Page 78 of Taming the Boss

Without sharing too many details, I briefly told her about Jude realizing he had relatives in town and how we were going to go see them. At some point. I also touched on how he wanted Owen to get to know his cousins, as well. “Not sure when, since that’s obviously up to him. But I want to be there for him, and he seems like he wants that just as much.”

“He’s in love with you,” Honey said softly. “He has to be. No guy would just invite you to be privy to a sensitive part of his life without having hardcore feelings for you, Maddie. You also wouldn’t offer to be there if your own feelings weren’t pretty intense.”

I rubbed my forehead to try to dispel the ache that was taking root. “Yeah.”

“And you love his son too already, don’t you?”

“How can you tell?”

“Just mentioning him, your voice grew warmer. You have so much love to give, Maddie. Your family is so very important to you, no wonder Jude latched on to you so quickly. Obviously, he could tell you were exactly who he was looking for. And clearly, who he needed.”

“It doesn’t seem crazy to you?”

“God, no. I fell in love with your brother within a couple hours. Did I know it then? No. But looking back, I absolutely did. And we had sex before we knew anything about each other. You’d be surprised how that helps you get to know someone.” She laughed as I coughed delicately. “So, right, you already know. Go, us.”

“Go, us,” I echoed softly, biting my lip to hold back more babble. Then I relented and said just a bit more. “I mean, he said some odd things at first, but I honestly think he doesn’t even know how to just be in a relationship without putting rules on it because he doesn’t trust much. Partially due to his parents, I’m guessing. And considering his family situation, who can blame him?”

“We’re all just trying our best. And we all fuck shit up. But if he’s still trying and you like being with him, seems to me that’s more than half the battle. Follow your gut, Maddie. It won’t lead you wrong.”

“Yeah.” I wanted to tell Honey everything spinning in my head and get her thoughts on all of it. But maybe what she’d already said was more than enough.

Could be that my opinion and Jude’s—and Owen’s, come to that—were the most important ones.

We talked for a few minutes more, catching up on things with the baby, and wedding stuff, and various other family stuff before she said she had to go start dinner, which meant I should too. Though I wasn’t even sure what to make.

Maybe I’d try a quick casserole like the tater tot one I’d put together at my parents’ house a couple months ago. At least I’d remembered to get ground beef today. What kid didn’t like tater tots? None that I’d ever known.

“Are you going to be at the fireworks tonight?”

“Yeah, the three of us are going. So, you can meet Jude and Owen, if you want.”

“Duh, is the Pope Catholic? You know I want. I’ll find you later, Rea probably in tow. I’m sure she won’t want to miss a minute.”

I laughed. “Sounds good. Thank you, Honey. You’re a literal lifesaver.”

“No problem. Your brother told me to leave you a plus one with no name for now, so works for me. No rush, okay?”

“Okay. I love you. I’m so glad you’re going to be my sister-in-love. I mean, in-law. But in-love too.”

“Aww, don’t make me cry. I love you too. Sister-in-love is perfect.” She took a long breath. “See you tonight. Oh, and Maddie? Try to enjoy the ride. Worrying doesn’t make anything better, and it just gives you premature wrinkles. Not that you need to worry there, you bitch,” she said, clicking off with a laugh.

After ending the call, I immediately looked up the tater tot casserole recipe and tagged it to access to make for dinner. And then I took a moment to look at the site my other sister-in-love, Vee, had started some years ago for prospective parents to be matched with people who were looking for someone to be their baby daddy—or even baby mama.

The site had immediately taken off matching people and their success with it had led to Moose getting involved in programming a local app a friend of his had started for, of all things, mail order brides with a modern twist. That had been the start, although I’d heard it was now functioning more like a regular dating app focusing on local happily-ever-afters. But I wasn’t looking for a dating app at the moment.

I wanted to read Vee and Moose’s love story, written by Vee. Just now, I was paying much more attention to such things.

I skimmed the part about Vee accidentally putting up the baby daddy posted want ad in a local Facebook group. How embarrassing, and she definitely was put through her paces from her neighbors who saw the post.

What I focused on was how quickly she’d fallen for my brother, though she hadn’t been brave enough to tell him. He’d fallen just as fast for Vee. Through a comedic series of events, they’d hooked up and eventually tried to make a baby, although it had taken a bit for Vee to get pregnant. But they’d had no problems expanding the family. She just kept repeating that they’d fallen in love so very swiftly and fell even more in love as they added to their brood.

Falling in love practically overnight was a thing, even in my own family. So, no, this wasn’t crazy, dammit. It was just kismet.

And now I was going downstairs to start making dinner. Hopefully, both my men—the little one and his dad—would enjoy it before we went to see the fireworks.

As a freaking found family.

Chapter 21

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