Page 121 of Already Callin’ You Mine

Cody snickers, looking to me. “Seriously?”

I stand my ground, looping an arm through Jace’s. “Seriously.”

“Fine.” Cody starts to back up, eyeing the crowd of people surrounding us. “But this isn’t the end of this. We can revisit it later.”

He spins on his heel, hastily pushing through a family who stopped to gather themselves before the race. I watch as he walks away, holding my breath, hoping and praying that he doesn’t turn around.

“Pres… Mama…” Jace’s voice isn’t much louder than a whisper, but it reverberates through me as if he shouted it through a megaphone. Gathering me in his arms, he presses his lips to my forehead, holding me tight. “Mama…”

I relax into him, letting all the anger and anxiety that was holding me hostage release and drain out of me. His embrace is warm, comforting, and everything I need right now.

“You’re mine, Pres. You and Little Man.” Jace loosens his grip just enough to look me in the eye. “We’re a family.”

I nod, chuckling. “So I heard.”

“Meant every word, Mama.”

“Even the part about him not being the only grandchild on both sides?”

I poke his tummy, like he’s the Pillsbury Doughboy. Although he doesn’t let out the same giggle. The smile he gives me, however…that’s hot enough to melt the Arctic.

“Especially that part. Otis can’t be an only child. He needs some siblings. Although, I promise that he won’t be one of those insufferable oldests, like Gus.”

I laugh, knowing that Jace loves his oldest brother—almost as much as he loves giving him crap for his serious personality.

“I don’t think we’re at risk of Otis being as solemn as Gus,” I say. “Right, Otis?”

I look down, expecting to find my little turkey, but he’s not there. Scanning around us, I tell myself that he’s not far. That he’s simply hiding behind someone. That he’s joining in with one of the other families surrounding us.

But he’s not.

He’s nowhere to be found.

“Otis?” I call out.

Panic sets in. He’s gone. Again. He did a runner.

Fuuuuuuuuck…

“Where’s Otis?” I ask Jace, digging my nails into him.

“He’s right…” Jace twists, ready to prove me wrong. But I’m not wrong.

Otis is missing.