Page 9 of Our Broken Pieces
He nods. “Mel’s mom said she was walking just before her first birthday, so we’re already prepping the apartment. I really hope this means Millie got Mel’s brain.”
Jax gives him a sly smile. “I hope so, too.”
Linc scowls at him. “Hey!”
I turn my eyes to Jax. “What about Adam?”
Adam is Jax and Audrey’s twelve-week old son. They started trying for a baby the day they got married. With Audrey being sixteen years older than Jax, they were up against the clock. Jax fell over himself, taking care of Audrey’s every need, saying he was nervous the entire time she was pregnant because she was high risk. But thankfully, Adam arrived safe and sound.
“He slept a solid six hours twice this week. I’m ecstatic anytime he sleeps more than four hours in a row.”
“Is Audrey back in the groove at work?” I take a sip of my water.
“She is. Took a couple weeks, but once she started letting me get up with him and actually got to sleep, she got excited about work again.”
Linc turns to look at Jax. “How are you doing being on paternity leave?”
“I love it. I get to spend all day with him. I get to greet Audrey when she walks in the door.”
“I wish I could be home all day with Millie. I had to have Mel start dropping her off at daycare because I actually called out one day because she cried when I was leaving.”
I laugh. Linc has always been the sensitive one out of the three of us. He’s a feeler, wears his heart on his sleeve, sort of guy.
“I don’t even want to think about having Adam in daycare. My mom offered to be a full-time sitter once I go back to work, and we’re really considering it.”
Our food arrives, and I ask for a side of mayo.
“You still dip your fries in mayonnaise?” Linc makes a disgusted face.
I point my butter knife at him. “You worry about what’s on your plate. I’ll worry about what’s on mine.”
“Somebody’s grumpy. How was your week?” Jax asks me over his sandwich.
I look down at my plate. “My dad brought up the whole settling down thing again.”
Linc pauses. “No way.”
“Yeah, only this time he upped the ante. He told me he won’t hand over the business until my wedding day.”
Jax wipes his hands on his napkin. “Wow.”
“And I only have a year.”
Linc’s eyes go wide. “He thinks you can find a wife, plan a wedding, and get married in a year?”
“Evidently.”
“Damn, Marcus, I’m sorry.”
I shrug. “Maybe I’m not supposed to take the business. Maybe this is a sign. Just sucks to throw away six years of caving to every fucking demand that man made of me.”
Linc’s eyes me. “That’s not the Marcus I know.”
“The Marcus you know is tired.”
“Understandably.” Jax stuffs the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth.
Linc’s face lights up. I know him, and we’re about to hear one of his insane ideas.
