Page 55 of Bossy Baby

“What?”

“We’ve never been to his house. He’s never invited us. We only know he lives close to Caleb and Grant.”

“Oh.” Hayley was super important. Mac always told him that, but he was realizing it even more. “You’ll have to come over. With Avery too. I think he’d love the playroom—” Hayley slapped his good hand over his mouth. Crap, he hadn’t meant to say that.

“I knew it!” Mitch danced around.

Caleb joined in and they both laughed like idiots. Lost in their silliness, they didn’t hear the bell from the door opening.

Hayley sat back on his stool, waiting for Mac to come around the counter.

“Mac and Hayley sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” they sang.

“What the hell is going on?” Mac barked.

Mitch and Caleb’s reaction was so funny that Hayley fell off his stool. They both froze then tripped over their own feet as they tried to run.

“For Christ’s sake!” Mac grumbled. “You’re going to kill each other.”

Hayley had to wipe away his tears of laughter.

“You knew he was coming,” Mitch accused.

“Yep.” He popped thep. “But you sort of deserved it for teasing me.”

Mitch cleared his throat as though he could gain back his dignity or something. He even straightened the jacket of his expensive suit. “Hey, Mac, how’s it going?”

Mac narrowed his eyes.

Hayley snorted. This was so much fun.

“Hi, Mac.” Caleb peeked around Mitch’s shoulder and waved.

Mac sighed.

“Mitch and Caleb came to check on me,” Hayley told him. “They signed my cast, too.”

When Mac turned to look at him, the annoyed expression quickly disappeared. “I’m glad they were able to keep you company.” He strolled over and put Hayley’s drink in front of him.

Hayley popped onto his tiptoes and gave Mac a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”

“Of course, sweetheart.”

“Aww,” Caleb cooed. He quickly ducked back behind Mitch when Mac turned and glared at him.

His cell phone rang before he could say anything, though. He set his own coffee down before reaching back in his pocket and pulling out his phone. “I need to take this,” he told Hayley.

“Of course.” Hayley picked up his drink and sipped. Nice and hot. Perfect.

Mac looked toward the other boys. “Behave.” He pointed at them. “Hayley is supposed to be resting. Not getting worked up. Not doing anything that will wear him out.”

“Really?” Mitch smirked. He glanced toward where Hayley had been when they walked in.

Hayley glanced over and saw his spray bottle and cloth still on the shelf. He felt his eyes grow wide in horror. Surely Mitch wouldn’t rat him out.

Mac’s phone had stopped ringing, but when it started again, he stomped toward the exit. “I mean it,” he yelled out before opening the door.

As soon as the door was closed, Hayley rushed over to the shelf and grabbed the bottle and cloth. He was stashing them under the counter, Mitch and Caleb laughing at him, before Mac could even know he moved.

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