“We didn’t mean to. We were watching TV and fell asleep,” Wes finally answered.

That was answer enough for Jessie, who jumped off Wes’s lap. “I’m hungry. Can we eat? Is Braden eating here? Do I have school today?”

As soon as one of her questions passed her lips she had another one. As a kid, had he been this busy early in the morning? If so, he owed his mom a thank you.

Wes didn’t answer her. Instead, he pulled his cell out of his pocket. “We’re late. Come on, Jess, let’s go get dressed.” Obviously not needing time to wake up, he pushed to his feet.

“But I’m huuunnngggrrry. I want to eat first!” Jessie whined.

“I got breakfast. You get her clothes and stuff.” Braden stood, too, leaving him and Wes face to face. His eyes were slightly red, and he needed a shave, but Braden didn’t want him to. He liked the growth on his face too much.

“You don’t have to.”

“I know.” Braden winked at him. “Now stop wasting time before you make the Squirt late for school.” He ruffled Jessie’s hair and she giggled.

Wes pinched the front of Braden’s shirt, then rubbed his hand on Braden’s abs. It shouldn’t be as sexy as it was.

“Thanks.” He didn’t move.

Braden grinned. “You’re still not going.” And he was okay with that.

Wes rolled his eyes at him and said, “Come on, Jess. Let’s go.” When they went into the room, Braden limped to the kitchen to scramble her some eggs. Just as he scooped them onto the plate, Jessie ran to the table, wearing...hell, he wasn’t sure what she was wearing. It looked like a ballerina dress, but with colorful pants and boots on underneath it. He’d put her hair in a ponytail, and she wore a tiara, or whatever they were called, too.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“A tutu,” Wes replied.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. She wanted to wear a tutu, but I didn’t want her to be cold. Do you think the pants are enough to keep her warm?”

They were something alright, with blue, green, red, and purple stripes. “I don’t know. I guess. It’s the same as just wearing pants, but with a tutu over it. What about the crown?”

“I’m a princess!” Jessie answered for Wes. “Do I look pretty?”

“Yes.” Both Braden and Wes answered in unison before laughing. Wes would have his hands full with her. The thought both made him happy and made him feel a little empty, too. She was so fun, and Braden suddenly wished he could see this routine between them more mornings than just today.

“Can I eat?” Jessie asked, and he realized he still held her plate in his hands. Braden set it in front of her, still wondering about the crazy thoughts in his head and what they meant.

“We only have about ten minutes, Jess. Where’s your backpack? I’ll grab it and make you a lunch real quick.”

“I don’t know.” Eggs fell out of her mouth as she spoke.

“You find the backpack, I got lunch,” Braden found himself saying. This time Wes didn’t argue, but went to the other room and started looking. Braden threw together a pb&j, grabbed some chips, a banana and a juice box, tossing them all into a brown paper bag.

“Jessie!” Wes called, a little more panic in his voice. “I can’t find your backpack. Where did you put it?”

A thought popped into his head. Shit. “Umm... Stop looking. This one’s on me. We left it in the truck yesterday. Here,” Braden walked over to the coffee table and grabbed his keys. “I can take her on my way home.” Wes might have asked him to stay last night, but he knew it wouldn’t last.

“Do I have to wear my hat, Uncle Wes?” Jessie asked, but Wes didn’t reply right away.

Wes stood next to him. “Can you hang out for a bit? I wanted—”

“Uncle Weeessss! If I wear my hat I can’t wear my tiara. I want to be a princess.”

“Yeah...sure. I can stay. No problem.” Braden told him.

“Uncle Wes!” Jessie squealed.

Jock barked, and Braden realized he hadn’t let him out. Jessie still grumbled in the background. He wondered what Wes wanted, and he wasn’t sure if anything else was going on at the moment, or if they had the space for anything else to go on.

“No, you don’t have to wear your hat,” Wes said to her as Braden told Jock he’d be right there.

“Here,” he put his keys in Wes’s hand. “Take my truck. It’ll be easier.”