was the most precious sound I’d ever heard. “How’s Auntie’s favorite little man?”
Daddy adjusted him in his arms. “He’s wet, actually. I’m going to hand him over to one of his parents.” He grinned. “One of the perks of being the G-Pop.”
I rolled my eyes at the name he’d come up for himself for his grandson. “I’m still not feeling that title, Daddy.”
He gave me a pout. “But I thought about it long and hard, Arie. Your mom likes it.”
“What does Mom like?” she asked as she came up beside us.
“Conrad calling Daddy ‘G-Pop,’” I supplied, and she quickly schooled her face, even though I saw the flicker of humor in her eyes. After how sad she’d been since Pop-Pop died, I was relieved to see even that small flash of happiness from her.
“Of course I do,” she was quick to reassure.
Daddy grunted. “I don’t care if you two like it or not. I’m sticking with G-Pop.”
“But what if Conrad doesn’t call you ‘G-Pop’?” I asked, and Mom and I shared a conspiratorial look before Daddy could catch on. We could so easily teach Conrad to say something else that was less cheesy.
“Then I’ll have to accept that,” he said with reluctance. “But I’m going to try my best to get him to use it. I don’t want the same grandpa title as everyone else.”
“What’s wrong with ‘Grandpa’? I like it—a lot, actually.”
He shook his head. “Boring. I’m Drake Stevenson. I need a cool title, kid.”
I had a feeling Mom and I were going to lose this battle, but I didn’t mind if we did. If it made him happy, I wasn’t going to take it away from him. He deserved every drop of happiness the world had to offer.
“He’s looking a little full in the tushy,” Mom commented as she took Conrad. The baby giggled when she kissed his cheeks. “Come on, you rotten little devil. G-Mom will get you a dry diaper.”
I groaned.
“What?” she asked, then winked. “If you can’t change it, embrace it.”
Daddy followed her out of the living room with his hand on her ass. I wanted to gag at the proof that my parents were still very much sexually active, but part of me thought it was romantic and so damn adorable, it made my heart squeeze.
For the next hour, I made a point to talk to everyone. I loved each person in this house—some more than others, but I loved them, nonetheless. Eventually, I journeyed into the kitchen where a buffet-style meal was set up. For the moment, there was no one else in there to judge me, so I grabbed one of the plates, tore open a huge yeast roll and smothered it with mashed potatoes, ham, green bean casserole, and a huge scoop of mac and cheese.
It was while my mouth was full of my first bite that Jordan walked into the kitchen. Mentally groaning, I grabbed a napkin and wiped my mouth as I quickly chewed and swallowed while he walked toward me. From the set of his shoulders and the look on his too-sexy face, I got the weird feeling he was determined about something, but I didn’t understand what it could be.
“What are you doing, hiding in here?” he asked with a small grin teasing at his lips.
“Feeding my face, actually,” I told him with a shrug. “My stomach started making angry noises, so I figured I needed to feed the beast.” Wiping my mouth again, I tilted my head at him. “You’re awfully late to the party this year. Normally, you’re one of the first to arrive, usually right behind Mia.”
“I stopped by your apartment, thinking we would ride together, but I stood outside your door for a good ten minutes before your neighbor told me she hadn’t seen you in at least a week.” His jaw clenched as if that angered him, and I nearly rolled my eyes.
“You didn’t think to maybe call and ask if I wanted to ride with you?” I dropped my plate on the counter beside the sink and grabbed a soft drink from one of the ice chests set out for the guests. There was everything anyone could possibly want, except alcohol. Out of respect for my dad’s sobriety, Aunt Emmie never served booze at any of her parties.
As I uncapped the diet cola, I saw him rub a hand over the back of his neck. “I wanted to surprise you. I didn’t even get back to town until this evening, and