Page 84 of Taming You

“Yup, this is a baby. Way to point out the obvious,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“What’s going on with the baby?” Henry asks.

“He’s sick. He’s puked and shit on almost every piece of clothing I brought and a ton of Matt’s.”

Jayden starts to make the noises he makes just before he goes into a crying fit, so I begin pacing and rubbing my hand over his back as I shush him.

“What are you doing here?” Ezra asks.

“I’m helping Matt. He called me this morning, freaking out about Jayden being sick. He’s only calmed down when I’ve been holding him.” I feel their eyes boring into me, tracking my movements in the entryway.

“But, why are you doing it?” Ezra pushes.

“Because he needed help, and I want to.”

Both of them give me an as-if expression as Matt comes back to join us. “Hey, Bug, go grab some food, you need to eat.”

Jayden fusses again, and I start bouncing him softly. “In a bit,” I say.

“No, now, Bug. Even if that means I’m cutting up food and feeding you. You need to eat something.”

My stomach growls again, and my mouth waters as the smell of baked pasta and cheese wafts out of the kitchen.

“Fine,” I grumble and move in the direction of food, Matt and my brothers hot on my trail.

The dining table is full of food: lasagna, meatballs, salad, garlic bread, roast vegetables, and potatoes. We’ve always had to make a ton of food when we all eat together, because I swear my brothers can eat enough for an army. I settle in a chair, and Matt takes a seat beside me and starts making me a plate as Ezra and Henry grab a seat. I can honestly say this is not a situation I ever saw myself being in, sitting with Matt and a baby with my brothers at the dinner table.

As Matt places a piece of lasagna on the plate, I ask, “Who made the lasagna?”

“Henry,” Kai says, and I nod, satisfied with the answer. The last time Riley was given the responsibility, it was like a giant mouthful of salt.

Supporting Jayden with my left arm, I take a bite of potatoes and moan. The table is full of awkward silence, like no one is sure what to say to start conversation.

“So, this is why you snuck out this morning,” Henry finally says in his typical big brother way.

“I didn’t realize moving in meant I was reporting to you. Was it really sneaking out?”

“You’ve seemed to be doing it a lot. Leaving and not saying goodbye. Out super early in the morning and sometimes not coming home for days.”

“She’s been up early? No way,” Ezra says. “She was such a pain to get up for school, always fighting tooth and nail for five more minutes.”

“She’s been waking up as early as 5 a.m. and out the door before 6 a.m.”

All five of my brothers are now staring at me, and I continue eating. I don’t owe them an explanation. They’re my brothers, not my keepers. It’s also not my secret to tell, so I keep my mouth shut, but Matt says, “You can tell them, Bug.”

I shake my head. “It’s none of their business,” I say loud enough they can hear me.

“You’re our business, so how is it not?” Riley asks as he continues to shovel more food in his mouth.

“Careful, Ri. You might just choke if you keep eating like that.” I look around the table at my brothers. “You guys don’t tell me everything about your lives. Why am I required to do so?”

“You’re our baby sister,” Ezra tries to argue.

I look at John, who’s been quiet. “Do they do this to you? Ask you all these questions about your life?”

He shakes his head.

“John’s only three years older than me. Why don’t you ask him this stuff?”

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