The Baby Blitz (Varsity Dads #3)(12)
Author: Lex Martin

 

Her eyes narrow at me so sharply, I almost take a step back. “Why? Did you enjoy keeping me up half the night?”

 

“What?” The emotion on her face catches me off guard.

 

“Was that payback for something evil I did to you in high school? Consider me warned.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“Never mind,” she mumbles as she stalks off to my sister’s suite down the hall.

 

I don’t think I’ll ever understand that woman. Flustered, I resolve to stay out of her way. Kayla doesn’t need me and Maggie arguing in the middle of her wedding. When Sebastian texts and asks me to keep an eye out for his sister tonight, I’m worried she might stab that eye with a sharp utensil based on the looks she gives me.

 

By the time I’m standing on the altar, my brain hurts from trying to figure out what the hell Maggie was bitching at me about.

 

My eyes slide from my sister to her disgruntled bridesmaid, who’s watching the ceremony with a rapt expression.

 

Maggie loves Kayla. It’s obvious she adores my entire family. Is it weird that I wish that affection included me?

 

Afterward, I escort her down the aisle. I’m admittedly tongue-tied. I never know what to say to this girl, and if I attempt to be courteous, I’m afraid she’ll impale me with the very pointy heel of her shoe.

 

When we reach the courtyard, she releases my arm. I’m about to ask if I did something new to offend her, but I save the question for later when I spot her mom headed for us.

 

“Mija! Don’t you look beautiful!” Mrs. Morales says before she turns to me. “Michael, qué guapo eres!”

 

Little Frannie pops out from behind her skirt, and I smile as I watch Maggie scoop her into a hug. “Oh, my goodness! Did you sit through that entire wedding, as quiet as a mouse?”

 

Frannie nods. “I was good. Really good.”

 

“You sure were, honeybunch. I might have to make you a batch of those organic oatmeal bars you love before I go back to school.”

 

Mrs. Morales smiles. “She had her coloring book. It really helped. Plus I brought those fidget toys she loves.”

 

“Are you guys staying for the reception?” I ask as I lean down to give Mrs. Morales a hug and Frannie a high-five. Frannie only lets her mom and sister hug her, and it’s important people respect that.

 

“I don’t want to push our luck. I didn’t think we’d be able to pull this off, but we sat in the back. I just wanted to see Kayla’s wedding and see you two all dressed up. Can you scoot together for a photo? Every time I visit my daughter, she’s wearing torn overalls and has paint in her hair. I need to commemorate this special occasion.”

 

“I don’t always have paint in my hair,” Maggie grouses as she steps next to me.

 

Her mom looks at us and motions to get closer.

 

I whisper to Maggie, “I’m going to put my arm around you. Don’t knee me in the balls.”

 

“I can’t promise anything.”

 

I almost smile at her acerbic response.

 

As soon as I drape my arm over her shoulders, I regret it. She smells so damn good, I have to fight the urge to bury my nose in her neck. But spotting her brother Sebastian reminds me why that would be a bad idea.

 

“Dude!” He holds out his fist, and we do a hand gesture-chest bump combo we came up with when we were in middle school. “Look at you in a tux!”

 

Then he puts his sister in a headlock. She stands there patiently until he’s done giving her a noogie.

 

“You know I’m not ten, right?” she says before she elbows him in the ribs and smooths down her hair.

 

“You’ll always be my baby sister, turdlette.”

 

“You’re barely a year older, Hershey squirt.”

 

I chuckle at their nicknames for each other.

 

He shrugs. “If I don’t look out for you, who will? Speaking of which, you look tired. What’s going on?”

 

Now that he mentions it, I can see it too.

 

She glances at me and then her eyes dart away. “The people next door kept me up all night.”

 

“Ah. A hotel bang. Got it.”

 

Who had the room on the other side of Maggie? After moving rooms twice and hauling suitcases for several members of the bridal party last night, I’m not sure who’s in what suite anymore.

 

Mrs. Morales gasps. “Mijo, we don’t discuss those kinds of things en la casa de Dios.”

 

After we chat with Bash and Mrs. Morales for a while, my sister herds us together for photos. I’m about to ask Maggie if she’d like a ride to the reception, but Greg beats me to it.

 

I watch him help her into his car. Sebastian walks up on me silently like a fucking ninja and slaps me on the back. “She’s all grown up now. Guess we can’t worry about her forever. But if he hurts her, I’ll beat his ass.”

 

The whole drive to the hotel, I’m thinking about what Bash said. Is that true? Is he over freaking out about guys making a move on his sister? He was a little psycho about it when we were in high school, but it had to do with how his dad asked him to watch out for Maggie while on his deathbed. I couldn’t disrespect that.

 

When we line up to have the bridal party introduced, I grit my teeth when I find Maggie still talking to Greg. He’s all up in her space, and she’s letting him.

 

It’s a pleasure to break that up.

 

“Sorry, guys, but my sister wants us paired with our bridesmaid. Otherwise, the DJ won’t have the correct names for the intros.”

 

Greg gives me a look like he thinks I’m full of shit, and I smirk because I’m the lucky asshole who gets to dance with Maggie in a few minutes. Maybe I can figure out what’s going on with her.

 

“Catch up with you again later?” he asks Maggie, who nods.

 

She and I stand next to each other. Silent and stiff. Awkward as always.

 

I fucking hate it.

 

We watch Kayla and Joe twirl around the dance floor. My sister’s smiling and staring up at Joe like he’s the center of the universe.

 

I clear my throat. “So you like Greg?”

 

“What’s it to you?” The chill in Maggie’s voice makes Siberia sound tropical.