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Thorns of Youth

Page 103

by Eva Winners

He complained again about the lack of alcohol, but I just ignored him. Sienna’s father shot me a curious look, but he didn’t comment on it.

I ignored him too.

Let him make assumptions; it didn’t fucking matter to me.

“I did,” Margaret admitted, then shot a look at Sienna’s mother and explained, “Our boys are hell on two legs. They cause havoc everywhere we go.”

The Baldwin twins weren’t much better. They managed to break a vase, and Noah used a 15th-century silver plate as a shield. Either that or he was stealing it, because he slid it inside his sweater and demanded anyone who would listen to punch him in the gut. The only one who did it was his twin sister, but she used a cane that she found God knows where.

“But we still manage to miss it when they’re gone, don’t we?” Mrs. Baldwin said, smiling softly. “Noah is a bit of a handful, but he definitely keeps us on our toes.”

No wonder Sienna was so soft and innocent with a mother like that.

“Did you always want a big family?” Margaret asked.

“Oh yeah.” A shadow crossed her features, then disappeared quickly. “The twins were a gift.” She locked eyes with her husband, her love shimmering in her eyes—the same eyes that Sienna inherited. “If I could have had more children, I would have. But I’m grateful and so happy.”

Margaret chuckled. “Funny enough, I never wanted any and now…”

She trailed off and Kyran added, “And now you almost have a soccer team.”

“That’s wonderful.” Mrs. Baldwin beamed. “Being an only child is lonely. Big families are such a gift.”

She flicked me a glance as if to ask whether I agreed, but Kristoff chimed in, “Sienna is too young to have children yet.”

A typical father.

I couldn’t blame him, since I wouldn’t be too fond of discussing my daughter’s plan to have many children either.

“So, Tyran…” Mrs. Baldwin addressed me.

“Yes, Mrs. Baldwin?”

“Is it okay if I call you Tyran? I thought since you’ll be my son-in-law soon, we could drop the formalities. And you can call me Gemma.”

“Of course, Gemma.” Her husband glared and I smiled. “I’ll be happy to call you and Kristoff by your first names.”

“Let’s not get too familiar,” Kristoff grumbled, but we both ignored him.

Noah sped across the room then, carrying a pumpkin in his hand that must have been carved. Candles flickered inside it.

“Hey, Ty.” He stopped an inch from me with a big grin on his face. “Can we use pumpkins as balls?”

“No.” Gemma was quick to interject. “Pumpkins aren’t balls.”

Noah scoffed. “Yeah, I know. Only men have balls and they’re attached to penises. I’m talking about football.”

Margaret spit out her drink. Kyran threw his head back and laughed.

Kristoff groaned. “This isn’t a football match. We’re here for Sienna. Go talk to her.”

He attempted to snatch the pumpkin out of Noah’s grip, but the boy refused to let go.

“About penis and balls?” Noah’s eyebrows furrowed. “I didn’t think that was an appropriate conversation to have with girls.”

His twin appeared next to him and smacked him upside the head. “Yet you’re yapping about it in front of everyone.”

Luckily for him, Sienna chimed in from across the room.