“Uncle Lucio.” She grabs his face, and I know what’s coming. She’s going to turn on the cute little girl charm, wrapping him further around her finger.
“What, doll?” He pushes her brown hair over her shoulder.
She leans closer, and their noses almost touch. “If you get me cake, I promise to be a good girl.” She mushes his cheeks together. “Please.”
Man, this kid makes it damn near impossible to say no to her. I struggle with it at times, but her uncles… They have zero ability to deny her anything when she pulls out all the stops.
“Gimme a kiss,” Lucio tells her with his fish lips. “And we’ll stop and get cake for dessert.”
Tate’s eyes widen like she’s shocked. She’s not. She knew exactly what she was doing with my brother. She keeps her hold on his face as she gives him a sloppy kiss on the lips, but it’s only for a second. She wiggles, trying to break free of his arms. “I have to get my bag,” she tells him as she pushes against his chest.
“And your brother,” I tell her as her feet touch the floor, and she takes off down the hallway, skipping because she got exactly what she wanted.
Lucio’s a sucker. We all are. Tate knows it. I know it. But somehow, my family keeps falling for her tricks.
Lucio rubs the back of his neck, laughing. “She just played me, didn’t she?”
“Like a pro.”
“When she hits puberty, you better lock her in her room.”
I laugh, but the thought’s crossed my mind more than once. I’m already pissed at the first fucker who’s going to lay his hands on my kid, professing to love her forever, when he’s really just a dick with legs.
Lucio leans against the counter, watching me as I enter panic mode, shoving shit wherever I can find room.
“Everything ready for Tilly?”
“Food’s in the oven, and I cleaned, so…yeah.” I glance around the bottom level, amazed at how clean my place looks. With two kids, having a surface free of toys is completely unheard of. But Tilly saw it in all its glory the other night and didn’t seem to flinch.
“We’ll keep the kids as long as you want. Don’t rush on our account. Delilah already has plans for them tomorrow afternoon.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can pick them up early.”
Lucio flattens his lips. “Slow your roll, Jimmy Dean.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You know. The sausage?” he asks like I’m a complete idiot for not understanding. “Never mind. Just enjoy some you time.”
I nod. “That’s the plan.”
“And don’t forget to…”
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.” I wave him off.
“Lock it up tight, brother.”
Tate comes barreling into the living room with two backpacks, one on her back and the other in her hand, and she’s pulling Brax by the collar with her free hand. “We’re ready,” she says like she can’t get away from me fast enough.
Lucio grabs the backpack from her hand and stares at her other hand until she gets the message to let go of her brother. “How does DeLuca’s sound?”
Tate squeals. “Perfect. Can we get Cassata cake?”
“I’m sure they sell it by the slice.”
I laugh because I know a slice is never enough for my little monster.
She puts her hands on her hips and furrows her brows. “I mean, the whole cake.”
