Page 142 of Mayhem
She was so preoccupied with her thoughts and the constant motion of Paetyn’s hands that she hadn’t realized she’dabsentmindedly slid him a loaf of bread when he moved to the final carrot. It was when he chuckled that she snapped back to reality.
“What am I supposed to do with that, Angel?” he asked, eyes catching hers, the consistent chopping still sounding in the kitchen, and it did nothing for her state.
Erin pursed her lips. “I was making sure you were paying attention.”
“Is that so?” he asked, amused, and it was easy to see he didn’t believe her. Luckily for her, Cruz saved her.
“What time are you supposed to pick up Morris and Julia?” Cruz asked.
“They’re coming with Taila. They’re staying at the same hotel, and she volunteered to bring them while we got everything set up,” Erin responded.
“And you’re sure you’re still okay with Caroline coming?” Paetyn asked.
“I am. Like I said, as long as she keeps her hands to herself, there won’t be a problem, but it’s also a little late to ask again now.”
“It isn’t because we will never let you feel uncomfortable in your own home. So if that means sending someone away at the last minute, that’s what will happen,” Cruz responded. Erin smiled at him, becoming more used to them calling it her home each time it happened.
“Do either of you need help with any last-minute things before I get dressed?” she asked.
“Once I put this on, everything will be cooking or done,” Paetyn stated.
“I’ve got everything set up. I think we’re good, baby,” Cruz responded.
“Okay, but call me if you need help.”
She exited the kitchen and went upstairs to her bedroom. They had an hour and a half before everyone would start arriving, and she knew that the dish Paetyn was making would take forty-five minutes to an hour once on.
Erin entered her ensuite and began to fill the tub. She’d already chosen what she would wear and wanted to soak for at least a little bit before she double-checked that they had everything and played hostess.
Erin listened, amused, to her grandmother and Lena’s conversation as she ate her dessert hours later. As soon as she introduced her grandmother and dad to Ancel and Lena, they hit it off. Her grandmother was a mess, and she’d learned that Lena was not much better. Neither woman seemed to have a filter, and their current conversation centered around the medicine comment made at dinner a couple of evenings ago.
“They weren’t as slick as they thought,” her grandmother stated. “I knew what they were referring to.”
“I’m sure they’ve been giving her plenty of their medicine,” Lena responded. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we were grandparents before long.”
“Mom,” Cruz said in a playful warning. Erin knew he and Paetyn often got the grandchild comment. However, she didn’t think they were as opposed to it as they led Lena to believe.
“I will be a great-grandmother,” her grandmother responded. Both women pretended her boyfriend hadn’t spoken, which caused Ancel to laugh and her dad to shake his head.
“I don’t know why you boys still try to dissuade her,” Ancel stated.
“If dissuading is what they’re going for, they now have two, and I can tell you from experience that Julia is more stubborn than a mule. When she gets something in her mind, that’s where it stays,” her dad responded.
“Morris, you really should get on the bandwagon because it means I’ll stop asking you when you will give me another grandchild. You aren’t too old to do so.”
Erin giggled at the horrified look on her dad’s face. She couldn’t blame him. The last thing on his mind was a child. Hell, he needed to start dating first, and those times were far and few between. Not that Erin wasn’t constantly volunteering to be his wing woman and pointing out women she thought would be good for him.
“Yes, I am too old to do so. At my age, I will not be chasing after a toddler. That ship has sailed; I wasn’t on it, and I have no intention of boarding a different one,” her father responded.
When her boyfriends chuckled, Lena looked between them. “Make sure the two of you board the ship.”
“We always board it. It just doesn’t set sail,” Cruz responded with a shrug, and Erin damn near choked on her pie before pinching him, which only caused him to laugh.
“Let him borrow your filter,” she directed at Paetyn.
“You and I both know I don’t have one either,” he whispered in her ear. “At least not when I’m boarding this ship we’re talking about.”
Erin shifted in her seat slightly as she took another bite of her pie.
