“It gets good gas mileage you know. Maybe you and Milo should check one out.”
She husks raising her eyebrows. “If you say so, Jax.”
“Did you have anything else you wanted to torture me with, Piper.”
“I need you to babysit for Milo and me this weekend.”
“What? Why? Where are you going?”
“I made him promise to take me to Solomon’s Island for a little grown up date night.”
“You’re going to get knocked up again.” I joke. Solomon’s Island is their little adult getaway and magic baby making place an hour south outside the city. I refused to be jealous. Diana and I were friends. Only friends.
“I know. I’m counting on it.” Piper smirks like she’s holding a secret. Her happiness is infectious; I just wish I could have a tiny piece of it as well.
“Fine, I’ll do it.”
“Great. By the way, Diana will be there too.”
Wait? What?
Seven
Diana
“Okay, there’s formula and diapers and extra burp cloths in the closet in their bedroom.” Piper is pacing back and forth as I get there and Milo is trying to pull her out of the house and into the car.
“Love, it will be fine. We’ll be gone hours, not days.” Milo tries to reassure her as I walk up the steps holding Maisy’s hand in mine. “Will you please tell my wife the twins will survive while we’re gone for a few hours?”
“The twins will survive, now get out you two.” Jax emerges from the kitchen with two bundles cradled against his chest and I want to melt into the floor like a puddle.
“Mr. Jax.” My daughter skips and hugs his legs with her little arms barely reaching around them. They look silly, a man so big and a girl so tiny hanging on trusting him with everything she’s got. It should have been her dad, but that’s a lost cause and Jax competently fills in the should of, would of, could of better than Allen ever will.
“Hey little wonder.” Yeah, his nickname for my daughter is Wonder Woman and I melt a little more every time he says it.
“We’re babysitting tonight.” She eagerly bounces around the kitchen.
“Yes we are and pizza is on its way.” He smiles.
“Yay!” Maisy runs for the living room and helps herself to the television currently streaming cartoons on Nickelodeon.
“Are you guys sure this okay?” Piper nibbles her lip with a worried expression. I don’t think I’ve seen this side of my best friend before, uncertain and so maternal. It’s a refreshing change and payback.
I grab my friend’s hands squeezing them gently. “Piper Jane, this was your idea. You’re going. Don’t you trust us?” I toss the words back her she gave me a few months ago and watch the emotions war across her face. Serves her right, not that I want her to feel bad, I just want her to understand a little of where I’m coming from. Mom guilt is a real phenomenon.
I can tell she totally gets it when she responds with, “You are an awful wicked friend, Diana Valentine.” She grouses.
Milo grins behind her putting his hands on her shoulders easing her out of the house. His voice lowers and tugs, “Come wife. The babes will be fine. I need you.”
Sweet jealously fills me, happy for them.
“Have fun storming the castle!” Jax shouts after them and I recognize the quote from one of my favorite movies. He’s pretty much my own Wesley these days when he’s not being the dreaded Pirate Roberts in our training sessions and I sigh shutting the door behind me.
“So how did you get coaxed into watching the babies?” I ask leaning on the counter watching him strap the babies into their matching bouncer seats that have been bolted into the granite counter tops. That was probably Milo’s doing, or Piper. I couldn’t decide which one of them was crazy enough to do it.
“Probably the same as you, utter guilt and shaming, but I’m happy to do it. Besides we won’t be terribly outnumbered and Maisy loves to help. She could sit and feed one on the couch later.” He wipes down the counter and pulls out dishes for the coming pizza.
“She does excel at that.” I chuckle.