Page 65 of The Home Game

Matty beamed. “How do you feel about waffles?”

She squinted. “I don’t know, how do you feel about putting chocolate chips in them?”

“I might be talked into that sometime. If your Uncle Antoni is okay with it.” Matty glanced over.

“Uhh, yeah that would be okay,” Antoni said. “Not all the time or anything but we could do that occasionally if Matty wants to make them.”

“Awesome.” She shot them both a smile. “I’m gonna be in my room.”

“Plate in the dishwasher, please,” Antoni reminded her, glad to see what a good mood she was in. This was the most she’d spoken at breakfast and smiled since her parents’ death.

Alexis hopped down from the stool and carried her plate over the dishwasher while Antoni took a few deep breaths.

His heart rate was only now coming down.

He was always up and out of bed before the kids, always. And he’d never had anyone to look after them while he had a chance to sleep in.

“I think I’m done too,” Eli said, clambering down. “I had five pancakes, eggs, and turkey sausage.”

“And fruit,” Matty said.

“Yeah, it was yummy!”

“Wow,” Antoni said. “You must have been hungry.”

“Everything was so good!” Eli beamed. “And I love maple syrup.”

Matty made a face. “Still not sure how I feel about you putting it on eggs but I guess you are Canadian.”

Eli giggled and skipped to the dishwasher, plate and fork in hand.

“And how are you, River?” Antoni asked, noticing her hair was in pigtails and she was neatly dressed.

“More pancake!” River said, banging her fist on the counter.

“Hey,” Antoni chided gently. “Use all your words and be polite, please.”

She frowned but said, “More pancake … please.”

“How many?” Matty asked, laughing.

“Two!”

“Coming right up!”

Antoni watched with a dazed sort of amusement as River proceeded to devour two pancakes in record time. When she was done, he helped her load the dishwasher with her plate and fork, then wiped off her sticky fingers and face.

He tried not to think about the bomb Matty had dropped on him last night but the thought kept creeping into his head, along with the memory of Matty leaning close, looking like he wanted to kiss Antoni.

When they were alone in the kitchen except for Reese, who was playing with his rice cereal more than eating it, Antoni shook his head. “Yeesh, you’d think I’d never fed those children.”

“Maybe it was the first food that tasted good,” Matty said with a wink.

“Hey!” Antoni protested, but he was laughing.

Matty shrugged. “Seems normal to me.”

“Yeah, yeah, hockey players,” Antoni joked. But he quickly sobered. “I just want to say I am so sorry I slept in this morning and—”

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