Chapter 9 Grady
GRADY
“It’s mine!” Kendall wails, her cheeks still tinged pink after the makeup disaster. Shit, how much money did we literally wash down the sink this afternoon?
I can’t believe she got into Blake’s makeup again. We’ve talked to her about that. She’s not allowed in our room unless we’re in there with her, but Blake was probably distracted on her phone, and Kendall wandered upstairs unchecked.
Glancing into the back seat, I watch Nichelle’s cute little face pucker into a frown as she snatches back the doll Kendall just yanked off her.
My three-year-old lets out an ear-piercing scream and I grip the wheel, throwing a look at Blake, who is ignoring our squabbling girls and smiling at something on her phone.
Can she not hear them?
We’ve been in the car for less than half an hour, and they’re already starting up World War III. If Blake’s just gonna let them get away with it, this will be the longest car ride in the history of man.
Checking the road, I accelerate ahead to a clear spot and pull the car over before Kendall permanently damages my eardrums.
Jumping out of the driver’s seat, I pull open the back door and bark, “I will take that doll off both of you if you can’t figure this out!”
The girls both freeze, their eyes bulging at me. They always do this when I put my “scary” voice on, but sometimes it’s the only way to get their attention.
Huffing, I soften my tone and ask, “Whose doll is it?”
“It’s mine!” Kendall scowls, crossing her arms with a huff. “Mommy gave it to me.”
“Daddy, that’s not true,” Nichelle corrects her, and I’m inclined to believe my oldest. “Mommy gave it to me, and Kendall loved it so much that Mommy said she could play with it sometimes, but it’s actually my doll, and I want to play with it now.
Why do I always have to share everything with her all the time? ”
“You no share!” Kendall yells back. “You have everyfing!”
“I do not! You’re the one with two dolls in your seat. Why do you need a third?”
“I wanna play tiplets!”
“It’s triplets, not tiplets!” Nichelle’s voice starts to rise to match her little sister’s. “And can’t you just play twins instead?”
“That’s no fun!” Kendall shouts.
I look to the front seat, hoping for a little backup, but Blake’s just sitting there, fighting a grin as she looks between the girls, then spins back to keep doing whatever the hell she’s doing on her phone.
Gritting my teeth, I hold out my hand and give Nichelle a pointed look. Her eyes well with tears as she places her doll into my palm. Curling my fingers around it, I smile down at the doll’s face and talk to her. “Hey, little one.”
“Daddy.” Kendall giggles. “What are you doing?”
“I’m talking to Nichelle’s doll.”
“But you all growed up.” Kendall wrinkles her nose. “You not talk to dolls.”
“I can if I want to. And you know what this one is telling me?”
Kendall leans forward, her eyes wide with wonder. “What?”
“That she wants to hang with her mommy right now, not her Aunty Kendall.” My eyebrows rise as I stare at my toddler. “And Aunty Kendall needs to let that happen.”
Her lips part, and then she scowls at the doll like it just betrayed her. With a huff, she crosses her arms and thumps back against her seat.
“So, now that we’re clear on that…” Kissing the doll’s forehead, I hand it back to a now-smiling Nichelle and lean in close to talk to Kendall.
“You already have a doll on either side of you. You can play with them. Nichelle wants her doll right now, and she’s allowed it.
Now, you behave yourself, young lady.” She pokes out her tongue at me, and I narrow my eyes at her. “Watch it.”
Another huff spurts out her nose as she glares at me some more while I quietly close the door.
Slipping back behind the wheel, I turn to remind the girls of one more thing. “You need to talk nicely to each other. No more yelling, no more fighting, or you won’t be getting your iPad time.”
“Should we just give them the devices now?” Blake reaches for her bag.
“No.” I shake my head. “We said one hour after we left. We need to stick to that.”
“But it’ll be so much quieter and easier if we do.”
“iPad. iPad!” Kendall yells.
“No,” I growl. “We said an hour. That’s only thirty minutes away, and then you can go on the screen until we stop for dinner.”
Kendall huffs again and goes back to hating me while Blake shoots her a sympathetic smile.
And great. Now I’m the bad guy again.
