Played.

26: "Pick Your Side."

I glanced left, smiling to myself as my eyes fell upon Brooke and Marcus, cuddled peacefully beside me. Sliding out of the bed, without waking them, I tottered out of the room and downstairs.

"Morning, darling." My dad looked up from his oatmeal.

"Morning, daddy." I kissed his cheek. "Morning, Jakey." Wrapping my arms around his shoulders from the back, I squeezed him, placing slopping kisses around his face.

"Ugh, Maddie." Jake groaned, trying to swat me away. I moved, heading for the kitchen. "Morning." He shouted behind me.

"Hi, mommy." I hugged her, as I entered the kitchen.

"Hey, peanut."

I reached up into the cabinet, taking down some pans.

"Need any help?" She asked, handing me a stack of plates.

"No, I got it. Thanks, mom." I replied, throwing the food into the pan.

"Alright, sweetie." She smiled, looking past me. "Any plans for today?"

"Maybe a movie day with Marcus."

"Nope." A pair of arms slithered around my waist, while a kiss was left on my neck. "I'm taking her out." He smiled to my mom.

"Aw, where to?"

"The bowling alley in town."

"Make sure you beat Maddie's ass." She whispered to him, laughing.

"Mom, you're meant to be on my side!"

"Sorry!" She threw her hands up, in defence. "You two wouldn't mind taking Brooke, would you?"

"Not at all."

"Thank you, honey. Oh, and thank you for the present, they were lovely." She gleamed.

"I'm glad you liked them, Cassie."

"I'm telling you, Maddie, he's a keeper." She winked, exiting the kitchen.

I shook my head and laughed, focusing back on the food in the pan, that was almost done.

"You cooking for me, baby?" Marcus gently rocked me side to side, kissing the top of my head.

"No." I shared it out onto the plates.

"Why not?" He pulled my hip back, turning me around, and lifting me onto the counter, sliding in between my legs.

"You didn't pay for it." I stroked the back of his neck.

He reached up, pecking my lips. "Is that enough?"

"Nope."

He did it again. "Now?"

"Not yet."

He placed several more quick kisses on my lips, moving across my jaw and down my neck. I squealed, fighting him off.

"Get a room." Jake called, putting his plate in the dishwasher.

"I'm going to have a shower." I kissed just in front of Marcus' ear, hopping off the counter, going back upstairs.

                                                                  ****

"Okay, Brooke, pick your side." I instructed, as I tied up her shoe at the bowling alley.

"Hmm." She tapped her chin with her fingers, jumping off the bench. "I want to be on...um..." She spun in a circle. "Maddie's side!" Her little legs waddled over to get a ball, and then ran back to me.