Page 193 of Always Us

“So we’re going to try for a third? Not now, but in a year or two?”

“I would love for us to have another baby.” He kisses me, then talks against my lips. “And we’re going to practice making one tonight.”

He’s causing that hot, tingly feeling again, so I push him away before I end up taking him to the bedroom.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, your dad called earlier. They’re coming back to stay with us.”

“Already?” He smiles. “They were just here. So when are they coming?”

“For the Fourth of July. I told them to stay for the whole week, or longer if they want.”

Sean walks in. “You got the meat ready?”

“Right here.” I hand him the platter and he takes off again. He insists on cooking whenever he comes here. He says it’s his payment for letting them stay with us, but I know it’s because he has to cook. He can’t go a day without cooking.

“Daddy!” Abigail runs up to Garret with a drawing in her hand. “Look!”

Garret picks her up and kisses her cheek. It reminds me of when he used to do the same thing with Lilly. He checks out the drawing. It’s a picture of the two of them in the pool. It’s really good. Lilly obviously drew it and Abigail just ran some crayons over it.

“Thank you,” he says to her. “I’ll add it to my collection.”

Garret has her drawings all over the wall in his office. He rents out part of a building in town where he has an office and a conference room for meetings.

“Where’s your sister?” He sets the drawing on the counter.

“I’ve got her.” Lilly walks in holding Hannah, who’s awake now. “She needs to be changed.”

“I’ll do it.” Garret sets Abigail down and takes Hannah. Lilly whips her phone out and smiles at whatever text she got. Garret notices, and from the look on his face I know he assumes it’s from a boy. “Lilly, come with me.”

“Why?” She follows him down the hall.

“I’ll show you how to change a diaper.”

“I already know how.”

“Then you can help me.”

He’s just trying to distract Lilly from her phone. I agree she shouldn’t be dating at 13 but he can’t really stop boys from texting her. And he’s not her father so he shouldn’t be interfering, but he can’t help himself. He’s an overprotective big brother, just like Ryan used to be with me.

“I’m not dating him, Garret,” I hear Lilly say. “We’re just friends.”

So it was definitely a boy texting her. No wonder she smiled.

Just friends. That’s the worst thing she could say to him. Garret and I used the ‘just friends’ line for months, even though we were definitely more than that.

I don’t think Garret’s going to survive the teen years with Abigail and Hannah.

GARRET

I swear, these girls are going to give me a heart attack before I turn 40. Lilly already has guys calling and texting her, and before I know it, Abigail and Hannah will, too.

I already worry about their safety, but now I have to add boys to my worry list.

I didn’t expect boys to be interested in Lilly this soon, but I guess I should’ve been prepared for it because she’s gorgeous and developing in places I didn’t think she’d develop until she was at least 16. She’s only 13, but she turns 14 in a couple months. I was kissing girls when I was 12, so yeah, I’m freaking out that boys are calling and texting her.

My dad is pretty strict with her, though, and keeps a close eye on her. He won’t let her date until she’s at least 16. When she reaches that age, I don’t know if she’ll be able to pick who she dates, or if guys will be chosen for her. My dad wants her to be able to choose, but Katherine doesn’t. This past year, Katherine has taken an interest in Lilly again. I think she sees Lilly as her ticket back into high society. Katherine assumes her social standing will be elevated if her daughter is seen with the right people at the right events, and that includes dating the right guy.

“Hey.” I nudge Lilly and wait for her to look at me. “You know I’m just looking out for you, right?”

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