Page 129 of Heartbroken Husband
“Yeah, but that was only because he blinked weird. It looked like his eyes were rolling back in his head.”
“That’s because he wastired,” Alex said emphatically. “If you’d just held on to him for a few more seconds, he would’ve fallen asleep.”
“Giving him back to the adult in charge made more sense to me at the time,” I said solemnly.
Charlotte laughed. “Yeah, that sounds more like you.”
As if on cue, Tyler yawned in my arms and I groaned. “You should take him now.”
“Nope,” she said happily, sashaying away before I could even think about handing him over. “You’re good. If he blinks weird, give him to his daddy.”
Trent held his hands up and shook his head. “Both his mama and his daddy are enjoying this break. If he blinks weird, givehim to Uncle Alex. He seems to know exactly what every kind of blink means.”
“F—” Alex stopped short when he seemed to remember the amount of kids in the room, clearing his throat before he pivoted. “Screw you, Shepherd. It’s called experience. You wish you knew everything I did.”
Nearby, Nate was now trying unsuccessfully to stop Cameron from trying to draw Emma into a pool noodle sword fight, turning to send Alex a murderous glare. “If you know everything, care to tell me how to stop your son from terrorizing his cousin? Emma is relaxed for a change.”
“Make sure they watch the good crystal!” Dad yelled from somewhere down the hall, but nobody listened.
For a while, it really felt like the house was home again. No one was stressed, in a rush, or fighting about anything serious. It felt like a blast from the past, all of us together under the same roof again, just hanging out.
I should’ve known it wouldn’t last, though, and when Alex emerged from the dining room, carrying another cup of his coffee and hisI’ve-got-newsface, I knew he was about to make everyone uncomfortable.
Theo was sprawled lazily across an armchair nearby, but as soon as he noticed Alex, he sat up and preemptively started shaking his head. “No. I’m not doing it.”
Alex frowned. “I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“You have your matchmaking eyebrows on. I know what that means.”
“I donothave matchmaking eyebrows.” Alex’s frowned deepened. “What even is that?”
Jesse laughed and clapped his hands together. “Oh, wow. He’s right. You totally do.”
Alex sighed and looked back at Theo. “Can we talk for a second?”
Theo’s chin lifted, his head canting slightly. “What do you want to talk about?”
Alex smiled, but before he could say the words that would inevitably ruin Theo’s day, Theo pointed at Tyler. “Sorry, man. Can’t. The baby needs me.”
“The baby doesn’t know who you are,” Alex said.
Theo shrugged. “Maybe not, but he feels me. We’re spiritually connected.”
“No, what he feels is gas. That’s it.”
Theo rose from the chair in one fluid motion. “Unfortunately, I’m busy today.”
“With what?”
“I have to go die now.”
Alex sighed. “Just hear me ou?—”
“Nope. No. I’ve seen this movie. Every man in this room knows exactly what you want to talk to me about. Probably even Tyler, Little J, and Cameron know, and it’s not happening.”
“Theo—”
“I’m not ready for the ambush you’re planning.”
