Page 87 of Finding Fate

The three teens grinned while they watched Jenna mutter under her breath. No kidding they weren’t going to try for any more children anytime soon. They didn’t even try for this one.

“Is that Tucker’s truck I see outside?!” Annie yelled from the hall.

Jenna and Isabel exchanged a look and grinned slyly.

“What? What is it?” Tucker asked anxiously, catching the women’s exchange.

Jet groaned. “I don’t know, dude, but Annie’s not happy.”

Annie marched into the kitchen only seconds later, her eyes flashing between the two guys. “You’re home.”

It was a statement, but it sounded like an accusation.

“Yeah?” Tucker replied guardedly.

“What have you been doing?” she asked, her tone sharp.

“Playing basketball?” For some reason, his answers were coming out like questions.

“You went out to play basketball… While we’ve all been here setting up, you two were out playing basketball.”

“It’s his birthday, sweetheart. He wanted to play some b,” Jet started.

“Okay fine, he wanted to play basketball. Whatever. But you didn’t think that we might have needed your help here, Jet?”

“Uh…” he stammered.

“Ugh! Never mind,” she said, exasperated, throwing her hands into the air. “I don’t have time to argue. There are things to do. Tucker, you need to go clean up. You look gross,” Annie instructed.

“I guess I’ll go home and clean up, too,” Jet said and started slinking towards the door.

“Uh, no, I need your help with a table in the backyard. One of the legs is stuck. I’ve been working on it for over ten minutes,” she said, obstructing his path.

“But you just griped at Tucker about going to clean up,” he argued.

“It’s Tucker’s party. He can’t be late. You can. Go shower, Tucker,” she said a little more forcefully when she saw he was still standing there.

Tucker shook his head and gave his mother and Isabel a parting look of bewilderment.

“Come on, let’s hurry up and get the backyard finished,” Annie said to Jet, tugging on his sweaty T-shirt. “Ugh, you’re so gross right now.”

Jet grinned at her, choosing to make light of her attitude. “Do you like it?”

She gave him an exasperated look of disbelief. “Don’t start.”

“You know, you’re cute when you’re mad.”

“Ugh, Jet! I’m so not in the mood!”

He grinned even wider. “It’s a party, sweetheart. You’ve gotta get in the mood.”

She sighed and looked up as if speaking to the ceiling. “Why I love you…”

“Because I’m incredibly hot and awesome.” He flashed his smile and a wink back towards the kitchen right before Annie finished pulling him from the room.

Isabel laughed at Jenna’s expression. “She’s kidding.”

“I know… Sometimes I wonder about you, kids,” she said and turned back to the stove. “Can you grab the strainer, Izzy? The potatoes are done.”

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