"How’d I get roped into doing the dishes?"
"Your bottomless stomach roped you into doing the dishes."
He leaned over and kissed her. "You’re lucky I love you with every breath in my body."
She slapped his ass. "Sa, babe. Sa."
Done with Hatch, Tenley made her way to Waverly and climbed up beside her. "You’re pretty."
"Thank you, sweetie, so are you."
She bobbed her head. "I know. Everyone says so."
I grinned. "Self-esteem on ten, this one."
"It’s beautiful," she whispered.
"Yeah, it really is."
"Tenley, baby, do you want so milk?"
"Yes, please, Mama." She slid off the sofa and made her way to the kitchen.
"This pie is unreal," I said.
Waverly smiled. "Yeah?"
"Like, seriously, the best I’ve ever had."
She raised an eyebrow. "Wow, really?"
"Yeah. You have a gift."
"I can’t take credit, Gio. It’s all Gran’s gift."
"You have to accept it and put your spin on it, though," I pointed out.
"Well, that’s very sweet, Gio." She blushed. "Thank you."
"I’m a sweet guy."
Waverly grinned, taking another bite of her pie as Tenley walked back with a sippy cup and settled her butt back on the sofa.
"Well, hi again," Waverly said.
"I have milk," Tenley said.
"I see that. Is it good?"
She nodded as she sipped it. "What do you have?"
"I have apple pie."
"Can I taste?"
"Is your daughter allowed so apple pie, Poppy?" Waverly asked.
"Oh, sure. I can get her so."
"I can share," Waverly offered and used her fork as a knife to break off a small piece.
Tenley opened her mouth like a baby bird and Waverly fed her a piece. Holy shit, if I’d had a uterus, I’m sure it would have contracted with need.
Tenley closed her eyes and humd like she was in heaven. "Yummy!" she squealed.
"She’s in her squealing phase," Poppy said with a grimace. "She hasn’t learned how to dial it down a notch."
"There’s more, darling," Maisie said. "Mummy can get you so."
Poppy groaned. "She won’t sleep with all that sugar."
"She can stay here," Hatch said, picking her up. "What do you say, baby girl? Wanna sleep over with Pop Pop?"
"Yes!" she squealed.
"I want a sleepover with Pop Pop, too!" Niall said.
" too," Holland parroted.
Poppy and Devon grinned before high-fiving.
"Oh, I see what you did there," Maisie said. "Cheeky buggars."
"It’s not like we packed bags for them or anything," Devon said.
Poppy grimaced, and Hatch let out a laugh as Devon rolled his eyes.
"You packed them bags?" he asked.
"Sue for wanting a night alone with my man," Poppy sassed. "I haven’t seen you in weeks, because you’ve been dealing—"
Hatch coughed, tickling Tenley who squealed in laughter before he set her on her feet.
Poppy, luckily, got the hint. "Um, dealing with so much work stuff, so I took a chance that maybe Mum and Dad would be good to watch the kids for the night."
"You didn’t think to ask them, considering the fact they’ve got Raz—"
Hatch coughed again.
"Gio staying?" Devon corrected.
"Okay, what are we trying not to say in front of the new girl?" Waverly asked.
"Nothing, Fizzy," I said. "It’s all good. Just so family stuff. Logistics and shit."
"The babies are always welco," Maisie said. "Grab their stuff, Devon, then go have your date night. You can even take the weekend, if you like."
"I should probably go," Waverly said, and I imdiately wanted to smack the shit out of Devon and his bad timing.
"Don’t feel like you have to rush out," I argued.
"It’s fine." She smiled. "There’s a lot going on, and I have a busy weekend."
"Oh, yeah?" I asked, trying to distract her from the family conversation happening around us.
She sighed. "Sure."
I raised an eyebrow. "Whatya got planned?"
"Wouldn’t you like to know?" she sassed.
"Hence the reason I’m askin’."
She stared at for a few seconds before letting out a quiet huff. "I’ve got nothing."
"What do you an?"
"I an, I’ve got nothing planned. Nada, nothing, zip."
I chuckled. "There you go, playin’ hard to get again."
"I know. I’m a ss." She sighed. "I really should go, though."
"You wanna et up sowhere? Maybe tomorrow?"
"Gio, how? You can’t walk."
"I’ve got friends who can drop places," I said. "I’d like to take you out. I can et you sowhere for dinner or sothin’."
"You just don’t give up, do you?"
"Why would I?" I challenged. "When a miner strikes gold, he doesn’t stop pannin’, and you’re worth the effort, Fizzy."
Her face reddened and she dropped her head. "Wow."
"So, will you et for dinner tomorrow?"
She t my eyes. "How could I not after all of that?"
I grinned. "Correct answer, beautiful."
"What am I going to do with you?"
"You’re gonna enjoy the ride."
She let out a quiet snort.
"I’ll text you the details."
She rolled her eyes. "Fine."
"Do you really need to go?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Call later?" I demanded.
"Maybe," she retorted.
I let out a quiet growl and she grinned. "Bossy."
"You have no idea."
She raised an eyebrow, and rose to her feet, grabbing her purse as she did.
"You don’t have to rush off, do you?" Maisie asked, making her way over to us.
"I do," Waverly said. "I have a busy weekend."
"You do now, anyway," I cracked wise.
"Thank you for a lovely dinner," Waverly said.
"I’ll wash your pie plate and Gio can return it during his next appointnt," Maisie offered.
"There’s no rush."
"I’ll walk you out."
"Oh, no, you’re busy. I can find my way," Waverly countered, smiling down at . "Thank you for inviting . This was really fun."
"I’ll see you tomorrow."
She nodded and made her way out. Maisie followed, although, she waited a few minutes, and I heard the beep of the alarm before Devon turned toward . "So, why did I have to remove my cut before we t this woman?"
"We’re keepin’ a low profile," Hatch said.
"In your own ho?"
"She’s had a rough go of it with bikers," I added.
Poppy and Maisie shared a look and Poppy gasped. "No, seriously?"
Maisie nodded. "Yes, lovey."
"What?" Devon asked.
"Nothing, honey," Poppy said. "Girl thing."
I had no doubt she’d fill him in later, but for the mont (at least), he dropped it.
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