“That’s so sweet.” Tilly smiles and reaches over to squeeze Mia’s hand. “It’s okay, we won’t embarrass him.”
“Speak for yourself, this is gold,” Tate bellows as Bella slaps him in the gut and glares at him to stop.
“I hope you have given him the talk, buddy,” Mason remarks. “Our jet is at capacity for passengers; we don’t need another unexpected generation to start. Otherwise, I’m going to have to buy a freaking commercial jet, and that’s a bit over the top.”
“Lalalalala, this can’t be happening.” Mia starts singing with her hands over her ears at the thought of Jack having sex.
“Do you need me to step in as the expert doctor specializing on the end result of what happens if you have unprotected sex?” I can’t tell if Gray is being serious or just trying to gear me up.
“For fuck’s sake, you are all ridiculous. Of course I’ve had the talk with him. He is a good kid, and I trust him to do the right thing. He isn’t even thinking about that yet. Besides, the age of consent is seventeen and we’re a long way from that yet,” I say, remembering back to the night we sat in his room talking.
“Ummm, do you remember what we were all like at his age?” Tate says. “He is definitely thinking about it, watching it online while using the box of tissues or a sock in his room, and for all you know, he has already done it. He turns fifteen next month, get real, Lex.”
“No, stop, he is still my little boy,” Mia pleads.
Mason shakes his head. “Correction, we remember whatyouwere like at that age, Tate. But in saying that, guys, I have toagree with what Tate said. He’s already in the era of raging testosterone and learning how to control those thoughts and his body. While you girls were dealing with the body changes of becoming a woman, we were over there just trying to stop getting a boner every time a pretty girl looked at us. Looking back, it’s a confusing time, for sure.”
Mason is close to Jack, always has been regardless of being his uncle. They bonded the moment they met, and I love knowing there are always other great role models and mentors around my kids if something ever happens to me.
“I can’t help it if you fuckers were slow to come to the party. Or that I was in high demand with the girls.” Tate’s words earn another whack in the ribs from Bella.
“You know I’m right here,” she says. “I don’t need to hear this shit.”
He just laughs and pulls her toward him and settles her body in between his outstretched legs, leaning her back against his front as he wraps his arms around her. “None of them compared to you, Tink, you know that. Plus, you were still in diapers when I started thinking about girls.” And now I know why he wrapped her in his arms, because that comment was sure to earn him another playful smack from her.
“That makes it sound ick, don’t say things like that.” Bella shakes her head at her husband.
“Okay, can we circle back to the good stuff?” Paige asks. “You have already spilled the beans. Tell us all the gossip on this Charlotte girl. Is she good enough for our Jack?”
“He’s going to kill me, so you are all sworn to secrecy, understood?” Mia pleads with the group.
Everyone nods, but I don’t trust them one bit. But part of me is happy he has aunties and uncles around him to care enough to rib him about things all in fun, and he knows that too.
“He met her on day one of the music workshop we signed him up for over the last week of school and then into the school break,” Mia starts.
“So, you can imagine how popular I was when he found out we were leaving for ten days?” I chip in.
“The constant messaging on his phone makes more sense now,” Mason mentions. “I’ve noticed he is hardly without his phone unless he is in the water.”
“Yes, I made a deal with him, that he needs to be present in everything we are doing but can still message her, just not doom scrolling on social media for no reason.” I have to admit, he has been pretty good at sticking to what we agreed on.
“Then I have to say, she is more than a friend with the amount of time he has been spending with his fingers flat-out typing on his phone,” Tilly adds.
“Yeah, I think you might be right,” I agree.
“Shhh, all of you. I want the gossip before he returns. Do you have a picture, or have you met her?” Paige is already so invested it makes me laugh.
“Oh my God, give the kid a break, he’s just met her. I’m surprised you aren’t already messaging Ashton to get a security check on her background, parents, and friends.” I burst out laughing.
“Oh, good idea,” Paige replies as she reaches for her phone, and Mason swipes it out of her hand.
“Don’t you dare, you don’t even know this girl’s last name, tiger.” He glares at her.
“Won’t be hard to find out,” she mumbles under her breath.
Tilly laughs. “No, we all need to stay out of this and let Jack fumble along like every other awkward teenage boy. It’s a rite of passage.”
“I was never awkward, just saying,” Tate pipes up, and we all groan at him.
