We’d all noticed Katie had lost weight over the last few weeks, but we’d all held our tongues, assuming Jackson was dealing with it. Why we thought that, I don’t know. We all knew their relationship was on the rocks. Jackson looked at Hayden and nodded.
“Whether or not I eat isn’t really any of your concern, Hayden,” Katie said as she pushed the plate away.
Foster stood up, walked to the island where Katie sat, and pushed the plate back in front of her.
“It is, actually. It’s all of our concern because it will be that much harder to protect you if you’re not at the top of your game,” Foster said as he handed Katie a fork. “So, get to eating.”
Jackson took his plate to the sink and moved to leave, but Foster cleared his throat, giving us all a look. Everyone took the hint and cleared out, relocating the breakfast get-together to the patio where we could eavesdrop. Hopefully, Foster could browbeat some sense into the two of them.
When Foster joined us, he sat down, staring in the windows toward the kitchen. “We’ll see.”
44
HAYDEN
We all sat outside, waiting for Foster to join us. The words ‘with bated breath’ described us to a tee when he sat at the patio table next to me.
A few minutes later, he and I chuckled as we both said, “Well, it’s about damn time.”
Every eye not already spying on Jackson and Katie swiveled to look through the same patio doors I’d been watching like a hawk.
Knowing that Jackson and Katie in a good place were as horny as me, Marcie, and Declan were, I stood and walked into the kitchen, shutting the door behind me, saying, “Jesus fuck! We’re back to this! I was hoping I wouldn’t have to watch the two of you suck face ever again.”
Katie flipped me the bird, and Jackson said, “What Katie said.”
“Y’all couldn’t handle all this,” I teased, and Katie cracked up.
Jackson, on the other hand, rolled his eyes, then said. “I think you’ve got your hands full as is.”
My eyes bulged with realization, and they both laughed at me as I stared at them. I guess Marcie, and also Declan and me, didn’t need to worry about how they would react if they found out, because they knew. Or suspected, I guess.
The patio door opened behind me, and Declan stopped next to me and said, “Okay, lovebirds, time to mount up.”
I swallowed, looking down at him as he looked up at me and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
Katie and Jackson, who’d just gotten themselves under control, lost their shit again, and I felt the rare blush heat my face. I cleared my throat, grabbed Declan’s hand, and pulled him out of the room, saying something about packing.
I didn’t fucking need to pack. Marcie had done that for all three of us yesterday, despite Declan and me both telling her we could do it. She insisted, and we finally relented. She said she wanted to take care of us. We tried pointing out that as her Daddies, it was our jobs to care for her, but she stamped her foot and said if Declan could be switchy, then she could be subby sometimes. I couldn’t argue with her, but vowed to make sure she found a good balance that wouldn’t tire her out.
Once the din of the crowd in the kitchen faded and we were out of sight, I turned to see Marcie coming toward us—concern marring her gorgeous face.
“Papi, are you okay?”
45
MARCIE
As one of the last people in the door, I had no clue what was happening. All I knew was that Jackson was laughing about something so hard he was holding his chest, and Katie was fretting.
But they weren’t my focus.
I was happy they’d worked some of their issues out, but my Daddies grabbed my attention and held it. As they always did. Following after them, I didn’t stop until we were standing together out of sight of everyone else.
Hayden looked like he’d seen a ghost.
“Papi, are you okay?”
He wrapped one of his long arms around me and the other around Declan, pulling us into his broad chest. Hayden dropped a kiss on Declan’s mouth, softly. I looked behind me, but Hayden swooped in, taking my mouth with his. Kiss didn’t cover it. He staked a claim. He owned me.
