Page 13 of Light My Fire Three Times
I can’t help but chuckle, watching the exchange. There’s something effortlessly comforting about the way these two bounce off each other.
Despite the tension that’s always hanging around Jesse, Karl knows how to needle him just right. It's a gift. One that makes Karl impossible to ignore and hard to be mad at, even when he’s being a total pain.
“Alright, alright,” Jesse says with a resigned sigh. “I’ll go. But just for one.”
“Urgh, such a bore,” Karl growls. “I bet you aren’t even coming out for Halloween.”
“Jesse and I are working that night, remember?” I pipe up. “But I’m sure you’ll be fine on your own.”
Karl throws me a mock glare, but it’s dulled by the grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, more fun for me. I don’t need you guys for that.”
I roll my eyes, glad that we have a lot of shit to do today. I don’t need to hear my cousin going onallday long, that’s for sure.
CHAPTER FIVE
Olivia
OCTOBER 28TH
My heart is doinga weird gymnastics routine in my chest, probably because I’ve been trying to avoid thinking abouthimfor a good couple of days now.
“Liv!” Ivy’s voice rings out from the door, and before I know it, I’m swept into her arms. “You came!”
“Of course,” I say, laughing despite myself. “I’d never miss a chance to witness your domestic nightmare in action.”
Ivy pulls back and eyes me, scanning for an emotional breakdown. “You look like you’ve been run over by a truck. You good?”
I force a smile, but it feels more like a grimace. “Oh, you know, just the usual: corporate life, existential dread, and unnecessary anxiety. Same old.”
Her eyes practically spark with curiosity, but before she can ask more, she shifts intomom modeand hands me Max. “Here, hold him while I grab a bottle for Lily.”
I glance down at the squishy, adorable little creature in my arms, and instantly, I feel like the world’s worst aunt.
It’s not that I don’t like babies. I’m just bad at holding them without panicking. I adjust him awkwardly, trying not to feel the heat of impending disaster.
Meanwhile, Ivy’s Frenchie, Pickle, decides that now is the perfect moment to chase its tail at full speed, barking like a lunatic. I can’t even make this up.
“What’s going on here?” I ask, trying to focus on the cute little human in my arms and not the havoc surrounding me.
“Timothy tried to take a nap,” Ivy says dryly from the kitchen, “but Mia’s latest tantrum has turned our living room into a warzone. Triplets are…crazy.”
I glance over at Timothy, who looks utterly defeated, like he’s moments away from calling for backup.
Lily, meanwhile, is in full meltdown mode, standing on the couch, screaming as if the world’s about to end. I can’t help it. I laugh.
“I’m beginning to think I might prefer corporate life to this,” I joke, trying to make light of my ungraceful baby-holding skills. “Although Max is super cute while he’s napping…”
“I heard that,” Timothy chuckles. “They’re all adorable when they’re asleep.”
“Yeah, right.” I give him a teasing look as Ivy re-enters the room.
She’s got that glow about her, as if motherhood is the most effortless thing in the world. I am so not ready for any of this.
I hand the baby back to Ivy and then gratefully grab my coffee, trying to avoid making eye contact with her. Because if she looks at me too closely, I know she’ll see right through me.
“So,” Ivy begins, settling into the couch next to me, “how’s everything? Are you enjoying Coyote Glen? I’m sorry I didn’t make it to dinner the other night.”
I wave a hand to stop her. “Max being sick was way more important. But the town…”
