Page 24 of Blame It On the Lattes

“You’re damn right she does. I’m her favorite aunt.”

“You’re her only aunt,” I corrected, only to back away as Cassidy turned her glare to me.

“Whose side are you on?” she demanded, arching an eyebrow.

“Ummm, no one?”

“Oh, is that so?” Sam said, giving me a look of his own. “Should we start telling Kennedyyoursecrets?”

My mouth opened in disbelief before I quickly snapped it shut.

“You have secrets, Mommy?” Kennedy asked, looking up at me in confusion.

“No, baby. Mommy doesn’t have any secrets. Sam is just being silly.”

“Are you sure about that?” he teased, heading to the pantry.

My eyes widened as I shook my head no. He opened the door and pulled out the bag of Cheetos I had been eating the other night.

“Allow me to present exhibit A to you,” he said, setting the Cheetos down on the island.

“Did you eat Cheetos without me?” Kennedy asked, looking at me with a frown on her face.

Before I could answer, Sam beat me to it.

“She did.Afteryou went to bed.”

“Sam!” I exclaimed at the same time as Cassidy.

He jumped back, startled by our outbursts, as Kennedy started laughing.

“Oooh, Sam is in trouble,” she giggled.

“Me? What about your mom? She ate Cheetos without you while you were sleeping.”

“Yeah, but she’s an adult. She can do whatever she wants,” Kennedy said with a small shrug. “Plus, she ate the ones she likes. If she ate the puffy ones I like, then I might be mad.”

“So, what you’re saying is that the puffy Cheetos are the key to winning this thing?” Sam said, contemplating a little too hard.

“Oh, you two knock it off,” I said, shaking my head. “She loves both of you equally. Now stop fighting over who her favorite is because we all know that it’s me.”

I bent down and picked her up, knowing she was far too heavy for me to hold right now. I sat her on my hip and brushed my nose against hers, loving the way her arms wrapped around my neck to give me the biggest hug ever.

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