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“I hope you know what you’re letting yourself in for,” Jax smiles at me.
“A whole week with the three of them.” I shake my head. “I feel exhausted just thinking about it.”
“I feel exhausted for you.”
“You are the twins’ godfather though, and you are Matthias’ second favorite person after his Papa, so I think that means you’re contractually obliged to help me out this week,” I remind him.
He arches an eyebrow at me. “Is that so?”
“It most definitely is.” I feel the heat flush unexpectedly over my cheeks. Being in his company never used to be this awkward. “You think they’re okay?” I look back toward the kitchen where we left my parents arguing.
“Well, I haven’t heard a gunshot or anything breaking yet so that’s a good sign, right?” he laughs.
“Don’t, Jax,” I shake my head. “I feel so bad for causing this.”
He wraps an arm around my shoulder and gives me a quick squeeze before dropping it back to his side. “There’s no need to, Lucia. Your mom is just worried about you.”
“I know. What if I spoil their vacation though?”
Jax laughs out loud as we head out to the garden to the kids. “Are you kidding me?” he checks his watch. “Those two will be make-up fucking already.”
“Jax,” I nudge him in the ribs. “They’re my parents.”
“Yeah, I know. You’ve lived in the same house as them so you know I speak the truth.”
“Ugh,” I groan. “I do and it’s gross.”
“People in their thirties still fuck, you know?” He grins at me and my pulse starts to thrum against my skin. “A lot!”
Then he walks into the garden and scoops the nearest shrieking toddler into his arms and I stare after him wishing he would give me a practical demonstration.
By the time dinner is served almost an hour later, we are all ravenous with hunger and my parents are no longer glaring at each other, making me wonder if Jax was right earlier. I shudder at the thought. It has nothing to do with their age though, simply the fact that they are my parents.
As my mom places the bowl of salad onto the dining table, she takes hold of my arm and pulls me to one side. “I will be just as angry when the boys decide to work for your father too. But they’re still so young. I thought I had more time with you, that’s all,” she says as her eyes fill with tears.
“Mom,” I say as she makes me want to cry now too. “You will always be my best friend,” I whisper. Because that is how we started out and how we will always be. I was almost seventeen when I first met her. Pregnant and scared and alone, and she was the person who rescued me, convincing my father to take me in when I had nowhere else to go. I owe her everything.
“And you will always be my favorite daughter,” she says with a smile. “I love you, sweetheart.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
CHAPTER 4
JAX
Alejandro left for his vacation two days ago and it’s kind of strange being in his house when he’s on the other side of the world. He’s been on vacation before but he’s always been a short plane trip away. Not that the house is any quieter without him around—his sons have more energy than any kids I have ever known. I honestly don’t know how Lucia is coping with the three of them on her own this week. She could have help from the house staff if she wanted it, but I know that she is far too independent to ask. She seems to have a burning desire to prove to everyone that she is capable of handling things on her own.
I promised Alejandro and Alana that I would look in on her and the kids while they were away and so here I am, with Jell-O on my t-shirt and peanut butter on my jeans, surrounded by plastic dinosaurs and action figures.
“I’m just going to put the twins down and then I’ll come back for Matthias. Okay?” Lucia pops her head inside the den, with one of her twin brothers in her arms and the other clinging to her leg.
“Yeah,” I smile at the sight. “You need a hand there?”
“No.” She blows a strand of hair from her eyes. “I got it.” She nods to her son. “Can you just watch the munchkin for me?”
“Sure. The T-Rex is about to save Iron Man from certain death over here,” I say with a wink.
“Thank you,” she mouths and then disappears out of the door.
