Page 30 of Judge
He sits quietly, a calm port in the ocean. “What your mother said,” he answers, picking up a cookie and shoving it into his mouth.
Mom hands back my phone, patting my chest. “You know what he’s like. He’s a deep thinker, that one. Give him two to five business days to process and he’ll get back to you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I whisper, bending to drop a kiss atop her curly head.
“You’re welcome. Now get outta here, you have things to do.”
She’s right. Next stop, Kaia’s house.
Kaia
I flop back on the couch and stare at the ceiling fan. I should really clean that one day. Today, however, is definitely not the day. Who knew that spending six days at the DRMC farmhouse and closing the diner would mean that I’d have to work four times as hard to get stuff up and running again? Not me. I think if I were to do it all over again, I’d take my chances with the cartel. My feet are killing me, I’m sure my ankles have swollen tobecome cankles, and my ability to make small talk with people has flown out the window. Even the kids are exhausted and they’re young, fresh youth. Imagine what it’s like for my old ass.
I lean back into the couch pillows, wiggling a little to make a nice little groove for my body. It feels like a hug, and given that I haven’t had a full body one of those for six years now, this is as good as it’s going to get. I let my eyes droop, quietly listening to the still evening outside my open windows.
A rough bang at the door has me jolting upright, heart racing. My mind runs over plans and contingencies, a mental check box so I know I have everything where I need it to be.
“Kaia, it’s me, Leo.”
The adrenaline rushing through me stops as quickly as it started, and now annoyance takes a hold. Why the hell is he here this late? Crap, is he going to make me stand up and walk to open the door for him? I don’t want to! I’m too tired.
“I know it’s late, I just wanted to talk.” He knocks gently again, “I could always throw pebbles at your window?”
I huff and force myself off the comfiest couch in the world, my bare feet slapping on the hardwood floors. I throw open the door to my big, annoying baby daddy.
“Donotthrow anything at my windows Leo Jackson,” I growl.
He grins that crooked smile I damn well like so much and the pain in my feet and legs almost goes away because the blood in them rushed to my lady parts. Traitors.
“Do you mind if I come in? I just wanted to see how the kids and your day went.”
Ugh. He’s so damn earnest and thoughtful and he is acting way less weird and skittish around me since the whole murdering people and the comforting us in the bunker thing, so I can’t help but hold the door open wider, inviting him in.
I hobble my way back to the couch, and flop down in my usual spot, flicking a hand at the two spare armchairs in my lounge for him to sit. He rolls his eyes and stuffs himself into the chair Jax usually sits in. He stares down at it in disgust and I cover my snort with a cough.
“Is there a reason why you have such small furniture? Jax is only going to get bigger,” he grumbles.
I shrug, “It is what it is, buddy. Maybe when the diner is doing a little better I’ll go out and buy one of those huge leather man chairs guys like so much.”
He stares at me intensely, “I’ll have one delivered this week.” I open my mouth to protest, “I’ll also order a plush looking thing for Annie. I can’t get her brother something and not get her something too.”
I gape at Leo and the fact that he, on his own, realised that with twins you can’t just get one of something. There has to be two, even at their age now.
“Thank you, they’ll love that,” I softly reply.
Leo nods once. “I visited my parents today.”
I stiffen. I knew once Leo found out, that he’d tell his parents. I mean, they’re great people and always wanted more children, but were only blessed the one time. The fact that they are now grandparents, well, they’ll be over the moon. The only problem is that I kept the twins a secret from them, and now I feel like an extra shitty person. My kids could have had a family this whole time if I wasn’t so goddamn angry and stubborn.
I’m jolted out of my thoughts by Leo’s large, rough hand on my thigh. I really should have put proper pants on before I answered the door. Instead, I’m in a pair of boy short underpants and a DRMC tee that Pops gave me. I have no idea where he got all this DRMC merchandise from, but he basically kitted me and the kids out with full outfits - tees, hoodies, caps, keyrings, and who knows what else came in the DRMC tote bags.I didn’t see any of the brothers wearing half this stuff, and Pops was a little shady on the details, so I can only imagine what he’s been up to.
“Kaia, none of this was your fault, or my fault. It was just a shitty moment of miscommunication and our own stubborn ways.”
“And your inability to check emails,” I add on, with a smirk.
He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, that too. My parents understand, they just want to see you and meet the kids. Whenever you’re ready of course,” Leo leans back, holding his hands up in the air.
“Ugh it’s just so embarrassing,” I groan, covering my face with my hands. “They’ve known me since I was a child, then I go and get pregnant by you,” I wave my hand at him and then slap it back on my face, “and then run away.”
