“I did.” Kennedy turns to face her mother, answering her previous question. “Can I still borrow your heels? The red ones that appear to lace up the back?” She puts her hands in a praying position and sticks outher bottom lip.
“Of course. Whatever you want.”
“Thank you. Thank you.”
“You know she’s just going to ruin them,” Kaidyn tells his mother. “Why do you want Mom’s anyway? You have an entire closet full of your own.”
Kennedy ignores her brother, and he snatches a piece of her banana. “Hey. Get your own.”
“See how that works?” he points out, and she shoves him.
I tune them out and focus on my wife. “Good morning, angel.” I pull her into me and lower my lips to her neck, kissing her soft skin while my hands squeeze her ass. Her cell starts to ring, and I allow her to step back.
“Hello?” she answers and walks away. “Yes. We’ll be there.” Eve nods to herself. “Would you like me to bring you anything? I’ll stop on my way…perfect. See you soon.” Hanging up, she puts her cell on the counter.
“Who was that?” I ask.
Her eyes slide to our kids and then back to me before she checks her watch. “You two are going to be late for school.”
“You’re not riding with me,” Kaidyn informs his sister.
“What?” She stomps her foot. “Why? I have to finish my makeup on the way.”
“Because they’re going to send you home. Your skirt is too short.” He looks at Eve. “Tell her, Mom. There’s a reason we wear uniforms.”
“I just rolled it up a couple of times,” Kennedy argues.
“I don’t care. I’m not leaving school when they send you home,” Kaidyn informs her.
“If they send me home, I can drive your car,” she says in aduhvoice. “And just go back and pick you up at the end of the day.”
He shakes his head. “No. Last time you drove it, you blew two tires.”
“That…was not my fault,” she argues. Her phone beeps on the island.
Kaidyn looks down at it. “Why is Halston sending you a picture of his wiener?”
“What?” I bark, pushing off the counter.
Her eyes narrow on her brother, and she snatches her cell to hold it in my face. “It’s Penny. Their dachshund. She had her puppies last week, remember? He sent me a pic of them.” She rolls her eyes at her brother. “Don’t go through my phone.”
“I didn’t,” he points at it. “You left it on the table with the message open.”
“You guys are going to be late,” Eve reminds them and adds, “Kennedy, unroll your skirt. You can’t afford another dress code violation before graduation.”
“Fine.” She shoots daggers at her brother as if her mother wouldn’t have noticed had he not said anything.
Both walk over to Eve, giving her a kiss and hug goodbye before Kennedy gives me one as well. Kaidyn reaches out his fist, and I bump it with mine. “Have a great day at school,” I call out.
“Be nice and make new friends,” Eve adds with an encouraging smile.
Kaidyn snorts and Kennedy just smiles. It’s the same thing Eve always tells them. In a world full of monsters, we’ve raised our kids to be kind and caring.
They hurry out the door, arguing, and I turn to my wife. “Where were we?” I ask, pulling her into me.
“That was Elli on the phone.” She looks up at me, answering my previous question now that the kids are gone. “Calling to see if we’re coming in today.”
“Of course,” I assure her.