Starting the car with a sigh, I pull into traffic and softly whisper, “Thanks for the backup.”
“What?” Blake glances at me, then rolls her eyes, because yes, we have had this conversation so many times before.
I always end up being the big bad wolf because she’s never willing to discipline them.
It’s like she’s averse to routine, rules…
any kind of regulations. And it’s become even more glaringly obvious since we’ve had kids.
It’s like she’s going out of her way to make sure she never corrects them, like she’s worried they won’t love her anymore if she dares to do something they don’t like.
I shake my head. Seriously, I feel like a solo parent some days. I’m the only one willing to bring a little order into this family, and it’s driving me insane.
“They shouldn’t be yelling and fighting like that,” I whisper-bark. “We can’t just let that stand. And I thought you agreed with me on not letting them have too much screen time. They’re three and six.”
“They should be allowed to express themselves,” she mutters.
“Without killing each other in the process would be handy.”
Blake laughs. “They’re fine.”
“And now we’re running even later than we already were.
” I glance at the time on the display and wince.
It’s gonna have to be a quick dinner. If Kendall hadn’t gotten into Blake’s makeup, we would have been fine.
But washing that goop off a wriggling toddler was hard work, not to mention de-stickering poor Maverick.
He was so good about it. I love that boy.
He’s the most well-behaved member of the family.
And of course I had to be the one to clean up my kid and dog, because Blake was ready to say Kendall was allowed to walk out of the house looking like a clown from a horror movie.
Blake rests her head back with a sigh. “I hate running late too, but it’s okay. We’ll all be dribbling in tonight, and then we can start the real celebrations tomorrow.”
“Kissmass!” Kendall yells.
“That’s right, baby.” Blake laughs. “Christmas on Sunday. But we’ll do some Valentine’s Day stuff tomorrow. It’s going to be a double celebration.”
Kendall gasps in delight. “Two pesents?”
“One present,” I correct her, but then add, “Maybe some chocolates for Valentine’s, though.”
“Yay!” Nichelle cheers. “I love chocolate.”
“That’s my girl.” Blake turns to wink at her.
Nichelle grins back, and I catch her look in the rearview mirror just as it’s morphing into a frown. “I hope my present is good this year.”
“I know.” Blake’s bottom lip sticks out in a sympathetic pout. “Uncle Ty didn’t read the memo.”
“Because we never sent him one.” I have to stand up for my buddy on this. The poor guy was buying blind. “I told you that would happen, Nich.” I catch my daughter’s eye in the mirror. “You can’t expect everyone to magically know what you want.”
“Well, you’ve got Aunt Nylah this year, and she’s an expert present buyer, so you’ll be sweet.”
“Who’s me?” Kendall taps her chest.
“Who’ve you got?” I correct her before answering, “I think Uncle Wily pulled your name, kiddo.”
“Unca Wileee!” she squeals.
Yeah, everybody loves the Coyote. He’s the most popular uncle by far because he’s a big old softy. Plus, he’s always the one who dresses up as Santa. He’s the freaking Pied Piper of Football Frat.
I grin and shake my head. Man, I can’t wait to see my buddies again. It’s been too long, and Carson’s father’s funeral doesn’t count. It was cool to hang with Carson, Zander, and Wily, but everything was swamped in sadness.
I want to see the whole tribe again. There’s something special about our families all coming together this way every year.
And Blake’s right about the double celebration. This year is extra special.
I glance at my woman, thinking about the sexy lingerie I bought her.
Some might say it’s a selfish gift on my part.
I can’t wait to see her in what I’ve bought.
But I know she actually wants it too. She’s been complaining about feeling like a frumpy mom, but I’m digging the softer curves she’s acquired since having babies.
She’s still the sexiest thing on the planet, and I am determined to give her this lacy lingerie and make her put it on. One, so she can realize how hot she still is and hopefully feel like a goddess. And two, so I can have the pleasure of peeling that lace off her milky white body.
I’m gonna have to talk to the guys about each of us scheduling some alone time tomorrow. We can babysit for one another, make sure the guys all get to have a little quality time with their luscious ladies.