“Is it safe to assume you’re helping Madi move and staying to help prep Jamie’s house?”
“Jack!” Meg punched his arm. “Don’t be so rude.”
I held back my laugh. Meg and I had different definitions of the word rude.
“What? It’s a valid question.”
“You didn’t have to be so sarcastic.”
Thinking I’d gain brownie points with Jack, I took his side. “I didn’t think it was rude. Direct, sure, but not rude.”
“Thanks.” Jack grinned at Meg before turning back to me. “So?”
“Yes. I told Jamie I’d help Madi set up the house. John and Mary,” I laughed and corrected myself, “both sets of parents will be there too.”
“We’re stopping by after I make my mac and cheese. Between that, Mom’s lasagna, and what everyone else brings, they won’t have to cook for at least week,” Meg added.
“And they’ll be no shortage of extra hands to help with whatever needs doing,” Jack said.
A side effect of having a large, loving extended family, you always had support when you needed it.
The exact opposite of what I’d grown up with. If it hadn’t been for Shane taking me under his wing, who knows where I’d be today.
“They’re lucky they have so much support.”
Meg gently bounced her daughter on her knee. “We all are.” She turned to Natalie. “Isn’t that right? And now that you’re a big cousin, you’ll have to share Grandma and Grandpa’s love.”
Nothing in her tone told me she was worried about Natalie being deprived of her grandparents’ love.
“Believe me, they have enough love for all their grandchildren, including the ones they don’t have yet.”
Meg continued like Jack hadn’t spoken. “You’ll always be special because you were their first. And just like your Aunt Madi, you get to be the oldest.”
Madi turned the corner. “I’ll make sure she’s the best big sister-slash-cousin that ever lived.”
“Morning, Madi, glad you could join us,” Jack teased his sister while saluting her with his coffee mug.
“Shut up. Is there any coffee left?”
I held up a Grannie’s cup.
“I lo—You’re the best.”
The look in her eyes when she realized what she’d almost said would’ve been hysterical, if my heart hadn’t leapt into my throat.
“I know.” I teased, hoping to put her at ease.
Even if she’d said the words, it wasn’t as if she really meant she loved me. Girls always said shit like that. Hell, I’d heard her say it to Beth and Nina at Grannie’s because she desperately needed caffeine.
Like she does right now.
“Sorry if it’s not hot. I’ve been here a few minutes.”
My eyes zeroed in on her mouth when she licked her lips and…fuck.
I thought about the fire on the clinic lawn and Paul near Madi’s burning Jeep to soften the effect she had on me.
Madi plopped down in the chair next to me. “Did you put me to bed last night?” She asked, never letting her coffee get more than two inches from her lips.
