Page 32 of My Boss's Sons

“I’m a good kid, Mom.” Lily’s matter-of-fact tone was too perfect.

Alex laughed and held out his hand for Lily to high five. “I’d be a good kid for ice cream, too.”

Lily looked up at him as we slowly filed out of Sophia’s office. “If you’re the little brother, why are you bigger?”

27

***Sophia***

My afternoon had been swamped. After inhaling the cheeseburger the guys brought me back from the cafeteria, I’d lost track of them. Ethan had motioned to Lily and the door at some point and the next time I’d looked up, they were all gone. When I could finally come up for air, I went out in search of them and found a small group of women gathered around the break room. I glanced over at Randal, who’d been just as busy as me, and we shared a confused look.

“I don’t know what the guys are doing in there, but women keep flocking around.” Randal stood up and stretched. “I guess this is as good a reason to take a break as any.”

We walked over and eased our way past the women gathered around. They all seemed to snap back to reality when they saw me and by the time I got to the doorway to the breakroom, it was just me and Randal standing there. I was glad because when I saw what they’d all been staring at, I felt like I was melting rightwhere I stood from the sweetness. I couldn’t have hidden the expression on my face if I’d tried.

Lily was at one of the breakroom tables with the guys and they were showing her how to play a card game. Lily was sitting on the table and Ethan switched between holding his arm out behind her and watching her with a worried look on his face. Alex and Lily were playfully taunting each other and Noah was holding a handful of chips that Lily kept reaching over to take.

I knew my daughter and I could tell she was in heaven with the guys. She was over the moon happy. It was such a juxtaposition to how she’d showed up in my office earlier in the day that I wanted to kiss the guys. They’d cheered her up completely.

When I finally saw that John Cena was in Ethan’s lap, I must’ve gasped because they all turned to look at me. Lily twisted too close to the edge when she did and her arms and legs shot out as she toppled over, but Ethan was right there, catching her before she even fell off the table completely. My heart still lodged itself in my throat and I hurried to Lily to pick her up and put her in a chair.

“Kid, you’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days.” I looked at Ethan and pressed my lips together as my brain tried to release too much at once. I wanted to say so much in that moment, but I forced myself to keep my cool. “Thank you.”

He patted his chest. “I think I just got my first gray hair.”

Lily stood in the chair and threw her arms around my neck. “Mom, I learned how to play poker!”

Alex wouldn’t make eye contact with me so I figured he was the guilty party. I grunted as Lily wrapped her legs around me, too, and let me hold all of her weight. “Poker, huh? Did you win any money?”

Alex finally met my gaze. “I wouldn’t use real money. We used chips.”

“And I somehow ended up as Lily’s personal chip bowl.” Noah frowned at Lily, but I could see that it was playful. “My entire job is holding her chips and I’ve been told a few times that I stink at my job.”

“Well, you dropped them, Noah. And then you tried to give them to me.” Lily giggled. “You gave those ground chips to Alex. I saw you.”

Alex dropped his cards. “Are you serious, Noah?”

“Hey, Mom, can your boyfriends come over tomorrow?” Lily missed the panicked expression on my face. “I’m not going to Dad’s, so we can have a pool party. Please, Mom!”

Of course, the guys were all quiet and unhelpful. I finally cleared my throat and tried to navigate my way through Lily’s invitation. “It’s your dad’s weekend, Lily. If-”

“Nuh-uh. I talked to him yesterday and he has work. Please, Mom. Just one little party. Please! I’ll never ask for anything again.” She gripped my cheeks in her crumb-coated fingers. “They’ve never even seen our house, Mom. I need to show them John Cena’s bedroom.”

Before I could think of anything else to say, Ethan spoke up. “We’ve never even seen your house, Sophia.”

Alex grinned. “It’s just one little party.”

I turned to Noah and shook my head. “Go ahead. What’s your super helpful input?”

He dusted off his hands and smirked. “What should we bring?”

“Chips!” Lily giggled when Noah narrowed his eyes at her. “Aunt Ava said you guys are helping Mom get her groove back, so bring that, too, if you find it.”

I heard Randal coughing from the doorway and closed my eyes, hoping that when I opened them, I’d be back in my bed and Lily’s words would just be a nightmare I was having.

“I’ll make a list.” Alex was clearly laughing as he spoke. “Chips and Sophia’s groove.”

“Dad doesn’t like y’all because he wanted to help Mom find her groove. Aunt Ava said he couldn’t find Mom’s groove when they were married and he sure as hell can’t now.”

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