I came home to find Edward in the kitchen.

Mopping the floor.

"What are you doing? Stop. It's not even Monday."

He looked at me, a scowl on his face. "You're right. These skid marks are a bitch."

"I told you both. Where is she?"

"In her room, doing homework. She tried to convince me that you let her have pudding for dinner."

"I really hope that didn't happen."

"No way. We made spaghetti. There's a plate for you in the fridge."

I sighed and slumped at the kitchen table, watching him warm up a plate of spaghetti with his pants hanging off his ass and his hair all wild curls, the mop leaning against the counter while he poured me a glass of wine.

My stomach clenched.

Maybe it was my ovaries.

"How'd her homework go?"

"She didn't want help. She told me it was a surprise."

"I don't like the sound of that."

Half an hour later, we were parked in the grass, face first in our ice cream.

"So… Jack." Edward licked his cone, eyeing Jacy. She was demolishing chocolate out of a cup—the girl could not handle cones—and she looked happier than I'd ever seen her. Her smile bright and her shoulders loose. She'd had a really good day: top marks on her godforsaken math test, skateboarding and dinner with Edward, and now this. Ice cream with her two favorite people.

I probably came in second on that particular list.

We'd found a patch of grass near the ice cream shop, sprawled in the shade together, and Edward was sitting so close to me his crossed knee rested against my thigh.

"Remember what we talked about, after show-and-tell?" he asked.

"I know. You guys are gonna kiss." She licked her spoon, sounding thoroughly unimpressed.

I blushed. Couldn't help it. Edward had the biggest grin I'd ever seen on his face.

"You still ok with that?"

"Kissing is gross."

"No, it's not," I said, without thinking. "Wait. Yes, it is." She was nearing puberty, best she think kissing was gross for as long as possible.

"Totally gross." Edward nudged me with that cute as fuck smile. "But still… can I be totally gross with your mom sometimes?"

"Does that mean you'll be around more?"

He nodded. I nodded.

"Good. I need help with my kickflips. And I want to learn how to heelflip, too." Jacy took another lick. "You can help me practice."

Edward looked at me with an arched brow. "I told you. Monster," he whispered.

AN

HH is the queen.

Thank you for reading.

XO HB