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1242 Words
A ringing noise sounded through the apartment.
"You have got to be kidding me," he sighed against my lips. "It's like every time we kiss someone interrupts us."
I ran my palm along the scruff on his face. "I'll answer the door."
"Axel!" Scarlett squealed from the foyer.
James frowned. "When did Scarlett figure out how to break through the child locks on the front door?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "She's always been mischievous like her father."
"I can barely open the door with those freaking locks on. So she certainly didn't learn it from me."
We walked into the foyer. Scarlett had grabbed Axel's hand and was already pulling him over to her drawings from this morning that were spread out on the floor.
"They're so adorable together," Hailey said and put her hand on her chest.
"I'm pretty sure it was love at first sight for Scarlett," I said and gave her a hug.
"Love at first sight?" James said from behind me. "I don't think so."
Tyler laughed.
"Hey, Tyler." I gave him a quick hug.
"Would it really be so bad if your daughter was in love with my son?" Tyler asked and patted James on the shoulder.
"No, that's not what I meant," James said and looked over at our children playing. "But they're just friends."
"Aw, I don't know," Hailey said. "They seem pretty smitten to me."
James lowered his eyebrows slightly.
I wasn't sure why it bothered him so much to think that Scarlett had a crush on Axel. They weren't even four years old yet. It was harmless enough. And I thought it was cute how much Scarlett adored Axel. A Hunter ending up with a Stevens wasn't such a horrible thing. I smiled at the two of them playing together. Axel looked so much like his father. He had the same shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes, but his skin was a little tanner like his mother's. He was going to be a heartbreaker when he was older.
"Do either of you want something to drink?" James asked, not at all subtly changing the subject.
"The idea of our kids being in love really bothers you, doesn't it?" I heard Tyler say as the two of them disappeared into the kitchen.
Hailey laughed. "Men," she said and rolled her eyes. "Honestly, how cute would it be if they did fall in love one day?"
"What a story that would be."
We silently watched Scarlett holding up the drawings to Axel.
I think I understood why James had gotten a little defensive. I couldn't even imagine Scarlett going to school in a few years. Stupid time flying by. God, and her dating? Just the thought made my stomach twist into knots.
"But right now they're our babies," Hailey said.
I laughed. "Did you just think about them growing up and going off to school and sneaking around our backs and getting into all sorts of trouble?"
She laughed. "My mind immediately went there. Maybe I need to hop on the train of having another kid so I'm not thoroughly depressed when Axel goes off to kindergarten."
I put my hand on my stomach.
"You definitely should," Rob said from behind us. "We always just get pregnant again whenever Penny and James do. Hello, you gorgeous, pregnant specimen of a woman." He kissed me on the cheek.
I laughed. "You did that thing again where you let yourself in instead of ringing the bell."
"You gave me a key for just that reason." He held up his keychain and jingled it in front of me.
"It's for emergencies only."
"Well, I was in serious need of a drink. Crisis averted." He winked at me.
"Where are Daphne and Sophie?"
"Daphne had to pee so she stopped at the bathroom downstairs. Pregnant women, am I right?" He elbowed Hailey in the side. "How are you doing, Hails?"
"Good. I'm just enjoying the show." She looked back and forth between us.
"Rob, you didn't wait for your wife and child?" I asked. "You just ran up here and abandoned them?"
"In the most prestigious apartment complex in the city. You're acting like I left them somewhere horrid. Besides, I had to come up. Someone had to get this party going. Am I right, Hails?"
"Does me not being pregnant somehow make me one of the guys? Stop elbowing me," she said with a laugh and lightly shoved Rob's arm.
"No, but you still get to have fun while Penny and Daphne are total party poopers. Especially now," he said and turned back to me. "Shouldn't you be lying down?"
I had just defended his ability at keeping a secret to James. Was he seriously going to talk about my heart murmur in front of one of the only people that didn't know?
"Why especially now?" Hailey asked.
Rob cleared his throat. "Because James Junior in there is going to be a kicker in the NFL. He's practically abusive already. He'll fit into the league perfectly."
I laughed. "He's just a little hyper is all. He's not a monster."
"I never called him a monster," Rob said. "Junior will be one of the good ones."
"First of all, we're having a girl," James said and handed Rob a drink. "And second of all, if it's a boy, we're not naming him James Junior."
"Oh, come on. I'm going to name my son Rob Junior. RJ for short. And we can call your son JJ. It'll be adorable. They'll basically be twins like how we're basically twins. Penny's always saying how similar we are." He glanced back at me as if he was waiting for me to agree with him.
I looked at the two brothers. Rob was little shorter than James. And Rob almost always had a smile on his face, whereas James was currently sporting a scowl. James was more carefree now than he used to be. But he still tended to be more serious than Rob. "Similar, yes," I said. "But not twins."
Rob stuck his tongue out at me.
The doorbell rang. Rob turned around and answered it. Matt walked in with Sophie on his hip and Daphne stood there with her arms crossed above her large pregnant stomach.
"You left me," she said sternly, but the curves at the corners of her mouth gave her good humor away.
"I would never." Rob wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Daphne laughed. "Sophie started throwing a tantrum in the middle of the lobby because she wanted you, though. Luckily Matt was there to save the day. Apparently he's a good substitute for you. She immediately calmed down when he picked her up."
"I don't know about that," Matt said with a laugh. "But I don't think my niece minds hanging out with me, do you Soph?"
Sophie shook her head. She was nestled into Matt's side with her thumb in her mouth. Her eyes were red and watery like she had indeed just been crying.
"I'm sorry, Soph," Rob said and peeled Sophie out of Matt's arms. "No need to be upset." He peppered her face in kisses until she was smiling again. "Do you want to go play with Scarlett and Axel?"
"And you too, Daddy," she said.
"Okay, princess. Which way to your friends?"
Sophie pointed toward the living room.
"This way?" Rob said and walked in the opposite direction.
"No, Daddy. That way."
- Writer
