Page 78 of Protective Love

I sigh and right my crutches and then move alongside Kaleb.

As we pass through the doorway, my eyes snag on the steel door to the right, and I stop in my tracks, turning to Kaleb with a curious gaze.

"You still keep that side locked up?"

He nods in response.

"Your uncle still down there?"

He shakes his head.

"Are you going to use words or just leave me in suspense?" I ask, fed up of his silent answers.

"Jericho got rid of him while we were in the hospital. There's no one there now. The whole right side of the house is empty."

"Maybe you should do something with it. You know, maybe make one of the rooms upstairs into a nursery or something for the baby."

He frowns, and scoffs. "What baby?"

"You really think Sophia wouldn't have told me?" I tease, shaking my head and swinging past him on my crutches, finally having a real, genuine smile plastered on my face.

God, I love that I can wind him up so easily.

Chapter Forty

Jaylen

Another plate filled with food is placed on my lap, and I smile appreciatively at my aunt before digging into the freshly cooked chicken on my plate, devouring the food like a starving man.

"Myra, I'm so glad to have you in my life," I say, turning to look at the older woman beside me as I chomp down on the delicious food she made specifically for me.

She smiles and pats my cheek affectionately.

"I'm happy to feed you anytime."

A satisfied groan slips past my lips as I shovel some potato salad into my mouth, salivating for more as the bursts of flavour explode on my tongue.

Sophia walks over to me, glancing around at everyone in the garden before she sits beside me, shuffling her chair closer to mine until our arms are brushing against each other.

"Are you sure it's okay for me to make my announcement today?"

I nod and pick up the napkin from beneath my plate, wiping at my mouth.

"Yeah, of course. You promised me Myra's food, and I'm sated now I've had a few plates full, so go ahead. Give everyone something to be excited about."

"Thank you," she whispers, wrapping her arms around me and kissing my cheek.

Myra smiles at the pair of us before jumping up from her seat and taking my now-empty plate as Sophia grabs a glass and spoon from the table near us, clinking them together to gain everyone's attention.

Everyone turns to face her, looks of confusion and surprise on their face as Kaleb sidles up beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"I just wanted to do a little announcement," she says, glancing around at her parents, her brother, Jess, Charlie, Leo, and Myra. "Obviously, we threw this little get-together to celebrate Jaylen finally being out of the hospital and on the mend."

Charlie and Jess cheer, and I shake my head, embarrassed for them both.

Sophia chuckles at their awkward outburst before continuing.

"Well, as exciting as that is, I also wanted to have you all here so that I could announce something else."