Page 8 of Wedlocked
Bodhi leaned in to whisper, “I know you aren’t.Daddy.”
Emmett looked like steam would come out of his ears, and Win heckled.
Rush’s fork clattered against his plate. “Bro. These waffles are about to come back up.”
“I’ll eat them,” Jamie quipped, stabbing the rest of the waffle left on Rush’s plate and dragging it over to his.
“I’m gonna have to start drinking espresso shots black like Lars if you keep calling my father daddy in front of me,” Landry said, lips curled in disgust.
Lars leaned over the table, handing her a paper cup that was smaller than the lattes they’d passed out. “Here, sis.”
Landry took a sip, her face screwing up.
Rush rolled his eyes and snatched it from her. “That’s gonna put hair on your chest,” he scolded, passing it back to Lars.
“This is why I don’t eat meals in public with any of you,” Emmett grumped.
“Because we talk about your daughter’s hairy chest?” Ben supplied.
Landry made a sound, and Arsen laughed under his breath.
Emmett gave him a baleful look. “You sound better when your mouth is closed.”
“Don’t worry, Coach. No one would dare call you a pervert for dating Malibu Barbie in front of us,” Jamie said, shoveling the last of Rush’s waffle between his lips.
The entire table went quiet except for Jamie’s chewing. When he noticed we were all staring, his tongue swiped the syrup off his lower lip. “What?”
Madison groaned. “You just called Emmett a pervert.”
He shook his head. “No. I said no one else would call him that.” Glancing at Ryan, he added, “We all know that’s the reason Coach only hangs with us off campus.”
“Or maybe it’s because, technically, he’s not supposed to be dating a student, but the dean looks the other way,” Max offered.
Jamie shrugged. “That too.”
“I shouldn’t have come.” Emmett was gruff.
“But I’m glad you did,” Bodhi said quietly.
Emmett glanced at him, his entire face softening. “That’s why I’m here.”
“I thought it was because Ryan called a team meeting,” Wes said.
Emmett looked down the table at Ryan who was partially hidden by Rory sitting in his lap. “It’s my job to call team meetings. Not you. So what’s this all about, Walsh?”
Ryan’s eyes twinkled a bit. “When Jamie got bro-zoned, I got to thinking.”
Jamie dropped his fork. “How could you bring it up? I’m trying to eat,” he exclaimed, turning Ryan’s smirk into a grin. Turning to Madison, Jamie said, “Girl, look what you did. I can’t even eat. You have some epic explaining to do.”
Madison speared some waffle on her fork, swirled it in some maple syrup, and held it up to Jamie’s lips. “I told you. I just miss you,” she said, sweet as the syrup dripping from the bite. “How could I not miss all this charm?”
“Well, look at that. My appetite is back,” Jamie quipped, snatching the food off the fork.
“I’ve had muscle cramps more pleasant than him, but okay,” Coach muttered.
Madison fed Jamie more waffle, and he chewed excessively. “We haven’t had time for anything lately,” she mourned.
I agreed. “This is the first time we’ve all seen each other in a while.”