Page 37 of Coast

“Carly,” Bailey said, and I wanted to laugh at the look on Bailey’s face but didn’t want to draw her attention to me. She already had that mother warning look down pat.

“At it again,” Luna said as she walked toward us.

Carly looked down at the three little girls. “Just because grownups do and say sh...stuff, doesn’t mean kids can do it. Got me?” Then she looked at Bailey. “Better?”

Bailey scowled at Carly but didn’t get a chance to reply.

“Got it. Like when you say that your brother needs to pull the stick out his ass, then you tell me not to tell daddy,” Ally said just as Sami stepped out of the bathroom.

“Oh, really? And what else does your aunt Carly tell you?” Sami asked Ally while she glared at Carly.

“Anyone want something to drink?” I asked before Carly said something else to get herself in more heat.

“That would be great,” River said with a little more enthusiasm than needed, and if I had to guess since she spent more time around the women, she too was trying to switch attention away from Carly.

I started toward the kitchen, and the women and kids followed. When Carly spoke, I couldn’t help but grin. I was beginning to think the woman did and said things just to get the other women going.

“Are you sure neither of you needs to go to the bathroom again since we’re walking past it?” Carly asked. Once in the kitchen, she looked at me. “Being around the four of them pregnant is like a constant revolving bathroom door. One is always going in as another comes out. By the end of their pregnancies, I bet they will know where every restroom is located in the stores they frequent the most. I went with Sami to the grocery last week and she went three times while we were in there.”

I chuckled and moved to the refrigerator. “I’m not sure what Emery has to drink,” I said and pulled open the door. “Milk, beer, what looks to be a pitcher of tea, and some juice boxes,” I told the women. Then I tried to picture Emery drinking from a juice box.

“The juice boxes are for us,” Ally said, and I looked over to the door at her.

“That is sweet of him to keep you guys drinks at his house.”

“Yep, and he keeps chocolate for us. Can we have some?” Neely asked as she moved to stand by Ally.

I smiled at the girls when the thought that I might learn more about Emery from them instead of the women.

“If it’s okay with your moms.” I looked at the Bailey and Sami, and they nodded. “Okay, juice boxes and some chocolate. You’ll need to show me where Emery keeps your stash.”

Ally and Neely walked over to the island, opened the cabinet underneath, and knelt. I pulled three juices boxes and set them on the counter, then water bottles for Sami, Bailey, Luna, and River.

Pans could be heard clanging together. “Need help?” I asked, and Ally’s head popped out of the cabinet.

“Nope, got it. Uncle Coast puts in the back inside a pot,” Ally said as she and Neely stood with a bag of candy. Then they closed the cabinet.

“Do you want to sit at the bar?”

“Can we go to the living room and watch TV?” Ally asked.

I looked over at Sami to see if it was okay. I had no idea if Emery allowed the kids to eat in his living room.

Carly got up from the table and handed the bottles of water to the other women, then she held her hand out to Ally for the bag of candy.

“Give it up, shrimp. You each can have two pieces, then put the bag back. I’m a little pissed, I didn’t know about this stash. What else does Uncle Coast got stashed around here?”

“We’ll never tell!” Ally and Neely yelled together.

“Hmm...keeping stuff from the cops.”

I didn’t know what to expect when I watched the smile form on Neely’s face. The one she shared with her brother. But I bit my lip to keep from laughing when she looked up at Carly and said, “Dev said never admit shit to coppers.”

“Oh good grief, that man,” Bailey said and laid her forehead on the table, not even bothering to say anything to Neely. I shouldn’t, but I found it all amusing. It said so much about the men and the little girls’ relationships.

Sami reached over and patted Bailey’s back. “I share the same pain, daily,” Sami said, and River and Luna snickered. I looked at Carly, and we both laughed.

“I’ll help you get them set up in the living. Coast lets them eat and drink in there all the time. He doesn’t worry about messes since Shakes, and a couple of the other ol’ ladies clean the house.” Carly grabbed up the juice boxes while the girls chose their candy.

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