Page 11 of Inked Craving

Archer scowled. “You are not very nice.”

“What? Just because you are far closer to thirty than I am, doesn’t mean that you’re aging.”

“Ouch,” Annabelle teased as she came forward. “What did I say about making fun of Archer’s age when I’m around? We are twins, Paige. You may be the baby of the family, and you’ll always be younger than us, but that doesn’t mean you can call me old.” Annabelle laughed as she said it, her newly shorn hair framing her face perfectly.

Annabelle usually had long waves that went down past the middle of her back but had recently cut it in an inverted bob above her shoulders. It looked great on her, and I loved the look. Annabelle said it was easier to maintain with twins at home, and I believed her. I played with my hair, wondering if I should cut mine for when the baby came.

I blanched. The morning sickness that was never just in the morning threatened to come up again.

“Are you okay? I was only teasing. Are you going to be sick?”

I shook my head at Annabelle’s words, knowing I needed to get this over with, but now wasn’t the right time. Maybe I would do it after dinner or right before. I wasn’t sure, but it would have to be soon. I’d for sure do it once everyone had arrived, rather than wait to split it up and do it more than once.

“I’m fine. I’m just a little hungry.”

“There’s a cheese and vegetable plate on its way,” my mother said as she walked into the living room and put the back of her hand on my forehead.

I rolled my eyes. “Mom.”

“You’re my baby. Of course, I need to make sure that you’re not running a fever.” Then Mom did the same to Archer, then Annabelle, and the twins laughed.

“You will always be my babies.”

“Oh, good. Now I’m going to be singing a Mariah Carey song for the rest of the day,” Archer grumbled, but I just laughed.

“Yes, because we all know how much you hate singing Mariah Carey songs. She’s your least favorite artist ever.”

Archer staggered back. “Okay, that was sacrilege. Don’t even joke like that. She was your favorite, too if I recall. Just like we lusted over Blink 182.”

I shook my head, grateful that my brother could always make me laugh. “Can I help you get anything else ready for dinner, Mom?” I asked as Annabelle went off to check on the twins. They were sleeping upstairs in the nursery that Mom had built for all of her grandchildren. Brenna and Benjamin’s child was sleeping, as well. And today, my parents would know that they would need more space for another baby. Only not for Beckett and Eliza, unless their adoption came through decently soon.

I was doing things out of order, something very unlike me.

Mom smiled and patted her hip. “Everything’s going well. You know, at some point, I might just cater this.”

“Are you okay, Mom?” Beckett asked as he walked in, handing Mom a glass of wine. “You just said the wordcater. Are you feeling okay?”

I looked at my mother, studying her face, worried. “Seriously. You’ve never used that word before.”

My mom waved us off. “It was just me rambling. I love cooking for all of you, and I’m never alone in doing it. You guys never let me do everything. You’re all so helpful.”

“Because we’re not going to make you cook for forty people every time we meet up for dinner,” I said, shaking my head. “You’re going to need to let us take more responsibility if you’re even thinking the wordcater.”

“Maybe. Or perhaps I just want to go and cuddle my grandbabies as soon as they wake up.”

As if on cue, Brenna walked in, Rafael cuddled in her arms.

“I’m pretty sure this little one heard his grandma’s yearning.”

My mom clapped her hands together and moved forward, taking the baby from Brenna’s arms. “Hello, darling. Grandma loves you.” She hummed and rocked Rafael as Brenna leaned forward and tucked the swaddled infant in tighter.

Benjamin moved to stand behind Brenna, a small smile playing on his face. It always shocked me that my big brother could be so soft with his wife. He had melted into a pile of goo the moment he held his baby for the first time, and I couldn’t help but wonder what the family would think when there wasn’t a man standing behind me. It would only be me holding the infant, wondering what would happen next.

Of course, that all might change. When I told Colton, something I needed to do as soon as he called me back, he could end up moving back to be a father. I wasn’t going to relocate to New York for him. He hadn’t asked me when I thought he loved me, and I didn’t think I could move for this. Or maybe I should. Maybe it would be best for the baby.

Why was everything so confusing?

“Knock-knock,” a familiar and wanted voice said from the other side of the house, and I tried not to let the relief show on my face. Lee walked in, his dark hair brushed back from his face, his jaw cleanly shaven. He’d had a slight beard the last time I saw him, and I blinked at the look of his strong jaw and soft lips.