Page 23 of Blame It On the Lattes

“I’ve been here since yesterday. I brought treats from Sugarplum Sweets. I helped Sam and Kennedy decorate those sugar cookies.” She nodded to the plate sitting on the island. “And I stayed the night after helping with dinner and giving Kennedy a bath. I’ve been here the whole time.”

I shook my head, only making myself dizzier.

“Well, then, you can drive me to work.”

“Nope. No can do. You, my friend, are staying home today.”

“You guys are impossible,” I groaned, throwing my head back in frustration.

“No, you are being impossible,” Cassidy corrected, pinning me with a look. “You’re sick, and believe it or not, no one wants a shot of flu with their espresso. So stay home and get better. I’m sure Sam will have opportunities for you to make up your hours once you’re feeling better.”

“She’s right,” Sam said, giving me a gentle smile. “This time of year gets super busy, and we always have days when we need extra help. It will be easy to make up the hours you’re missing today.”

I looked down at my daughter, who was pleading with her eyes and begging me to stay.

“Alright. Fine.” I sighed and pulled her in for a hug as her hands wrapped around my hips.

“Do you want me to make you breakfast, momma?”

“No, honey. Thank you. I’ll makeyoubreakfast, though. What would you like?”

“Sam already made me pancakes and bacon,” she said, dancing happily around me.

I looked up and found him grinning.

“I said it was a once-a-week thing,” I playfully scolded. “Not an everyday thing.”

“I’m sorry, Avery. I tried. I really did. But then she looked at me with those big, blue eyes, and I couldn’t say no.”

“You’re gonna have to try harder.”

“Or I could just stay the cool, fun uncle,” he teased, winking at me.

“Are you and Cassidy still fighting to be Kennedy’s favorite?”

The words had slipped out before I could process them.

Sam’s eyes widened as Cassidy’s narrowed at me.

“What?” she demanded, planting her hands on her hips and glaring at him. “You’re purposely doing stuff to get Kennedy to like you more?”

“No,” he lied, transforming from the innocent brother sad face to the irresistibly cute pretend angry face he was giving me.

“You liar! I knew it! That’s why you took credit for the sugar cookies yesterday.”

“Hey, I took credit for them because they were my idea. You can ask Avery. She was standing right here when I asked you to get them.”

“Yeah, butIwas the one who bought them. I should get credit for that.”

“You only bought them becauseItold you to.”

“Whatever.” Cassidy huffed out a breath and folded her arms over her chest as she turned away from her brother.

“You can’t act like you haven’t been trying to bribe Kennedy as well,” Sam said, pointing a finger at his sister. “You’re the one who brought the bath crayons and let her draw all over the walls of the tub last night. You’re also the one who bought the Christmas-themed fruit snacks and made Christmas-shaped Rice Krispie treats.”

“Hey—she liked them,” Cassidy objected, whirling around to glare at her brother.

“Of course she did. But what you mean to say is that she likedyou.”

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