"Right in the ass," Ethan says.
I forgot he was there. I give him a questioning look.
"I love watching Nana do her work. I think I'm the only one besides you all that isn't scared to death of her," Ethan admits.
This makes Nana smile and me laugh.
"You're not afraid of Kiki?" Nana questions.
"Nah. Linc isn't anymore either. He made friends with her."
Lucy laughs. "Now Linc uses it against Xander who is supposed to be Kiki's favorite."
"He still is," Nana informs us. "She just has a bit of fun with him sometimes."
"What's he doing that you scolded him for?" I ask.
Nana shakes her head. "That's between him and me. You know the rules."
"I do, but just this once…" I try.
"Not just this once or ever," Nana chides. "The rules are in place for a reason. My mother drilled them into me, and there are reasons why I never break them. You don't want to find out what those reasons are."
Cage shifts. "I admit it. I'm a little uncomfortable now."
Nana snickers. "You have no reason to be. You're entirely too strong to be affected by any of that."
I side eye him. "Oh, I don't know. Kiki—"
"Is a sassy little girl," Lucy says. "I know what she's done and she won't do it again. I'm so sorry, Cage."
He shrugs. "I didn't mind her probing, butonlythe one time. She was looking for the truth of how I felt about the baby to help protect. I can't fault her for that. Now she knows how far I'll go to protect you all."
"To the ends of the earth," Nana adds. "Cage Nichols you are a treasure."
Is my husband blushing? His cheeks are pink!
"Now. Serafina. You can't blame itallon the baby. You need to take control and responsibility. I've helped, but the rest is up to you," Nana tells me.
I nod. "Thank you, Nana."
"So," she continues, "if you weigh five hundred pounds with this pregnancy, it's your fault.Notthe baby's."
"Hey!" I defend. "No probing."
"I wasn't," Nana tells me. "Lucy told me the story earlier."
I give Luce a look and Lucy just hugs me. "We got this, sister of mine."
"And no matter what happens with you, we've got that, too," I vow and mean it. Nothing can happen to Lucy. Jesse wouldn't survive without her, and my heart would shatter.
Lucy walks over and jokes with Ethan.
Nana pats my hand. "She'll be just fine. Jesse, on the other hand, will need to step up."
I smirk. "He's not going to like it, but he'll do whatever it takes to keep Lucy safe."
Cage envelops my hand in his. "Leave him be, Fee."
"I won't do anything. I'm thinking of the guys and the razzing that's going to happen even knowing why it has to be done," I say.
He looks at me.
"Xananigans."
My husband looks heavenward. "Christ, give me strength."
