“That’s why you’re my favorite brother,” I say. “You two”—I point two fingers back and forth between Jax and Griff— “can choke on a dick.”
“Do we have to share one? I’m not into sloppy seconds,” Griffin replies.
Wilder pulls me in for a side hug. “Still happy to be home?”
I roll my eyes. “Starting to question my decisions. Wanna make it up to me?”
A deep chuckle rumbles from his chest. It’s good to see him laughing and smiling again. “What did you have in mind?”
I give him my best puppy dog eyes. “Girl time with my nieces.”
“I think that can be arranged.”
I cock my head at the other two, plastering on an exaggerated smile. “See. Favorite.”
“Auntie Ruby!” Emmy squeals, rushing into my arms as soon as I walk through the door of my brother’s farmhouse.
“Emmy girl! Where are Mama and Gracie?”
She scrunches up her nose and points down the hallway. “Sissy’s got a stinky butt.”
My shoulders shake with unrestrained laughter. “Got it. Then we should definitely avoid them, huh? Let’s hide.”
Emmy bounces on her feet and grasps my hand, tugging me behind the recliner in the corner of the living room. “This is where me and Uncle Jaxy likes to scare Daddy.”
I tap her nose and smile. “Shhh. I think I hear them coming.”
“Emmy?” Liv calls. “Where’d you go? No more stinky diapers, you can come back now.”
Emmy lets out a soft giggle.
“Hmmm. Gracie girl, I can't find your sissy. Where do you think she went?”
My youngest niece coos in response, not yet able to speak at barely eight months old. I can tell Liv’s figured us out, but Emmy’s oblivious, and her eyes widen as footsteps grow closer.
“Emmy. Where are you?” Liv singsongs.
“Ready?” I whisper. “On three, we jump out. One… two… three.”
“Boo!” Emmy yells as we emerge from our hiding spot in tandem.
Liv stumbles back, clutching Gracie against her chest with a feigned look of abject terror on her face.
“We got her good, Em.” I offer my hand for a high five.
Emmy dissolves into a fit of giggles on the floor, and I wink at Liv.
Liv raises her eyebrows at me. “Suppose you’re here for some more Gracie cuddles?”
“Girl time, but you know I never turn down the chance to love on my Gracie girl. Give her here.”
I sink onto the oversized grey sectional with the baby on my lap, bouncing her on my knees.
Liv takes a seat beside me and sighs.
“Rough day?” I ask.
“Long night. Gracie’s teething again, and I slept like shit.”
