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"Micah!"
"Reeeeally?"
"Oh, my."
"I told you so."
"Back in the car, kid!"
The chorus of simultaneous comments from the adults halted Micah in his tracks. His eyes darted warily back and forth between the adults who were all focused on him. I'd like to think it was my glare that sent him scurrying back inside my car without another comment.
"Who was that?" my mom asked as the other women stared at Grace and me with renewed interest.
"Trouble," I answered, looking to Grace for some backup, but her eyes were following Micah with a bemused expression.
The three older women on the porch exchanged looks. It was like watching something straight out of some alien movie as they appeared to have an entire conversation without speaking. I grew uneasy when they looked between Grace and me and smiled, looking pleased.
"Oh, he looks adorable," Julie gushed. "Bring him inside and let's visit awhile."
Why did I drag him here instead of taking him home first again? Right; because I liked efficiency. I just hadn't counted on this clusterfuck of relatives who seemed to have stumbled across the idea of a matchmaking business. "No, thank you, Aunt Julie. I need to get him home."
"I'm sure you can spare a few minutes, can't you? I have some wonderful homemade pie that I made this morning," Anne called. "I'm sure he'd enjoy some, too."
Both Grace and I shook our heads. I think she finally caught on to what was going on here.
I needed to put an end to whatever plot they'd concocted. "Come on, Mom. I'm sure you should rest and ice your foot, so it's better before you and Aunt Julie travel, and I need to take Micah home. His mom is waiting for him." Maybe the kid would serve a purpose after all.
"Well, if you're sure you can't stay...." My mom gave me one last longing look, but I held my hand out to assist her down the steps.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Carter. I hope these crutches help.”
“Oh, what a lovely and thoughtful young lady you are. Right, Son?”
“Yep. Time to go, Mom.”
Almost sulking like a child denied extra play time, she hobbled down the rest of the sidewalk.
"Grace, you can stay, right, honey?"
"I really need to get going, too, Mom." Grace leaned close. "You know what they're doing, right?"
I snorted. "They're experts. We played right into their hands without suspecting a thing."
Grace blew out an exasperated breath. "I won't blame you if you don't come to dinner on Friday. Between both of my parents, if I were you, I'd run far and fast."
Everything in me agreed with her. "I'll still be there." Well, apparently, not everything.
"You will?"
I laughed softly. "It wasn't just your mom. I had two conspiring family members to your one. Besides, I might be a little afraid of what will happen if I don't show up."
To my surprise, she didn't laugh. "I like spending time with you, Jax, but not because you feel forced to."
My hand thumped across my heart as I took a step back. "Really? This is coming from the woman who forced me to volunteer at the teen center?" I teased.
"I didn't force you to do that. I just didn't play into your hands."
I leaned forward, close enough I could feel her stiffen. Close enough I could see the eruption of goosebumps break out on her pretty neck with my next words. "My hands would really like to play with you, though."
