The Miami Diaries Book 4

Chapter 8

T/W:

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Lex

Although nothing's officially been resolved, life goes back to normal. I haven't run into Knox Marshall and he appears to have heeded Horatio's warning about staying away from me and Steve.

Which now, I feel like I can get back to investigating the why of Mom and Jay.

***
Mom decides to host dinner at her place for a change. Steve, Aria and I arrive a little earlier so I can help Mom if she needs it.

Uncle Grant and Jay are here as well and I'm hoping to see if maybe I can talk to Jay about him and Mom. Especially since Mom has no interest in sharing anything.

Aria sees Uncle Grant and stretches out her little arms to him.

"Hey, sweetie," he coos to Aria, taking her from Steve. Aria grins at him.

"You're gonna have fun with her when she's older," Jay comments, grinning. I laugh.

"What do you mean when she's older? She's already fun."

"It gets worse," Jay says.

"And you're such an expert?" I raise my eyebrows at him.

"I've been around enough girls to know how much trouble they can be," Jay replies. I roll my eyes.

"Mom?" I call, heading into the dining room. Mom is setting out plates. "Need any help?" I ask.

"Sure, baby girl. Can you grab the silverware?" Mom's cheeks are slightly flushed. Steve wanders in.

"Steve, could you set up the high chair?" Mom asks him.

"Yeah." I go grab the silverware, returning to the dining room. Uncle Grant comes in, carrying Aria. Jay offers to help Mom pass around the plates. I watch them out of the corner of my eye.

"Thanks," Mom tells Jay. Aria is babbling away, pointing at everything. Steve has the high chair set up so Uncle Grant puts Aria in. She immediately starts fussing because she's hungry.

"Just a minute, baby," Mom tells Aria, hurrying off to the kitchen to get her some food. The rest of us line up and within minutes, we're all served up and begin to eat.

***
Unfortunately Jay keeps his distance from me. I'd bet anything that Mom told him I'd been hounding her about them. Plus, Aria's being kind of needy and whiny so I can't stray too far from her or she freaks out.

"She's just going through a phase," Mom says as Aria clings to me, warily eyeing everyone that an hour ago she liked.

"Of course," I say. I glance over at Jay, who's joking around with Uncle Grant and Steve.

"You were worse," Mom continues.

"Was I?"

"Yes." Mom's gaze flickers over to..Jay, then to..me. I keep my mouth shut. Steve comes over and Ari starts whining for him now. I allow Steve to take her.

"Aria's just been kinda cranky lately," Steve tells Mom.

"Yeah," I add. "She recently had a cold."

"Like I said," Mom repeats. "She's going through a phase. It'll pass."

"Just wait until she's twelve or thirteen," Uncle Grant says, grinning. "That's a load of fun!"

"I'd rather not think about that just yet," Steve remarks, grinning. Aria sticks her fingers in her mouth, staring at all of us.