Page 40 of The Wayward Sons & the Seattle Sirens

“Be careful,” Tessa said as she steadied Jo with a hand on her back. “She likes to bite.”

“So, she’s like her mama was,” I commented as I held Jo close. Those big blue eyes glared at me as if offended by my comment—yeah, that look was all Tessa. “You know, your mama used to bite everyone.”

“Used to?” Jake teased with a grin.

“Still my baby sister, Jake,” I retorted gruffly. Was just filing that under shit I didn’t need to know about my sister. “We’re sticking with used to and that’s that.”

“Why the fuck is she so small?” Gray demanded, changing the conversation. His hand touched the small of my back as he poked Jo in the cheek. Was it bad form to poke babies? She didn’t seem to mind at all as she giggled. When he did it again to the other cheek, she giggled harder and practically tumbled back out of my arms as she wiggled. I scrambled to keep her upright and tightened my arms around her. He chastised, “Don’t drop the baby, Ryder.”

Poking babies was apparently a good thing. Dropping babies definitely was not.

“I’m not trying to,” I muttered. “Stop poking the baby, and she won’t try to throw herself around.”

“Nah, I’m the cool uncle, remember?” He laughed. Jo laughed. It was a dangerous friendship in the making. “I’m goin’ to teach her all the best shit.”

And then he fucking poked her all over again. At least I was ready for the flopping giggles this time.

“Stop taking pictures, Tess.” I glanced to where she shamelessly had her phone out taking pictures.

“Can’t and won’t,” she replied. Even still, I smiled—not at her. I wouldn’t give her that satisfaction. No, it was everything else. My siblings, my niece, Gray. It was lunch in a stupid fifties-themed diner.

It all felt so normal.

And I liked it.

“All right, I hear this place has the best bacon cheeseburger around,” Jake said as he joined us, a diaper bag over his shoulder and a big grin on his face. I glanced down at Jo, watching while she continued to giggle at Gray’s antics. Okay, the smile was all Jake.

“See!” Gray exclaimed happily. “I ain’t the only one lookin’ forward to a damn good burger.”

“Oh, we don’t swear in front of Jo,” Jake told him. I scoffed, turning away to hide my quiet laughter. Good luck getting Gray not to swear.

“No can do,” he replied. “The cool uncle gets to teach her all the good swears.”

“I’m the cool uncle,” Mal cut in.

“I’ll fight you,” Gray said. Good Lord.

“Here.” She held her arms out to take Jo as Mal slid to the corner of their bench. “Let me take her.”

“No,” I said. Instead, I nodded for Gray to get in before me. I propped Jo on the table in front of me, sliding one arm around her. “She’s mine.”

“Ours,” Gray corrected. “For lunch and anythin’ not related to her diaper.”

“Why do they get out of diaper duty and I don’t?” Mal cut in.

“Because you live with us and don’t pay rent. You two sure you don’t want kids?” Jake asked. I frowned, but he merely shrugged. “Sorry, Tess told me.”

“We like this crotch goblin,” Gray retorted.

“Don’t you call my daughter a crotch goblin!” Tessa snapped.

“At least she’s a cute one,” he said. He held out a hand to Jo, and she promptly put his finger in her mouth, chewing on him. For as much as he didn’t like kids, Gray was damn good with them. “Feisty fucker. At least she ain’t like some of those ugly babies you see out there.”

“Please, tell me those hands are clean.” Tessa cringed as Jo blubbered around Gray’s finger.

“Darlin’, I do all sorts of dirty things with these hands,” he teased. “Ask your brother.”

“Gray!” I exclaimed at the same time as Tessa. Her expression was horrified.

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