He gave me a little smile. “No, thanks, I’m still kind of full from dinner.”
I saw Miranda look away as Greg gently squeezed her hand. Greg really was a sweet man, even if I couldn’t understand why he was with her.
“More for me!” Alex commented as he greedily licked his lips and clamored up to the table in front of the cake.
We all laughed at his eagerness.
“I would feel more comfortable if you guys hung out in the living room, not your room,” Megan commented to Micah before he left.
“Come on, Ma,” Micah groaned before a look of surprise crossed his face. “I mean, Aunt Megan,” he mumbled. “We’re just friends.”
“You guys loooove her,” Alex sung as he wiggled in his seat with anticipation.
“Shu—” Micah caught himself before looking at Megan and Will. “Be quiet, Alex. Or I’ll tell Shannon Bush you have a crush on her.”
“Go ahead,” Alex said smugly with a smile. “I’m in love, and one day she’s going to marry me.”
We all laughed at his conviction as Micah shook his head before leaving.
“Shannon Bush is twelve,” Kade explained. “I think she’s too old for you.”
“So,” Alex said nonchalantly. “Love is blind.”
“I thought you didn’t like girls,” Jaxson gently teased Alex, laughing.
“I don’t. I like women,” Alex smirked as he made curvy motions with his hands.
He really was a Jaxson Junior, and he was going to be a handful one day. As it was, he was always chasing the laughs like Jaxson did.
“Can Nadia come over for a sleepover?” Ella asked suddenly.
Megan looked over at Will, who nodded before she smiled. “That’s fine by me.”
“No,” Ella said. “I mean over here. I want a sleepover with Blake.”
I was surprised by her request. It had been some time since she even acted like she wanted to spend time with me. This place probably wasn’t the most conducive place to raise a child, but they were never alone, that was for sure.
I looked over at my guys.
“That’s fine,” Remy stated. “Want me to text Beth and Cora now?”
I noticed Lincoln stiffen slightly from the other side of the table. I knew he had met Steven’s family, but I'm sure it hadn’t gotten easier on him. It couldn’t be easy for either party in this instance. Like right now.
I was trying to be civil, plus trying to ignore the fact that Miranda was here. I knew she was working really hard, and so far, she hadn’t done anything to indicate she was the same person she once was. I just couldn’t let go of the past, not yet. My anger at her came not at what I had been through, but what Alex and Micah had gone through. And if I were reaching, I would include Kade as well. He had a loving family, but because his mother was Miranda Cornwall, he’d lost them.
“Don’t forget Lincoln, Jace, Alex and I are going to try and help Harry out tonight, too, Ella,” I reminded her gently.
Ella shrugged. “That’s fine. Do we have enough cake?” Ella asked.
Miranda laughed as she began to cut up the cake. “There will be plenty.”
“Okay,” Ella stated. “Rem, can you text them?”
Remy nodded and pulled out his phone.
“I hear someone’s birthday is coming up,” Greg stated as he passed a piece of cake down the table.
“Mine!” Alex said excitedly.