Page 74 of Limbo

An upside-down, goggle-wearing Cate leans over my face. “Hi.”

I grunt a response. She giggles and dives off the side of the bed. Worried she landed on Jordan, I roll over, only to find the space on the floor empty. The folded blankets and pillow are stacked at the end of my bed. I consider the possibility of him making a run for it in the middle of the night until the sweet aroma of coffee fills my room.

It drags me out of bed. I get dressed and head down the hall, passing Connor’s closed door. Most weekends, he either attends practice or plays in a game. With break, he doesn’t need to go anywhere and must want to sleep in. In light of the little reveal about his couch activities, I decide on a pit stop before the kitchen and retreat to my room.

Supplies in hand, I sneak through his door, careful not to wake him when closing it. Once I’m ready, I stand beside his bed and clear my throat.

“Condoms are nearly as effective at preventing pregnancy as the pill when used correctly. They also drastically reduce the chances of contracting a sexually transmitted infection.”

Connor’s head pops up, a look of horror on his face. “Cal, what are you doing?”

Ignoring him, I continue, “If the condom breaks, emergency contraceptives can prevent pregnancy when taken within seventy-two hours. Keep in mind, though, the sooner after unsafe sex, the more effective.”

He picks up one of the entire box worth of condoms scattered all over him and his bed. “Oh my God.”

“Fact: teenagers can be at high risk for STIs, such as HIV, hepatitis, HPV, herpes—”

Scrambling out of bed, he clamps a hand over my mouth and emphatically shakes his head. I mumble into his hand, rattling off every other one I can remember from health class.

“You win,” he says, lowering his hand. “Please fucking stop.”

I pick up a condom and slap it against his chest. “Always wear one. We’re totally unequipped to handle a baby.”

He nods. “The dysfunction quota has been reached in this family. Noted.”

“Connor—”

“Trust me,” he says, more serious.

It’s my only real choice unless I want to chaperone him twenty-four-seven. I squint one last warning at him and retreat. Then, not being a total hypocrite, I double back and snatch a handful of the condoms off his comforter. His laughter follows me out the second time.

With my parental duties complete and contraceptives returned to my bag, I seek the much-needed coffee. I stop in the doorway, the scene unfolding in the kitchen worthy of a pause. At one end of the table, Jordan is wearing a blue bathrobe over his clothes and oversize spectacles. At the other end, Cate is kneeling on a chair in her pink robe and swim goggles.

He shakes out a newspaper, a fake pipe hanging out of his mouth. “Well, my dear, Sport and Kitten should be down for breakfast soon.”

She giggles, flipping through a comic book. “They’d better hurry, or they’ll be late for school.”

“Would you like me to drop them off on my way to the office?”

“That would be nice.” She sighs, dropping her chin to her hand. “I need to mop the floors again.”

“Very well.” He shoves something nonexistent across the table. “Would you like more ham?”

I laugh at their act, and Jordan looks over. Jesus, even in costume as a sitcom dad, he looks incredible.

“What the hell, Cate?” Connor’s elbow jabs one of my ribs as he pushes past. “You can’t just strip away a guy’s masculinity as soon as he walks through the door. You have to build up to embarrassing him like this.”

Jordan throws down the pipe and refolds the newspaper. “I’m not wearing a pink ballerina tutu, holding a doll and watchingSwan Lake, so I’m going to say I’m ahead in the masculinity department.”

Connor’s eyes narrow. “Cate showed you the photo album?”

“First thing this morning. Now, sit down and eat, Sport.” He puts the glasses down with the newspaper and fetches me coffee.

I slide the mug from him and take a sip, loving the return to our morning ritual—and not just because of the coffee.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he says. Cate growls, and his lips twitch. “I mean, good morning, Kitten.”

He glances over his shoulder. She nods and returns to her comic. When his focus comes back, he robs me of my cup and sets it on the table.

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