“How come Nicholas is polite to her?” Charlie demands.
Before anyone can answer, the little girl on the couch sits up.
“I’m Ella,” she declares. “Why are you so big?”
“Ella,” Addy groans while Eden snickers. “Don’t ask people that. It’s rude.”
“Nicholas ate all his enemies, and he has a lot of them, so it made him very big,” Charlie says so seriously it’s clear Ella isn’t sure how to reply.
“Charlie is joking,” Andrew clarifies.
Ella narrows her eyes at Charlie. “Momma says it’s not nice to lie,TíoCharlie.”
“I wasn’t lying, I was just trying to annoy Nicholas.”
“Why?” Ella asks.
“How about you go in the kitchen,” Eden suggests in a clear attempt to distract her. “Pretty sure Alec made those sprinkle cookies you love.”
Ella gasps, leaping off the couch then running down the hallway shouting, “TíoAlec, did you make me cookies?”
“Is she yours?” Nicholas asks Eden.
“She’s not my daughter,” Eden answers, rising from the couch. “But she’s mine. She’s part of this family, blood or not.”
His tone is defiant, as if Nicholas might argue. He’s an asshole but not to fucking kids. Even he has some boundaries.
“Okay.”
His easy agreement clearly takes Eden by surprise because he curses under his breath before grabbing Charlie’s wrist. “Come on, let's get you changed. You look too neat, it’s weirding me out.”
“You could make me messier,” Charlie says in a flirtatious tone that makes Andrew groan and Eden drag him out of the room faster.
“I’m going to go check on Ella and make sure she’s not weaseling too many cookies out of your brothers.”
“Probably a good idea. They’re over the moon to have a niece and don’t know how to say no,” Andrew laughs. “She’s got Jason and Alec wrapped around her little finger. All of them honestly.Remember when she called Theo uncle for the first time a few weeks ago and he started crying?”
Addy smiles. “You guys are good people. We’re lucky to have you. You didn’t have to welcome me and Ella like this, but?—”
“Yes, we did,” Andrew interrupts. “You’re Eden’s family which makes you ours. You know that.”
“You’re going to make me cry,” Addy huffs. “I’m going to leave before I turn into a blubbering mess. Where are your parents? I want to make sure and say hi.”
“They were in the backyard working the barbecue when I left to pick up the cake from thepanaderia,” Andrew answers.
Addy gives them a smile and a half-wave before leaving them alone in the living room. Andrew is quiet, unusually so, and Nicholas turns him in his arms then tips his face up.
“What?”
“What do you mean,what?” Andrew tries, not fooling Nicholas one damn bit. His face is an open book, one Nicholas will never tire of reading.
“Princess.” He grips his chin, kissing him softly. “Spit it out.”
Andrew huffs in that adorable disgruntled way of his. “Did it work?”
“Did what work?” Nicholas asks, rubbing his thumb over Andrew’s bottom lip until his deep frown slowly starts to fade. He might understand Andrew’s moods, but he’s not actually a mind reader and has no idea what he’s talking about.
“Charlie’s clothes. Or I guess, my clothes.” Andrew swallows, eyes darkening with obvious unease. “Did uh…you know…did you think he was me?”
