Page 76 of The New York Nighthawks: Vol 1

“Hey,” I grumbled. “I’m right here.”

Both women giggled as we entered the kitchen and went to sit at the table in the eating nook.

My dad was pulling a tray of biscuits out of the oven and glanced at them before looking at me and grinning. “Talking about you?” he guessed.

“And you.”

“Ah,” he laughed. “Just a couple of cavemen, aren’t we?”

I couldn’t help chuckling in return. “Apparently.”

Dinner was ready to go, so I helped my dad take the last of the food to the table in the dining room. Growing up, we’d only used it when we had company since it was bigger than the kitchen nook.

As my mom and Wrenley walked in, my girl looked around, and her brow furrowed. She leaned in and went up on her tiptoes to speak in my ear. “They didn’t have to go through all this trouble for me. I would have been fine at the kitchen table.”

My mom laughed, obviously having heard her. “First of all, Wrenley. Even though I already consider you family, you are still important company, and that means we eat in the dining room. Second, you’ve probably noticed that Jordan and his dad are big men, and I’m not exactly dainty.”

My dad’s eyes ran over my mom appreciatively, and he muttered, “Thank fuck for that,” making me groan and Wrenley giggle.

“Gross, Dad,” I grumbled. I didn’t care how old I was. Thinking or hearing about my parents’—shudder—sexlife would always be a “no-go” area.

My mom’s cheeks turned pink, and her smile grew. “Anyway, between the three of us, it eventually became too small of a space for us to eat more than a snack, or maybe brunch together.” Her expression turned smug, and she smirked. “So Brad had to pay me one-hundred dollars because when we renovated this place right after we bought it, he insisted that we’d never use a formal dining room.”

Wrenley’s body was shaking against my side from the laughter she was trying to contain behind her hand. I loved seeing her like that, happy and relaxed, especially when we were with my family. Wrenley would always come first, before anything or anyone, but I was grateful that she had become comfortable with my parents rather quickly because we’d always been close.

“Besides,” Mom continued as she sat down in the chair my dad was holding out for her, “we’ll have to eat in here once you two have kids. I’ve been thinking about pulling up the carpet and putting in hardwood floors. It’ll be easier to clean up spills and messes. We could even do their cake smash photo shoots here!” She clapped her hands excitedly and opened her mouth to say something else.

But my dad leaned down and whispered something in her ear, and she cleared her throat and changed the subject. “So, Wrenley, modeling sounds so exciting!”

At the mention of our kids, Wrenley had stiffened a little, shifting uncomfortably. Although I’d been doing my best to knock her up, we hadn’t really discussed it, and I didn’t want my mother pushing for answers from my girl until we’d talked it over.

The switch in topic drained the tension from Wrenley’s body, and she was back to her effervescent self as I pushed in her chair and took the one beside her.

My parents adored Wrenley, and my mother had made it very clear—several times—that if I let her go, there would be hell to pay. I’d assured her that it wouldn’t happen, and I could tell that she was holding back and trying not to be too pushy. But she seemed to have forgotten all about that tonight.

“Well, we’ll make sure that a big wedding fits into your schedule, dear,” my mom insisted, bringing me out of my thoughts and back into the conversation. “Your career is important, and we’ll work around whatever you need.”

“Mom.”

“Oh, and make sure your parents know they will stay with us. We have plenty of room, and I won’t have family staying at a hotel. And, of course, your brother, too. I’m sorry, dear, what was his name?”

“Um, Wilder,” Wrenley answered softly, looking both overwhelmed and amused.

“Mom.” My voice rose in volume every time I tried to grab her attention.

But she continued to gush. “I’m sure, as a model, you’ll have the perfect eye for dresses. It’s going to be gorgeous!”

“Mom.”

“And, whenever you two are ready to have kids—selfishly, I’m hoping for sooner rather than later—Brad and I will be here to help with whatever you need. With a family, you and Jordan will definitely want some time away together. Not that it’s any of my business, but how many kids were you two—”

“MOTHER!” I shouted, finally shutting her up.

Three pairs of eyes turned in my direction, all a little shocked since I rarely raised my voice if I wasn’t on the field…or watching a game. “Lennox finally traded for some raw talent to back up Roan on special teams this season.”

My dad picked up the hint, and we started talking about football, but things were still a little tense in the room. Mom looked a bit chagrined and only offered a small comment here and there. I could see it was bothering Wrenley, so I decided we’d leave as soon as we finished our meal.

But a couple of minutes later, Wrenley blurted, “What did the football say to the punter?”

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