Braeden made a choked sound. “Football players are pervs, baby. She can go out with someone who plays chess.”
Drew, Rome, and I burst out laughing. Most of the kids did too.
“Braeden James, are you calling my sons and my nephews perverts?” Rimmel demanded.
He blanched and looked at all our football player sons sitting around the table. “Present company excluded.”
Rim snorted.
Nova wailed. “I’m going into senior year, and I haven’t even been on a date. Do you know how embarrassing that is? No one wants to date me!”
“That isn’t true,” Ivy insisted. “Any boy would be lucky to spend time with you.”
“I didn’t even have a date to the winter formal last year.” She went on. “I must be ugly.”
Ivy and Rimmel gasped. “You are not ugly!”
“Look at what you’ve done, Braeden,” Ivy accused.
“Me?” He defended himself. “I’m just saying he ain’t good enough.”
Nova started crying.
Jax sighed. “Everyone thinks you’re hot.”
“What?” Nova asked.
Jax rolled his eyes. “It’s all I hear.Dude, your sister is so hot. Dude, can I get your sister’snumber?”
Beside him, Blue nodded emphatically as though he’d heard it all too.
Nova sniffled. “Really?”
“You better not be handing out your sister’s number,” Braeden deadpanned. “What are these boys doing going around looking at girls for? They’re supposed to be at school to learn.”
Romeo heckled. “Is that what you did in school, B?Learn.”
“Your time is coming, Rome,” Braeden snapped.
That shut him up.
“They’re scared to ask you out.” Travis spoke up.
Nova’s blue eyes shot to him. “What?”
“Your dad is the football coach, and he played for the NFL. Your uncle is Romeo Anderson. They’re all afraid to ask.”
“Should be,” B declared.
Romeo nodded.
“Dad, you’re ruining my life!” Nova announced. Then, “You too, Uncle Romeo.”
Braeden and Romeo looked proud of themselves.
“Are boys going to be scared to ask me out too?” London asked.
Romeo shot up, his chair flying just like Braeden’s did. “You’re twelve years old!”
