Page 204 of The Reluctant Hero

“How about you and Dad go for a little vacationwithout internetand relax? All your worries are over now,” I bite out through gritted teeth.

“Does he like snickerdoodles?” She asks me in a saccharine, sweet tone.

“Suzanne!” Dad barks out furiously.

“What? BikerDaddy046 does.”

“Fuck no,” I yell in horror. “My mourning or lack thereof will continue into infinity. Hashtag single forever.”

“Hashtag, thank fucking God,” Dad adds.

“Hashtag, I wantgrandkids,” she scolds me.

I choke on my own spit. “What the hell, Mom?Get off the phone!”

The amount of men hearing this makes me want to suddenly develop South’s invisibility power.

“I’ve been waiting to hold a baby in my arms for years. Don’t you dare hold out on me for a second longer. That idiot is finally out of your life, and you have plenty of options now. Flush your birth control pills.”

“It’s a rod in my arm, and I’m going to cement it in there. Besides, what are you going to do?Hirea man to impregnate me? Is that what Mrs. Hendrix’s grandson is for? Jesus Mom!” The more I think about it, the more horrifying it becomes.

“You are going to give me a grandchild come hell or high water, Amanda Jane,” she insists stubbornly.

“I’ll go to a clinic and have some eggs saved. You can pick the father. You can even raise it. Deal of a lifetime. I’m hangingup now. I love you both.” I frantically gesture to Mikael to hang up. He’s too dazed to notice.

“We’reJeffersons,” Mom starts off, and I droop in exhaustion.

“And we don’t stop fighting,” I sigh as my dad enthusiastically echoes the sentiment.

“I love you, Amanda. I’m going online to shop for baby clothes!”

“Suzanne, get it under control, or she’llnevercome home-”

She hangs up, and I sag in relief.

“Your Mama wants grandbabies?” Jake teases me with a wide grin.

Mikael is holding the phone as if it’s a bomb, and if he moves, it will explode. Jake doesn’t have the same concern. He snatches it out of his hand with glee.

“I’m not discussing that with anyone but my lunatic mother,” I tell him firmly and hold my hand out for the phone.

“I like snickerdoodles,” Cade mutters in confusion.

“Fuck off,” I snap, startling him. “She didn’t mean thecookies. It’s her code for red-headed kids, dipshit.”

“Shall I call her back and tell her how rude you’re being to prospective fathers?” He taunts with a wicked grin.

“Enjoy your interrogation. Maybe you should have a sperm count ready just in case,” I roll my eyes and shake my hand. Jake gently sets it on my palm and curls my fingers around it.

“I can hold a phone by myself,” I glare, yanking my hand away.

“Amanda.”

My lip curls up in a sneer. I tilt my head, refusing to look at Gabriel.

“We need to get to work. Which one of us would you like to stay with you?”

“No one,” I spit out. “I’m not leaving, and I’m notstealinganything. The babysitter isn’t necessary.”

---