Spring [Completed]

TWELVE

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HIM

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"Sometimes you need to drop your guard so your heart can breathe."

—EM.X

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I've gotten into the habit of waking up to a quiet house. Just being content in my own company, finding peace in the silence that I shared with myself. My mornings are quiet and productive, usually. Today, however, is different. The twins are here.

I smile as I sit up in bed, recalling the look on their faces when I told them they'd have to share the spare room. All the complaining—mostly from Jonah— and you'd think I told them they'd have to share a bed too.

Clattering echoes through my apartment as the boys rustle through my kitchen, no doubt ruining the order I've grown accustomed to with my lifestyle. My suspicions are confirmed when I walk into the kitchen. The boys freeze mid raid as I stop in the entryway and wipe the sleep from my eyes.

"Hey Dad," Jacob says, flashing his braces as he smiles. I watch in amusement as he tucks a pack of bacon behind his back and closes the fridge.

Jonah swings the cabinet he's running through closed, letting it slam loudly as he shoves his hand into a box of cereal. After scooping a handful into his mouth, he notices my pointed stare and raises his brows in surprise. "Happy Thanksgiving," he mutters incoherently, before swallowing the lump of food in his mouth.

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose with my fingers as the boys await my reaction. Normally, I would be irate at their boorish behavior, but I haven't seen them in ages, and I'd much rather spend our short time together surrounded by pleasant memories than ones of me berating and nagging them. So, with dad-like grace, I take a deep breath and let it go.

"Boys," I say, motioning to the bar. "Take a seat. I'll make breakfast."

I watch as the two of them exchange a glance before simultaneously smiling. "Sweet," they say in unison and I shake my head. Man, I wish I had a twin.

After a moment of searching through my sparse pantry, I manage to find a box of pancake mix. Pair that with the bacon Jake tried to steal and the nearly empty carton of eggs in the fridge and this breakfast is starting to have some serious potential.

Soon pancakes on the skillet begin to brown as I whisk a bowl of eggs, mixing in salt and pepper as I see fit.

"Need any help?" Jacob offers and I nod, waving him over.

I hand him the eggs and a clean pan and he gets to work. Focusing back on the pancakes, I begin to flip them, as I glance up at Jonah. "Hey, Jonah, you wanna give your old man a hand?"

He looks up from his phone briefly and shakes his head. "Nah, I'm good. You and Jake seem to have it covered."

Frowning, I set my spatula on the table and snatch his phone from his hands.

"Dad, what the hell?" he shouts, reaching for his phone.

"Jonah, don't start," I say. "Go help your brother with the bacon. I'm sure" -I glance down at his screen briefly- "Paige can wait five minutes for you to text her back."