Page 13 of How To Not Need You

"I never intended to."

He looked around, pausing on the art table. "Since when are you good with kids?"

I blinked, surprised and slightly offended by everyone’s disbelief. "Since always."

Everyone looked at me in a WTF way.

"What?" I snapped. Harper folded her arms.

"This is new information."

"No, it isn't."

"It definitely is."

I sighed at their disbelief. I was the same person who deliberately wore jewellery that soothed baby gums. "What? I'm allowed to be maternal."

Silence for a moment. Then Luca snorted. "I honestly thought you'd use children as tax deductions."

I slowly turned towards him. "I beg your pardon?"

“I’m just saying…”

“You should stop.”

“You’ve never exactly given off…”

“Luca.”

He wisely stopped talking. I looked around the room, taking in their expressions. A tiny sting of hurt hit before I shoved it down. Ridiculous. They were joking. I knew they were joking.

"You all assume that because I don't want children I'd happily kick one into traffic."

Noah shrugged. "I mean…”

I decided to make a joke out of it before the conversation could turn into something heavier. Or worse, sympathetic.

"I've only wanted to kick three people into traffic."

Elsie grinned. "Who?"

"Luca."

"And then?"

"Luca again."

"Anyone besides Luca?"

"And Noah after he left me alone with your twins after feeding them marshmallows."

Noah looked offended. "They enjoyed themselves. I fail to see the problem."

"I cleaned pink vomit off my shoes."

Alexander laughed so hard he had to steady himself against the counter. Harper just shook her head.

"I'd forgotten about that."