Mekena,

Hey, I had practice, and you know how I love me some banana pancakes. I know you love them too, so I thought maybe you’d like some. Enjoy.

Love,

Markus

Love.

Love, Markus.

Markus, love.

Love.

Ugh, she was in complete trouble if only those two words made her heart do flip-flops.

Damn it.

But where were the pancakes? Her brows pulled together since she saw no pancakes. Looking in the microwave, she found nothing, and that disappointed her. She loved his pancakes; they were the best she had ever had. He used to make them every Sunday for the boys at the Bullies house back on campus, and she always came to eat. She wondered where they… And then it all clicked.

The empty plate, the very happy fat cat.

Glaring at her kitty, she scolded, “Mister! You ate that whole plate!”

Mr. Right only purred before jumping, if that was what you could call what he did to get down, off the counter and waddling to the bedroom. “You are pathetic,” she yelled as he disappeared into the bedroom before her bottom lip puckered out. “And an asshole. I wanted pancakes.”

Leaning on the counter, she was annoyed by not having any pancakes. But she was also a little giddy, her lips curving a bit. She wasn’t sure what Markus was doing, or even his endgame, but he’d made her pancakes. Something he didn’t have to do, but he did.

For her.

Because he remembered she loved his pancakes.

Even after two years…

And that pleased her more than it should.

God, she was an idiot.

“So, I’m thinking karaoke tomorrow night since we are having dinner with Mom and River tonight. I think my dad is coming in too.”

Mekena looked up from the spa book she was studying to where Lucy was sitting with her glass of wine. How she got invited to spa day with Lucy and the girls was beyond her, but it was a welcome escape. Her back was in need of a good massage and her toes were busted, so they needed some love. Plus, she got to spend the day with Avery.

“Is he coming?” Baylor asked, wiping up Dawson’s mouth as her face scrunched up. It was common knowledge that no one really cared for Mark Sinclair, Lucy’s father. He had cheated on Mrs. Sinclair and then tried to buy off his kids. It was shitty, but word had it he was trying and being really decent to everyone. The Sinclairs were about family, first and foremost, so Mekena guessed they had buried the hatchet and were trying. Something she should consider with Skylar, but maybe she was petty because she couldn’t do it. “For real?”

“Apparently. We’ll see.”

“Cool,” she said with a grin as she cuddled Dawson in her arms. “Jayden was supposed to come get Dawson before they hit the greens. I wonder where he is.”

“Jude just said they’re running late, but they’ll swing by in five,” Claire said, setting her phone in her lap. “He also said there is talk of trading him to Minnesota, which is fucking awesome. Or not.”

“Oh, Claire, I’m sorry,” Avery said, and Mekena’s heart went out to her.

On the verge of tears, Claire shook her head. “It’s already hard enough, me living in Vegas and him in LA. Now he’ll be farther. And that’s not a car ride, it’s a plane ride. Ugh. I just want out of this contract. I’m done, you know? I want to start a family. I want to be home with my husband.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Lucy reached over, squeezing Claire’s wrist. “It will work out. Don’t worry. And if he does get traded, it will still work out. No worries. You guys are good.”

She bit her lip as she nodded. “He really wants a baby.”

Lucy smiled. “And y’all will have one. Don’t worry. Still got a lot of baby-making years in ya.”

That made everyone chuckle. The side door opened, and Markus suddenly entered. He looked gorgeous, almost like a model in some ankle-length trousers and a light blue button-up shirt that made his skin shine. He had gotten a haircut and his face was beautiful, but his poor nose. It was a wreck, so swollen, but she didn’t think anyone noticed with the big grin on his face. Holding her breath, she looked over at Avery, who was watching her. What was he doing here?

“Hello, ladies,” he said, flashing his lady-killing smile. “Sorry to interrupt, but I gotta get my main man and go riding in a golf cart.”

Without saying more, he reached for Dawson, taking him from Baylor. “Where is Jayden?” she asked as she looked to Markus.

“He’s getting his clubs or something… I don’t know. I hate golf, so Dawson and I are gonna ride and talk shit the whole time.” Baylor rolled her eyes as she handed him the baby’s bag. “Wait, isn’t there like a baby carrier, sling thingy? Jayden said I could wear him.”

He looked so excited that Mekena had to fight back her smile. Baylor, though, laughed, standing up and opening the bag to pull out the baby carrier. Lucy took Dawson, and Mekena watched as Baylor strapped Markus up. They weren’t awkward around each other, laughing and joking as she strapped the baby thing to him hard and with force. They had been best friends for a long while. For the longest time, Mekena was convinced they were together, but they were really more like brother and sister. It was sweet, but nothing was as sweet as seeing Dawson sit against Markus’s chest as he smiled proudly.

“There we go, Big D!” he cheered, and Dawson burped in agreement, which made everyone laugh. “Do I look amazing?”

Baylor laughed as she pulled her phone out of her back pocket, taking a picture as Markus posed in a silly way, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. “Perfect.”

As she kissed Dawson’s head, Avery said, “You know most guys hate that.”

Markus scoffed. “Why? This is awesome. Me and my dude, I don’t even have to carry him. He just hangs. You know, because we’re hanging out,” he said with a chuckle, and Mekena couldn’t help it, she laughed.

He noticed too and flashed her an even bigger grin that she quickly looked away from. She shouldn’t feel this way, she shouldn’t think he was funny, but apparently, her heart wasn’t listing to her brain.

“You’re such a loser,” Lucy teased, and Markus stuck his tongue out at her.

“Hater.”

Baylor laughed. “Okay, so everything is in there. He should fall asleep as soon as you start walking, and call if you need me.”