Page 29 of Rich and Bossy

“Mmhmm.” She laughs.

Poppy smiles. “Yeah, you’re not that young anymore, bro.”

“Oh whatever.” I roll my eyes, then turn to the boys. “Your mom isone wholeyear younger than me. Remind her next time she calls me old.”

Brody scowls at his mother the way only a four-year-old can do. “He not old.” He’s all defiant when he says it.

“Yeah, I not old.” I flash her a shit-eating grin.

“Whatever you need to tell yourself.”

Brody looks up at me. “You hair get a little gray, Uncle Pax.”

Mom and Poppy have the decency to hide their laughter behind their hands, though the laughter is still quite audible.

So, Hazel doesn’t think I have any connection to the real world? What the hell would you call this right here?

Why are you so defensive when she says shit like that?

You have nothing to prove to her.

Right? I love this. I love being the fun uncle who gets used like a jungle gym and a punching bag and a wrestling partner. I love hearing their excited squeals whenever I walk through the door. Fact is, I have to enjoy every second of this. Poppy isn’t going to have any more kids. These moments are fleeting. They’re going to come and go fast, it’s why I make sure I’m a part of their lives as much as I can be.

Soon, they’ll be teenagers and it won’t be cool to have your uncle wrestle on the floor with you.

I bug my eyes at him. “Is that so?”

He nods, laughing.

“Sounds like someone doesn’t want to log any more flight hours on the Uncle Pax simulator.”

“No!” Brody clings to my leg. “No gray.”

Man, I can already feel it in my knee.

Even though he recanted, it’s too late.

Mom and Poppy are ready to pounce. “You’re right though, Brody.” Mom nods. “I do see a little bit of silver in Uncle Paxton’s hair.”

“Why am I getting picked on?” I drop into an armchair across from where she and Poppy are seated. “When did this become the game of choice around here?”

“I’m just saying.” Mom shrugs. “Not getting any younger. Might wanna think about some things.” She gestures toward the two boys.

I fall back into the recliner with a sigh. “Here we go. Get it out of your system, Ma! You been waiting all week for this lecture, I’m sure.”

Poppy hoots out a laugh. “You knew this was coming. Take it like a man.”

“What?” Mom makes the most innocent face she can muster.

Poppy looks like a younger version of Mom, inherited her sandy-hair, while I take after Dad. Dark hair, large figure.

The two of them sitting together could be a before-and-after, they look so much alike.

Mom sighs. “Is it so wrong to want my son to settle down and give me a few more grandbabies?”

“What, these two animals aren’t enough?” They’re already clamoring to get into my lap.

“Hey!” Brayden puts his hands on his hips, scowling. “We not animals. We little boys.”

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