He initially wanted a boy first, but Sage definitely didn’t give a fuck about that. After her, we had to pray to everything holy to get a boy next only so we could make use of the names Luan gave them both ages ago. We wouldn’t have cared either way, but I am glad we have a girl and a boy now.
Sage turned four today, and Ash is turning three in May.
“Henry will tell your parents when he sees you leave the building at this hour,” Luan reminds Eden the second he’s by our front door, about to leave. Henry’s one of the people by the front desk who has been asked to report back to Emory and Miles should they ever spot Eden leaving the building sometime after six.
I have the slight feeling that Kieran and Jamie will be just like Eden, simply because these two love everything Eden does. If they could, they’d put up his picture on a shrine. Also, Eden keeps teaching his two younger siblings how tonotlisten to what their parents have to say, and Elliot and Nova do their best to teach Kieran and Jamie.
Sage and Ash won’t be like that, I don’t think. They’re scarily like Luan and me. Sagetalksso awfully much, ever since she knew how to. I never thought there could ever be someone who talks more than Luan, but I was wrong because our daughter sure can.
Ash is quiet. He observes a lot, doesn’t speak much. To be fair, he’s only two and most of what he says is unintelligible babbling, but I do think he’s way too quiet for a two-year-old.
“You are supposed to be the cool uncles, so help me sneak out, please.”
I shake my head, as does Luan.
“You’re eleven, Eden,” I remind him. “Now, go back home and ask Brooke if she would like to take you to the ice cream parlor. I doubt she’ll say no to ice cream, and that way you’ll get outside at this hour.”
Luan slaps me, tsking disapprovingly. “Don’t find stupid loopholes for him, Grey Davis.”
Eden rolls his eyes. “Reece is here, he stays the night, which means she will say no.”
It still surprises me every time Miles allows Reece to spend the night. As far as I know, Colin dedicatedhoursto telling his brother the dos and don’ts for his new relationship the second Brooke announced they were trying out the “being a couple thing” about two years ago. Ever since that day, the number of sleepovers was cut in half and Miles keeps giving Reece a heavy dose of side-eye whenever he’s around.
“It’s not a loophole,” I tell my husband, then lean into him and lower my voice so Eden would hear. “But Sage and Ash arefinallyasleep, and we deserve some alone-time.”
“Alone-time,” he repeats back to me, amusement in his voice.
“You can tell me when you want me to go home because you’d rather watch TV by yourselves,” Eden chimes in. Ah, I guess kids really do hear everything they shouldn’t hear. “Mom and Dad do thisallthe time. They’re always likeGo to your room, Eden! You can’t just throw your Lego’s from the balcony and then—Wait, never mind, wrong scenario. The point is, Uncle Grey, I prefer to watch TV on my own as well. At least then I don’t have to watch those princess shows Brookie always watches, or the kids channel. I’m a big boy now, I no longer even watch Paw Patrol.”
Without giving either Luan or me the chance to speak, Eden’s out the door, saluting us goodbye before he closes the door and disappears.
“I bet twenty bucks he watches Paw Patrol whenever he has the TV to himself.”
I chuckle and wrap my arms around Luan’s neck, pulling him in for a kiss. “I’m not taking that bet.”
“Why not?” His eyebrows fall with disappointment.
“Because you’d win.”
A victorious grin pulls on the corners of his lips. “I always win.”
“I beg to differ.”
“No, it’s true,” he vetoes. “I hit the jackpot in life.”
Inch by inch, I nudge Luan to lay back on the couch. “How so?”
My husband drags out a sigh. “Because I made you fall in love with me. And now we’re married and have two kids. There’s no way you could ever run from me again.”
“Maybe I made you fall in love with me.”
Luan wraps his arms around my torso, humming a no. “Nobody likes rude ice hockey guys who barely smile.”
“You do.”
He grins. “I could potentially think ofoneguy I might like aliittlleebit. But I’d really have to dig deep in my brain to even find his name.”
“I can help you with that.” I press my lips to his cheek. “I believe his name starts with a G.”