Page 16 of Blame It On the Lattes

My eyes widened even more as I looked down at Kennedy, not believing my ears.

“Kennedy!” I hissed, wondering what had come over her. Being cheeky was fine, but telling lies to get what she wanted wasn’t something I tolerated.

“I’m just kidding,” Sam rushed out, holding his hand up to stop me. “She didn’t ask for any of that. I was just getting back at her for her tricking me with breakfast.”

I narrowed my eyes, looking from him to her. They were going to be trouble together, I just knew it.

“I don’t know who to believe,” I teased. “It seems like there’s lots of fibbing happening in here.”

“Well, technically, she started it,” Sam said, pointing a spatula at Kennedy and causing her to giggle again.

“That doesn’t surprise me one bit.”

“Mama, can I be done?” she asked, tugging on the arm of my robe to get my attention.

“Is your tummy full?” I had no idea how much she had eaten since she’d started before I came out.

“Yep.”

“Alright. You can be done. Please ask Sam where you can clear your plate.”

She hopped down from her chair and I handed her the plastic plate he had given her with her food. He showed her where the trashcan was and then helped her load the plate into the dishwasher.

“Can I watchThe Grinch?” she asked, eyes hopeful as she looked between us.

“We just watched it last night,” I said softly, not wanting Sam to go out of his mind with having to watch the same thing over and over.

“Yeah, but I missed some of it because I was sleeping.”

“I know, but we don’t want to bore Sam with watching it again.”

“I don’t mind,” he said softly, his eyes locking onto mine.

“Okay. But just once. Then, after that, we’ll take a shower and get cleaned up.”

“Okay, momma.” She smiled and then bounced into the living room, clearly feeling better.

I was going to get up to go turn on the TV, but Sam beat me to it.

“Do you want your hot chocolate with green marshmallows?” he asked her as he headed back to the kitchen.

My jaw dropped open, knowing she had been trying to convince him to give her hot chocolate after all.

“Yes, please! And whipped cream!”

I shook my head at him as I tried to keep the smile off my face.

“Oh, you are in so much trouble,” I teased.

“What?” He shrugged while sporting the cutest ear-to-ear smile. “I want to be the fun, cool uncle. Gotta get those brownie points in somehow, or I’ll never beat Cassidy.”

“You’re in a competition with Cassidy over who Kennedy likes more?”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t know it yet, so don’t say anything. Okay?”

“First, you lie to me about my kid conning you into a breakfast filled with sugar, and then you ask me to lie to my best friend?” I gasped and clutched my hand to my chest. “Talk about betrayal.”

“Hey, I bought you five new pillows—you should’ve seen the bribes coming.”

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