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“What’s wrong with my little guy?” Alec Slater asked as he entered the kitchen. “Wanna come to Uncle Alec?”
Jax nodded, so I handed him over to Alec, who immediately crossed the room with him and began rooting through Branna’s presses.
“Branna hid it under the sink,” Aideen commented, amused. “To stop Lana from takin’ it.”
Alec looked smug.
Bemused, I looked at my sister. “To stop Alannah from takin’ what?”
“The greatest cup in history!” Alec announced as he found whatever it was he was looking for. “My pride and joy.”
He held up a plain black cup in the air like it was Simba from The Lion King.
“We’re both lookin’ at a regular black cup, right?”
Alec looked positively horrified by my question. “If I didn’t love my nephew so much”—he glowered at me—“I’d throw him at you for asking something so offensive.”
If I didn’t love my nephew so much, I’d have liked to see him try.
“A secret message is revealed when hot liquid is poured inside it.” Aideen snorted. “It’s his Harry Potter cup. He loves it.”
“Loves. It.” Alec nodded. “Touch it, and I’ll break your d-i-c-k.”
My body automatically flinched. “Consider me warned.”
Aideen lost her smile when Jax began to cry again. She groaned when a wail from Locke outside floated into the room. Her gaze darted between Jax and the open door, and before she said a word, I said, “Go help Kane settle Locke. We’ll deal with the toddler throwin’ a wobbler. I think he’s just too warm.”
Aideen sighed, nodded, then went back outside, leaving Alec and me with a whining Jax. I turned to Alec and crossed the room almost instantly. I looked from my nephew to the Slater.
“What do we do?”
“What’re you asking me for?”
“You are the father outta the pair of us.”
“That means nothing.” Alec waved his free hand. “Most of the time, I just cry right along with Enzo, and he stops to stare at me.”
“We aren’t bloody cryin’.” I shoved him, mindful of Jax. “What else d’ye do?”
Alec’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “I sing dramatically, and the boy loves it.”
“Great idea, let’s sing.” I cleared my throat. “What’s that song Aideen keeps singin’ to him? The one from that new Disney film? We don’t talk about Bruno-o-o—”
“I will end your life right here and now if you sing that m-o-t-h-e-r-f-u-c-k-i-n-g song!” Alec cut me off with a pretty intimidating growl. “It’s the new ‘Let It Go’ and ‘Baby Shark’. I hate it. I hear that song in my nightmares, so just don’t.”
Thoroughly chastised, I frowned. “I’m standin’ right here. Ye don’t have to shout at me.”
“I’m sorry,” Alec said. “I get testy when it comes to those b-a-s-t-a-r-d songs.”
“Well, we have to sing somethin’.” I stressed as I took a still crying Jax and bounced him from side to side. “Since you’re so full of knowledge, Elton John, what’ll we sing?”
“‘I Wanna Be The Only One’ by Enteral.”
He answered that question so fast it made me blink. Even Jax paused mid-cry to look at him. “Why do I feel like ye’ve been waitin’ for the opportunity to sing this song for a while?”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
Yeah, right.
“Fine.” I sighed. “I’m rusty with the lyrics, but I’ll remember them if I hear the song. I think.”
“Hey, Alexa.” Alec looked giddy. “Play ‘I Wanna Be The Only One’ by Enteral.”
Jax stared at the Echo Dot as Alexa replied. He was still upset, but when the music started, he looked between Alec and me as if he knew what we were about to do. He looked … pleased.
“You sing the woman’s parts.”
I scowled. “Why do I have to be the woman?”
“Because you’re the one acting like a little b-i-t-c-h right now. That’s why.”
I scowled. “I’d kick your a-r-s-e if I wasn’t holdin’ this baby.”
“Yeah.” Alec snorted. “Keep telling yourself that.”
I swung my leg at him, and when he jumped away, Jax laughed.
“Yes, I see you crying,” I burst into song. “And I feel your broken heart.”
Jax was laughing now, clapping his hand on my healing shoulder. I swung him around, chuckling as he screamed with delight. I sang the chorus, and my nephew loved every second of it.
I let the artist on the Echo Dot take over when I realised that Alec wasn’t even in the kitchen anymore. I was about to holler for him and kick his arse for real when he suddenly slid in from the hallway exactly like Tom Cruise in Risky Business. The only difference was he kept his trousers on. Thank God.
“Now you deserve a mansion,” his voice boomed.
I blinked and said, “My lord you, too.”
I rolled my eyes as he snatched a cackling Jax from my arms. He wielded a cucumber in one hand like he was Freddy Mercury on stage at Wembley during Live Aid. Jax was clapping his hands gleefully, and he was the only reason I didn’t bloody Alec with my baby bottle for stealing my spotlight.
