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We still haven’t told the kids about our relationship. They’ve had to deal with a lot of changes, especially since Asher moved out of the house two weeks ago. They were pretty upset and I didn’t have the heart to explain that he was doing it because he couldn’t live in the same house as Juliette and me.
“Nothing,” she replies unconvincingly.
I’m about to grill her but the kids distract me.
“Mase, you think you can lift that?” Madison questions, nudging her twin and pointing at some barbells lying on the floor in the gym.
A glint appears in my son’s eyes that makes my eyes narrow.
“That weighs 70 kilograms, which is double your weight. Don’t even think about it, Ironman,” I say firmly.
“But Dad, you’re always saying we should push ourselves to our limits. There’s nothing we can’t do unless we set our hearts to it.”
I smile before leaning down in front of them.
“I didn’t mean for you to take that quite literally. You’re 12, Mason. There’s a lot of things you can’t do quite yet.”
“Also, I’m pretty sure you don’t want those puny arms to be crushed,” Juliette states from my side. When I look at her, there’s a mischievous smile on her face. “I had a friend once and he tried to lift really heavy weights. But he wasn’t strong enough, the weights fell onto him and smashed his face in.”
The twin’s eyes widen at her story.
“Really?” Madison asks.
“Yep. He had to get all kinds of surgery to fix it. Now he’s got so much metal in his face that it sticks out like this,” she tells them, while making such a hideous expression, I can’t help but laugh.
Madison squeals while Mason winces.
“That’s disgusting,” he says.
“It really is. Now quit talking about lifting things double your weight and watch me beat up your daddy,” she states, punching the air through her boxing gloves.
I chuckle. “For someone that’s never even fought before you sure do sound confident,” I point out, getting to my feet.
We’re both wearing gym attire and although I meant for us to come here so Juliette could finally get in some exercise, she immediately beelined for the boxing gloves and challenged me to a match. The woman can be so unpredictable sometimes.
“I can do anything I set my heart to,” she says, copying my words from earlier.
“Alright then, Wonder Woman. Let’s see what you go,” I tell her, getting into a fighting stance. I look at the kids. “The two of you can referee.”
“Don’t hurt her, Daddy,” Madison says, biting her bottom lip, although there’s an intrigued smile on her face.
I give her a look and raise an eyebrow. “Don’t worry, Mads. Look at her.” I point at the woman that’s furiously punching the air. Her form is terrible; her hands aren’t properly arranged. Yeah, she’s definitely talking out of her ass. “I won’t even be able to land a punch.”
Literally.
I move to stand in front of Juliette she and gives me an overly confident smile. She moves fast but I barely flinch when she lands a punch on the side of my stomach. The twins clap and cheer.
“Cheat,” I tell her when she grins. “No one asked us to start.”
“That’s your fault for being so slow, old man,” she taunts.
I laugh softly before stepping toward her. I aim at her shoulder but she immediately moves away, flinching before I can touch her. I’m faster though and I’m aiming another punch at her stomach. She doesn’t even move this time but she does flinch again while her eyes widen.
“How are you so fast?” she questions, breathlessly.
She’s already out of breath and we barely did anything.
“Okay, Firefly. That’s enough,” I say on a laugh. I grab the straps of the gloves and start taking them off. She raises an eyebrow at me. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re practically a defenceless grandma in the state you’re in. I’m pretty sure even Mase could get a few punches in.”
