“How could you do it to me, blondie?” Braeden accused.
Ivy made a sound and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Poor baby.”
“Give me some sugar. I need it,” he told her.
Drew made a sound and turned away. “I think I lost my appetite.”
“Daddy!” Andi waved from down the table. “Sit by me,” she said, slapping her hand on the seat of the empty chair beside her.
I caught Drew by the back of the neck and leaned in. “You sit. I’ll make you a plate,” I told him before brushing a kiss on his temple and nudging him toward our daughter.
Ketchup trailed after him, and I grabbed some plates and piled them high with pancakes, eggs, and bacon. There were also muffins and donuts, but I didn’t just do all that work in the gym to undo it at the table.
I might not yet be forty like my husband, but I was no spring chicken either. It took a lot more discipline now to maintain my muscle than it did when I was twenty.
Maintaining it was important to me, not just for vanity either but because I wanted to be able to haul Drew around as long as he would let me. Andi too. Soon, she’d be twelve, and even though she was still a little peanut and easy for me to carry, I knew the day was approaching when she’d be “too old” for her dad to carry her around. I had to enjoy it while I could.
“Heads up, Uncle Trent!” Blue yelled, and I looked up in time to see a blob of scrambled egg coming at my face. I moved fast and ate it out of the air.
“Blue Jay Anderson, did you just throw eggs at your uncle?” Rimmel said, plunking her hands on her hips to glare at her son. At fourteen, he was taller than her.
“He looked hungry,” Blue said. “You always did tell me to share.” He smiled, and Rimmel’s lips twitched.
Over her shoulder, she glared at Romeo. “This is your fault, Roman Anderson.”
“Me? What did I do?”
She scowled. “Passing on that larger-than-life charm.”
Romeo snatched her from behind and kissed her neck loudly.
All the kids groaned and gagged.
“But, baby, you like my charm,” he reasoned.
“No more food throwing,” Rimmel told the room.
Jax belched, and frankly, it was impressive.
“I felt the house shake!” Asher announced.
Blue and Jax high-fived.
“Ewww,” Andi and London both sang.
“Boys are disgusting,” Nova announced, not even looking up from her phone.
Ivy stopped behind her chair, a mug in her hand. “Oooh, that’s cute,” she said, pointing to something on the screen. “Send me the link.”
“Done,” Nova said a second later.
“Good, now put your phone down. It’s family time.”
Nova sighed. “Mom.”
“You know the pancake Sunday rules,” Braeden chimed as he sat at the table.
Rocket lumbered over and dropped his head on his lap. Braeden made a face but then scratched behind his ear.
