve had a few battles of my own, but Avery and Alex go at it. The stuff they have done to each other is just outrageous. Nearly as bad as the boys and their poker bets.” She laughed and tapped Jake on the leg. Jake and I both stayed silent. I wasn’t sure if she knew about the bet with Carlos, and the wide eyes Jake had, suggested he hadn’t said anything.
“I still die when I catch the pic of Jake in that damn pink elephant thong, serving drinks.”
“Yeah, not so much,” Jake chimed in. “So, did they buy it?” he asked, nodding at us.
April blushed. “I think so.”
Jake shot me a look that suggested he knew there wasmore to the story, but I stayed quiet, letting him make up his own story in his head. I knew I’d hear all of it later, anyway.
“Do you need to keep up pretenses for a while?” Millie questioned with a twinkle in her eye, lifting her glass of iced tea from the table between us. I noted the smirk she was hiding behind her drink.
“For a little while.” I jumped in to save April, as I felt her shift side to side in her seat.
Jake grinned. “Two problems solved.” He paused to for a beat. A mischievous grin on his face before he added. “Convenient.”
