“Yes!”
“Sorry, she was excited to see you. Declan’s working. Sterling is coming to pick her up. I hope that’s okay. Sterling said it would be fine.”
“Of course,” I tell Kennedy before looking down at Blakely. “Are you excited to spend the day with Uncle Sterling?”
“Yep. We got jobs to do,” she tells me.
“What kind of jobs?” I’m expecting her to tell me about some project she’s doing. I know Sterling has a few that he likes to do with her.
“A wife,” she tells me. “Member? The wedding. Oh, you need me too,” she tells me. “I found Daddy and me a wife. I’m good at it.”
Kristy cracks up laughing, and even I crack a smile at that. “You’re very smart. You know that?”
“I know.”
“And modest.” Kennedy laughs.
“What’s that?” Blakely asks.
“A discussion for another day, kiddo. Why don’t you take your backpack and set up your dolls until Uncle Sterling gets here? I’ll be right there.”
“Okay, Mommy.” She skips off to my living room.
“Sorry about that,” Kennedy says. “She’s convinced all of her uncles need wives. There have been so many weddings in the family recently, she’s obsessed. And Sterling is her next victim because he caught the garter.”
“She’s fine,” I assure her. “It’s going to be entertaining to watch her tell Sterling he needs a wife. I’m sure he thinks that she’s forgotten about catching the garter at the wedding.”
“It will be funny until she decides that you’re the wife he needs.” Kristy laughs as if it’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard, but Kennedy and I remain silent, sharing a look. Kennedy smirks at me, and I playfully roll my eyes.
“Oh, so it’s not just me?” Kristy asks, reading the situation.
“The girls and I think Alyssa and Sterling would make a good couple,” Kennedy explains.
“Of course we would,” a deep voice comes from the hallway. We all look up to see Sterling walking into the kitchen. “I mean, have you seen us?” He points at me and then at himself. “We’re hot AF.”
“AF?” Kristy asks.
“My niece is here. I’m working on cleaning up my potty mouth. We’re about to have two more Kincaid babies, and I don’t need their mommas mad at me for teaching my nieces and nephews bad words. Remi is too young to catch on, but Palmer will be pissed if a curse word is her first, and I don’t want her wrath pointed at me.”
He stops next to Kennedy and pulls her into a hug, he does the same with Kristy, and then he’s next to me. “Hey, Tink.” He pulls me into a hug as well.
Is it just me, or is his tone softer with me? “Hey. I hear you’re here to rescue Blakely.”
“Yep. I just need to unload the extra chairs out of the back of my truck. Where do you want them?”
“Seriously? You brought chairs?” He nods. “Bestest. Friend. Ever.” I give him another hug. This one is just as quick as the first but no less potent to my libido.
“Hey!” Kristy pretends to be offended.
She knows that I love her, but Sterling has been my ride-or-die since we were kids.
“Sorry, Kristy.” Sterling smirks. “It’s the guns.” He flexes his arms, and collectively the three of us roll our eyes.
“Backyard,” I tell him. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you, Tink.” He turns and walks out of the kitchen.
“Can we—” Kristy starts.