Romeo looked at Blue.
Blue sighed. “Sorry, Nova.”
“Now, about Travis’s birthday party,” Ivy said. She was forever the event planner of this family. “I double-checked yesterday with the caterer to make sure everything was confirmed. We are good to go for Saturday.”
Nova perked up. “Saturday?ThisSaturday?”
“His birthday is the same every year. It’s kind of an annual thing,” Jax told her.
“Obviously,” Nova quipped. “I guess I just thought it was next Saturday.”
“Did you make plans for this Saturday?” Ivy asked.
Nova bit down on her lip.
“What’s wrong, honey?” Rimmel pressed.
“Well…” She began, glancing down at her lap. “It’s just… I have a date.”
A beat of silence rippled across the table. Then Ivy reacted. “A date! Your first date.”
Braeden’s fork clattered against the plate.
Here we go.
“Braeden,” Ivy warned.
He was stone silent as he swiped his mouth with a napkin, the picture of etiquette. A fault line about to snap from pressure. After tossing the napkin down, he said, “I think I must have heard wrong. Critter, can you say that again?”
Nova looked at Ivy who nodded reluctantly.
“Jordan Falls asked me to the movies.”
Braeden erupted, his chair shooting back as he bolted upright. “That putz! Oh, hells no!” he hollered.
Ivy and Rimmel gasped in unison. “Braeden!”
Braeden shook his head adamantly. “No way is my baby girl going out with one of my football players.”
“But, Dad!”
“Don’tdadme. Hells no.” He exhaled, pushing a hand through his hair. “Jordan Falls.” He scoffed. Turning to Romeo, he said, “Kid’s last name is an omen. He trips on his cleats more than he catches a ball.”
“Dad! I like him. I’ve been waiting forever for him to ask me out.”
“Shoulda cut him from the team,” B grumbled.
I rolled my lips in to keep from laughing and looked at Romeo who was doing the same.
Our daughters weren’t old enough to date. Thank fuck.
“That’s enough, Braeden. You’re being ridiculous,” Ivy said, standing up to face him. She was taller than Rimmel but still short compared to Braeden.
She didn’t care, though. She faced off with that dude on the regular.
Always won too.
“It’s a date, not a marriage proposal.”
