Page 88 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
I let out a sigh of relief.
Melvin has always let me get away with more than I should because not only am I his goddaughter, I grew up playing with his kids. To me, he’s more like a favorite uncle than the intimidating bodyguard he portrays to everyone else. He looks like Dwayne Johnson’s doppelgänger, complete with the arching eyebrow and giant muscles, and whenever we hang out, he and I sing songs from the Moana soundtrack. But he swears he’ll deny that if I ever tell anyone.
“Come on, sparrow. Fill me in on the details. Maybe I can help.”
It never crossed my mind to call in a favor. I haven’t lived at home in so long, I forget there are perks.
“Okay, but first, how are my brothers? Those two idiots never call me.”
He laughs. “Hawk and Falcon are kicking ass and taking names.”
I shake my head at the ridiculous code names. My father is the Eagle, of course. My mom used to be the Swan. Melvin said the monikers help when he and his guys are out on location. If anyone overhears, it doesn’t threaten the safety of those he’s protecting. Makes sense even though it feels silly.
“And how’s the Albatross? I mean, the Osprey?”
Melvin’s bark of laughter makes me smile. “Tsk, tsk, little lady. Is that any way to talk about your father’s girlfriend? Osprey is doing well. I believe she’s getting her nails done as we speak. You know, you might have to change your tune after the Chickadee arrives.”
Chickadee?
Who the hell is that?
When I don’t respond, he groans. “Forget I said that.”
“Too late. Who’s the Chickadee, Melvin?”
He clears his throat. “I guess I assumed you’d know by now since it hit the gossip magazines a few days ago.”
I swallow, hating that I learn shit about my father through the fucking gossip rags instead of directly from him. My family always makes me feel like an afterthought.
I take a deep breath to regain my composure and make sure to keep my voice upbeat. I don’t want my friend to feel bad. “Come on, Mel. I won’t tell anyone you told me. I’ll say I read it online. You could spare me the Google search, though.”
“Damn it. I’m sorry, kid. I hate being the one to break it to you, but the Osprey is pregnant.”
My dad’s girlfriend Penelope, who’s only a few years older than I am, is having his baby. Gross.
“And Chickadee is the name you’re giving their spawn? What if it’s a boy? That’s not a terribly masculine word.”
He coughs again, and that iota of humor I’d managed to dredge up deflates. “You already know it’s a girl.”
So the pregnancy has to be pretty far along to know this detail, right?
My father could call me to complain about me missing a banquet, but he didn’t think he should mention that Penelope’s pregnant?
I change the subject because I still feel emotional. “Did you pick out all of our code names with that big brain of yours?”
He chuckles again. “Your dad did.”
“Isn’t it kind of sexist that he picked birds of prey for all of the men in the family and dainty fowl for the women?”
“Except the Osprey. She’s a hunter too.”
I’ll say. Once she had my father in her sights, she homed in on him like a long-range missile. After I made the mistake of introducing her to my dad, she loved to act as though she were the adult in charge and I was the kid, even though she could pass for a college student too.
And my father wonders why I never want to go home.
Lily tosses a chicken nugget off the table, and it brings me back to myself.
Here I am, having a pity party when there are larger problems at hand.
“Listen, that break-in might have to do with a bigger issue. Is there any chance you could track someone down for me when she might have her phone off?”
“Come on, little sparrow. That’s child’s play.”
I smile, hoping I can get some answers for Ben. “And would you mind running a background check on a potential babysitter for my friend?”
“Been saving up these favors, huh?”
“Remember how you always say I’m your favorite person?”
His deep laugh makes me smile. “All right. We both know I’m wrapped around your pinky. Give me the details, and I’ll see what I can do. Except there’s one thing I’ll need you to do first...”
