Page 57 of My Darling Mayhem

“You can add lime. I like adding it,” Cruz said excitedly, reaching for a half-cut lime from one of the bowls. He used both hands and squeezed a generous portion onto his tacos, which caused Kane to do the same. I caught Wren’s gaze as she laughed, and a smile stretched along her beautiful face.

My chest ached. That fuzzy feeling was replaced with the one where I felt like a pellet gun had shot me. Like my chest burned and ached and needed to be soothed.

“This is so good,” Kane murmured while he took a generous bite.

Cruz nodded while sipping his milk. “Mom made my favorite, I told her you’d like it, Kane.”

Wren blushed, then gave Kane a soft smile. “I’m glad you like it.” She’d also texted and asked me if he had any food allergies, which was incredibly considerate. But she didn’t ask about me,which I gave her a hard time about. She replied with, “You’re a big boy.”

To which I replied, “Want a reminder of just how big?”

“So, boys, how is school going?” Wren asked before taking a modest bite. She’d also prepared pinto beans, homemade chips, and guacamole. Everything tasted so good that I was practically inhaling my food.

Kane shifted in his seat while chewing, so Cruz answered, “Good, we’re learning the word for food in Spanish and English right now.”

Wren lit up. “Oh yeah?”

Kane nodded, jumping in, “Leche means milk, and strawberry is fr…” He swung his gaze over to Cruz, who tilted his head as if trying to remember.

“Fruz or fez…”

Wren replied, with a smile, “Fresa?”

“That’s it!” Kane said excitedly. “We learned that cow is, vaca.”

“Wow, you guys are learning a lot.” Wren beamed while dabbing at her lips. She glanced at me as if silently telling me to keep the conversation going.

“How did you learn to cook like this?” I managed to ask around another massive bite of food. I was being rude, but fuck if I cared. This was the best meal I’d ever had.

Wren flushed, but her smile was infectious.

“My parents actually own a restaurant in North Carolina. My stepdad would let me sit on the counter when preparing meals, but even before my mom married him, she would have me next to her when she’d cook. It—” Emotion suddenly swept over her features, transforming them from happy and proud to sad as if this was a painful subject for her.

Her throat cleared, but her eyes smarted as if she was about to cry.

Shit. What had I done? I quickly recovered by changing the subject so she didn’t feel obligated to continue to talk about her family.

Unfortunately, my new topic had Wren leaving the table ten minutes later.

“You guys are so gross.” She shook her head, taking her plate with her.

I tipped my head back, still laughing. “They’re just noises.”

Kane blew a raspberry into his arm as if on cue, then laughed. “Fart noises!”

The boys giggled, and to apologize for my part in the fart conversation, we agreed to clean up dinner while Wren went and took a bubble bath. She argued, saying she was hosting, but we insisted on making more noises, which had her leaving. I watched as her ass swayed, and then she was tugging the elastic from her braid and digging her hands into her hair, letting it cascade down her back in waves.

My mouth went dry, and I had to resist the urge to follow her.

Thirty minutes later, the boys were sitting on the living room floor playing cars while I continued to check my phone to see if Wren had texted for me to come join her. Not that I would have, or even could have, but my stupid brain couldn’t quite get the message to my dick.

Finally, Wren exited the hallway wearing sleep shorts and a baggy T-shirt, but her damp hair hung against her shoulders as she brushed it out.

“What are you guys up to?”

I froze.

Cruz smiled up at her. “Just playing.”

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