Page 108 of Headed for Home

My boyfriend regains his confident composure. “No, but we’re celebrating.”

“Ah, right. The twins went to school. Major milestone. Kenzie calls the school bus a banana limo, which is adorable and deserves a toast.” I raise my jar and clink against his nonexistent beverage.

“Not that,” he chuckles.

“Then what’s the occasion? It’s not Saturday.”

“Doesn’t have to be. Every moment we’re together deserves to be cherished.”

“Oh, my,” I breathe.

“And there’s this.” He pushes his phone across the counter.

The screen displays an article. My eyes bulge after reading the bold headline. “Is this real?”

Drake’s smug expression is answer enough. “News broke this morning.”

“Sutherland Homes filed for bankruptcy,” I repeat. “How did this happen?”

“I took care of it.”

My lashes sweep upward to study his prideful stance. “Bodily harm?”

“Nope.”

“Physical violence?”

“Not even a scratch.”

“This is legit?” I wave his phone.

He nods. “You’ll never have to worry about them again.”

A hot sting blurs my sight but I see him standing in front of me like an invincible pillar of strength. Affection spreads through me in a comforting wave. I rise off my stool and scramble onto the counter. Drake grabs my arms, refusing to let me fall. His encouragement will always catch me.

My palms clasp his neck and use the grip to pull him toward me. “I love you.”

“Love you,” he mumbles into the kiss.

“Grosssssss,” Charlie cries. “Rake is getting Mommy’s germs.”

Kenzie pretends to vomit, which could earn her a spot on Broadway. “Nooooo, Pinkie Pie! You’re giving Mommy cooties. That’s disgusting.”

Sydney stares at the twins as if ten years separates her from them rather than two. “They’re just kissing.”

“Yeah, Mac and Cheese.” Drake gives me a chaste peck before I return to my seat. “Don’t yuck my yum.”

The twins exchange a blank stare. Charlie’s nose wrinkles when he refocuses on the man who was recently attached to my mouth. “I don’t like yucky yum. Too slobbery. Bleh.”

“More for me,” he responds. “Your mom’s slobber is my favorite.”

I nudge him. “Hush.”

Kenzie has her fists parked on her hips. “You’re gonna get a baby in your belly.”

My wince scolds her lacking knowledge of the birds and the bees. “That’s not how it works.”

“Yes-huh,” she demands. “Pinkie Pie is gonna give you his seed when you do the kissing. You plant his seed in your tummy and drink lotsa water until the baby grows.”

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