“She’d need him to sign over his rights in order to take custody back from Jalen now that he’s in her life. If she didn’t give him the opportunity to be in Mikael’s life, then he could challenge any custody argument she set forth. I don’t see her wanting to deal with that from the things I’ve heard.”
He let her words sink in. If that was the case, then that meant that Valerie knew Vega was Mikael’s father when she’d shown up at the birthday party. Since to his knowledge, she hadn’t been told after the fact. Her comment made sense now. Telling Vega that none of the girls were his. Rohan had thought it was out of place but pushed it aside in favor of comforting Jalen. It made him wonder if Valerie actually knew who all of their fathers were.
“Thanks, Rohan. That helped me out.”
“No problem,” he responded, and the two disconnected the call.
He stared at his laptop screen. He knew Jalen would be busy most of the night. They had several kids checked in. He made a mental note to tell her about his suspicion of Valerie knowing their fathers when she called him in the morning.
31
“Dad!”
Rohan bit his tongue to keep from laughing as the hostess’s eyes went wide as saucers. She had been too busy flirting with him earlier to listen when he’d said his party had already arrived and he knew where they were. She differed from the one who had seated them before he’d had to run out and pick up Landon’s birthday cake that had not been ready on time. He turned his attention to Kodi as she approached them.
“Mom was just about to call you to see what was taking so long.” The teenager looked to the hostess and raised a brow at her before dismissing her with a bored sigh. “The kids are still playing the games, so we’ve got time to set the cake up.”
They went over to where they’d been seated. As they did, Kodi snorted and shook her head.
“Landon was right. You must give off some weird pheromone.”
Rohan chuckled. “If I do, so does your sister.”
Kodi laughed. “You aren’t wrong.”
When they arrived at the large table they’d called and reserved, Jalen, his mother, and Trent were the only people at it. Kodi had told him the girls were still playing, and he figuredVega and Maria were playing with them. He placed the cake on the table, and Jalen smiled at him.
“Thank you for going back out to pick it up.”
He knew telling her to stop thanking him for normal things was a moot point because she hadn’t listened the other times he’d told her. Instead, he responded, “You’re welcome.”
He retook his seat beside Jalen as he looked out over the gaming area to find the girls. He knew that Vega and Maria were with them. However, he still wanted to know where they were. He spotted Landon pretty easily as she sat atop a motorcycle playing the racing game. He found Mikal and Alynn playing Skee-Ball with Vega. However, he couldn’t find the twins. Rohan was about to stand up when he felt Jalen’s hand on his thigh.
“They’re in the ball pit with Maria’s sons. She’s over there with them,” Jalen informed him. He nodded as he leaned down and kissed her.
“I have a question,” Kodi started. “When are the two of you going to give me a niece or nephew, because those dad instincts are looking pretty sharp, Rohan?”
He looked at her to find her smirking at him as Jalen coughed as if she’d choked on air. Like the question was physically wrapped around her neck. His brother chuckled as his mother seemed to get excited, nodding in the affirmative and wanting an answer to the question as well.
“I agree with Kodi; six grandchildren are wonderful, but they say seven is a lucky number,” his mother threw out.
He ignored them both, as it seemed Jalen was intent on doing when she changed the subject.
“Trent, are you still okay with Alynn sleeping over tonight?” she asked.
“If you’re still sure you want her to.”
“Of course. Landon’s chosen to have a pajama party with the girls tonight, and she wants Alynn there.”
Trent shrugged. “I won’t object to a free babysitter for a night,” he responded with a laugh.
“Kodi, what do you have planned for the rest of the weekend?” his mom asked, drawing the teenager’s attention.
“Sleepover tonight, and I have a date tomorrow, sort of.”
“Sort of?” Rohan questioned.
“I mean, we’re going to a play in the park with some other people from school.”
