him aside so he can walk past him. “No, idiot, you know how it is this time of year.”
“Boys,” Jackie warns and both of their demeanors change instantly.
Josh drags his ass into the kitchen looking like a hot mess. His hair is sticking up all over the place, he’s only got on a pair of boxers and he has pillow lines etched across his face. Either he hasn’t put two and two together yet and noticed me or he doesn’t care. I crack a smile, he doesn’t care. Steven was the same way around me, he treated me like I was one of the guys, like his family.
“Josh,” Jackie looks from him to me and back again.
He gets this smug smile on his face and goes to stand behind me. Jackie’s watching his every move. “Morning, Mom.”
“Morning, Josh,” she huffs. “Go get some clothes on.”
I hear him chuckle behind me and then his brothers chime in. “He’s better with taking them off,” I hear Conner mumble. It’s true. I think I’ve seen Josh naked almost as much as Landon. He’s also the youngest and swore every day growing up he wanted to be like Steven and Landon but he’s better because they got the whole package in just him.
Josh puts a hand on my hip, “Morning, Macy.” I bring my elbow up and elbow him in the gut.
He coughs and I smile. Jackie chuckles under her breath. I can handle myself perfectly fine when it comes to the Griffin boys. Steven’s dad has always turned to putty once his eyes landed on me and Madison. He says if he ever had daughters he wished for them to be just like us.
“So violent.” Josh says rubbing at his chest.
I crack open a few eggs to add to the sugar and butter followed by the vanilla. The guys bustle around the kitchen raiding the cabinets for food.
“I’m outta here,” Connor announces. “If I stay in here any longer there isn’t going to be any point in going to the gym because I’m going to eat my weight in cookies.”
Adam gives way and follows behind Connor. Josh is sitting at the table eating some cereal. Jackie spoons some dough on cookie sheets and carries them over to the oven. When she isn’t looking I ball up a piece of the dough and throw it at Josh.
He looks up smiling. God, I’ve missed being home. I thought it would hurt if I came over here to visit but it’s not so bad after all. Josh throws it back at me and it’s a perfect shot landing between my boobs. I look up with my jaw on the floor. He couldn’t do that again if he tried. Little shit.
He jumps up and yells, “Field gooooaall,” and proceeds to double over in laughter.
I shoot him a scowl that makes him laugh even harder.
Once he’s contained his amusement, Josh picks up his bowl and rinses it before putting it in the dishwasher. He kisses his mom’s cheek, “See you around dinner.”
“Bye, baby.”
Josh winks, “Eight o’clock, my bed?”
I start laughing and Jackie drops the cookie sheet on the floor. “Oh, heavens, how did I raise this child?” Jackie spins on her son. “Josh.”
“You wouldn’t know how to handle me,” I toss back at him. It’s probably inappropriate but this is Josh, it hardly ever is.
“I can take you and Madison at the same time,” he says smugly.
“Josh!” Jackie yells. I laugh as he holds his hands up in surrender. “Out. Now.”
Josh winks and leaves the kitchen. Jackie finishes picking up the ruined dough and throws it in the trash. I expect her to be a bit embarrassed but she’s smiling. “You always did know how to handle yourself with the boys, huh?”
I shake my head, “No, just the Griffin’s.”
She fiddles around with the spoon in her hand, calculating her next question. “How was Alexa?”
I shrug because, yeah she talked to us, but it seemed like a mask to cover the pain, the hurt. “She’s okay, I guess.”
Jackie nods, “How are you doing?” She looks up to me, “And don’t lie to me, missy.”
She always has a way of knowing you’re about to lie. I can’t even tell you how many times Steven was caught up in a lie with his mom and she knew every single time.
“I’m a mess.” It’s the truth.
She wipes her hands on her apron and motions with her head to take a seat at the table. I follow.
“What’s been going on? How are you