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“At the next family cookout, you won’t know what to eat because it will all be delicious.” Jaxon smiles.
Ryan adds, “Mom with our aunts cook up a storm, and our sister, Sofia, is a baker, so she makes the most amazing cakes.” He looks dreamy, and Jaxon tosses a biscuit at him.
“No!” Ruben states as Ryan goes to throw it back. “We didn’t raise you as baboons.”
Jaxon laughs. "Me, you didn't."
“I’m going to stop while I’m ahead.” Ryan stands.
“That’s what you think.” Jaxon drapes an arm over my shoulders.
Shaking his head, Ryan smirks and quickly kisses me on the cheek. “It’s nice to have another sister.”
Blushing, I reply, “Thank you.”
“What’s going on with you?” Jaxon questions his brother. “You know I saw Poppy first, right?”
What?
Ryan straightens. “I like Poppy, but she isn’t—” he curses under his breath, “—never mind. I have work to do.” He leaves.
I'm curious about Ryan. However, I decide to keep my questions to myself for now after that little display of jealousy from Jaxon. Rosie frowns as her older son leaves and, after a quick glance at Ruben, shakes off whatever she was thinking.
“So, Poppy, we know nothing about how you two met.”
“Mom,” Jaxon groans.
“It’s okay.” I laugh at the horror on Jaxon’s face. “I was his college Professor.”
Ruben chokes on the sip of coffee he’d just taken, so I decide I better come clean.
“I was a visiting Professor at the University.” I grin. “So not as bad as it sounds. I’d finished my term when we, um, got together.”
"Hell, no, it isn't." Jaxon quickly kisses me on the lips. "The best thing that ever happened to me." He kisses me again before moving away slightly. "We're going to move into one of the apartments at the top of McKenzie's tomorrow until we can find our own place." He looks at his dad. "Is this okay?"
"You don't need to ask. You know this, Jaxon."
"Thanks, Dad."
“Honey, you both can stay here. We really don’t mind.” Rosie takes her husband’s hand in hers.
“They need time alone to work this parenting thing out without us interfering," Ruben kisses his wife’s palm. “We’ll be here if they need us.”
"We'll need you, Mom. Don't worry." Getting to his feet, Jaxon holds his hand out for me. "Let's go."
“Where you off to?” Rosie asks.
“Bed.”
Ruben burst out with a laugh, which he quickly covers up with a cough. He turns his back and moves toward the sink, turning the faucet on and washes his hands. I'm guessing it's so he doesn't have to look at us.
My face feels as hot as a furnace. I turn to Jaxon, who grins like an idiot at his parents. "You two are not the only ones who can take naps during the day, together.”
Horrified, I want to run from the room with embarrassment. I’m sure if Jaxon weren’t holding me so tightly, I would have.
“Jeez,” he adds, “Poppy is pregnant and needs her rest. What did you think I mean?”
"Oh, just go." Rosie ushers us from the room while covering her cheeks before she turns to her husband, who smirks at her. I don't miss the way Ruben looks at Rosie as Jaxon leads me from the kitchen.
