“Okay, stop,” I said when he got down to his boxers.
“You’re evil,” Jax stated as he threw an arm around me and kissed my temple.
I smiled as I released the fire ball and grabbed a broom and dustpan. “How do I drop the dome?” I asked Drake as I knelt in front of him to sweep up the glass.
“Imagine I’m safe. Imagine whoever you are trying to protect is safe. I’m okay,” he smiled at me. He looked at me with pride as I imagined that he was safe, and the field disappeared as fast as it had appeared.
Drake gave me a gentle squeeze and a kiss on the top of my head. “Thanks for saving me, although Noah could have healed me.”
I stuck my tongue out at him playfully and pushed him away so I could finish cleaning u
p.
“So, it’s not a fluke. Every time you connect with one of us, you pick up our gifts as well.” Remy stated as he sat on one of the bar stools.
Jax sat down next to him. “It would appear so.”
I loaded the dishwasher with the rest of the dishes before adding the detergent. “How is this even possible?” I tried to keep the panic from my voice.
Jace came up behind me and put his arms around my waist, dragging me back to the shelter of his arms. I liked this new version of him. He was being openly affectionate with me and I liked it. “We don’t know, but you have us. All of us,” he gave a pointed look at Noah. “We’ll figure this out together.”
I nodded looking down at my feet. “Let’s go swimming, before they come looking for us.”
I got a phone call from Ella, begging me to let Nadia spend the night so they could watch a movie on the big screen in the theater room tonight and swim in the morning. I couldn’t make that decision, so I had to ask Will for his permission.
“This is your house too,” he gently reminded me. “I know you are going for a run and have band practice tomorrow, so I can watch them while you do that.”
“I can too,” Jemmy said as she walked out of the kitchen with some ice cream. She hadn’t even bothered putting it in a bowl.
“Me too,” Rachel chimed in. She looked more carefree and relaxed than I had ever seen her.
“Maybe we can talk Drake into baking us , I mean the girls cookies.” Jemmy smiled slyly.
I rolled my eyes playfully at her. “I’ll go call Ella back and iron out the rest of the details.”
Impulsively, I kissed Will’s cheek and I knew I surprised him. “Thanks, Pops,” I said softly.
It was close to the truth. I cared deeply for both of his sons and four of his adopted sons, I guess in a weird way he was like my father-in-law.
Drake was more than happy to make cookies for the girls. By the time they got here he had made them some sugar cookies and colored icing, so they could decorate the cookies. For us ‘big kids’ he was making double chocolate chip cookies.
I went to go answer the door as everyone else was getting changed out of their swimsuits, and into their pajamas for the night. This is what I missed when I was at school last week. Sure, I had seen Drake, Jax, Remy, and Noah, but it wasn’t the same as being with them all together. This sense of family felt comforting. It was something I never had growing up.
Ella hurled her little body into my legs the moment I opened the door. I giggled. “Well hi there, sweetie.” I looked up behind her and was slightly intimidated at the sight of the three adults behind her. The man was flanked by two women and the girl stood hesitantly in front of her father.
“Hi, you must be Nadia,” I said sweetly as I looked down at the pretty little blond girl. She looked strikingly similar to Ella, with her long blond hair, small stature, and bright blue eyes.
She smiled shyly and nodded.
“Hi, I’m Blake,” I said to the women and man. “Ella’s sister. Would you like to come in?”
“Hi, I’m Steven and these are my connections, Cora and Beth,” he indicated the women on both of his sides as they stepped into the foyer.
Steven had dark hair and eyes, but both of his connections were very similar in appearance with their blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. It was hard for me to determine who Nadia’s mother was.
The shorter of two (Cora?) smiled as if she knew where my thoughts were and given the ability of our gifts, I wouldn’t be surprised if she did. I blushed.
“I heard someone was challenging Zach Young today, was that you?” the other blond(Beth?) asked.