The Redo (Winslow Brothers #4) (106)

I don’t deny it. Instead, I hit send.

Me: Sorry to have to break it to you losers, but I’ve been crowned favorite uncle…again. I know it’s tough for all of you, losing so much, but you have to be getting used to it at this point, right? I mean, it’s basically expected.

Ty: Like fuck, you are. Rachel and I babysat for Ryder and Roman two nights last weekend AND took Lex to the Mavericks game on Sunday. We’re totally winning.

Jude: Everyone knows I’m the fun uncle. Everyone.

Me: Sorry, nope. We’re having spaghetti tonight, AND I’m taking Lex to brunch at Bunrise tomorrow morning.

Flynn: The evidence is clear in this case. Remy wins.

Ty: That means you lose too, jackhole.

Flynn: I’m not competing with any of you fuckers. Lex and I have a relationship that’s in a category of its own.

Ignoring the rest of their bullshit banter now that I’ve been declared the distinguished winner, I set our group chat on Do Not Disturb and tuck my phone back into my pocket, just as Maria is putting the garlic bread and spaghetti in serving dishes.

Shit. Looks like I missed most of the work.

“I’ll set the table,” I offer, leaning forward to press a kiss to Maria’s cheek. She hums an uh-huh, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

“No more bragging tonight—until later,” I whisper in her ear. “But I’ll earn it, I promise.”

I discreetly squeeze her ass for good measure, earning a little squeal of shock, and get to work on setting the table. Once all of the plates and silverware and napkins are in place and the chairs are moved so we’re all facing toward the TV, Lex shouts her victory from the living room.

“Found it!”

“You found one? But is it a good one?” I tease, knowing full well I’ll enjoy the experience of watching a movie with my girls whether I like the movie or not.

“Hidden Figures,” she replies simply, stating only the title of the movie before clicking the description on the screen and reading it aloud to us. “An incredible and inspiring untold true story about three women at NASA who were instrumental in one of history’s greatest operations.”

“Oooh!” Maria crows from the kitchen, picking up the dish of spaghetti, a hot pad, and the basket of garlic bread all at once to come to the table. “That sounds good, Lexi Lou. Go ahead and get it started.”

“I’ll come get Iz,” I add, rounding the table to do just that so that Lexi can come sit down.

Once a happy Izzy is buckled into the bouncer seat we always keep by us during dinner, I give her one last tickle and set the mobile overhang and vibrations in motion. One squeeze to Maria’s hip and I pull out the chair beside her. She takes a seat with a grateful smile and then promptly starts dishing the food onto all our plates.

Lexi’s first, then mine, then her own. Like always, she makes sure to take care of us.

As the movie starts and we dive into the food, I can’t help but notice the immediate similarities between one of the main women, Katherine, and our Lexi.

“She’s smart like you, Lex,” I remark, making her mouth curve up in a bashful smile. It’s a special expression, one I’ve come to cherish from her over the years. It’s not big and bright and toothy—it’s shy and intentional. It’s a tiny sliver of her golden light, escaping the secret place she keeps it, for all to see.

It also reminds me that I haven’t told her parents she’s staying the night, and I grab my phone to do it before I forget. “Just going to tell Winnie and Wes that she’s staying,” I explain to Maria.

She nods appreciatively, remarking, “Good idea. Don’t want them thinking we stole their kid.”

I smirk and hit send on a text to Wes and Winnie.

Me: Lex is going to stay the night here…if that works for you guys.

I quickly look up to see if Maria can see my phone from where she’s sitting, and when I note that her eyes are riveted to the TV, I shoot off another text. Mind you, it’s slightly in code, but I’m confident they’ll understand.

Me: PS: I can drop the packages off at mom’s house tomorrow. Both of them. After brunch.

Starting tomorrow, Wendy Winslow will be hosting a girls-only slumber party. Well, girls only, plus Howard.

It originally started out as her watching Izzy because I have a big surprise planned for Maria, but once Lex found out her favorite tiny human was going to be with her grandmother for five days straight, she all but begged Winnie to join in on the fun this weekend.

Winnie: Oh yeah, THE PACKAGES… So glad you can do that. wink wink And it works out perfectly for tonight since we’re running behind at the stadium.

Me: You realize the whole wink wink is a real tip-off, right?

Winnie: I have no idea what you’re talking about wink wink

Wes: Thanks for doing that, man. wink wink

Winnie: Yeah, thanks, Rem. wink wink

Smartasses.

Wes: PS: Word on the street is that you’re currently in first place for DILF of the Year.

Me: What? Thatch still has me in that fucking contest?

Winnie: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

My sister is clearly getting far too much amusement out of this.

Wes: It’s Thatch. Don’t even bother trying to stop it, bro. Your effort would be wasted. But I have to say, he’s never let anyone sit in first place for this long. You should feel special, dude.