Rushing the Goal (Assassins #8)(146)

“I had digestive issues, thank you,” he said simply while Jace laughed like a hyena.

“And that one used to eat dog food,” Lucy said, pointing to Jace, who stopped laughing immediately. “And I mean, dog food, the treats, the soft food, hard. Jace was basically a dog.”

Avery made a face. “I’m never kissing you again.”

“Ha! Please. Come here,” he said, pulling her to him. She tried to resist him, but then she pressed her lips to his as everyone laughed.

“But that’s not all—”

“Shut up, Lucy!” Jayden yelled and she smiled.

“Don’t want me to tell everyone how you and Jude used to play with dog poop, too?”

Benji shook his head, laughing as Angie balked. “Ew, guys!”

“What was your thing with poop?” Baylor asked and Jayden shook his head.

“I hate you,” he said and Lucy grinned.

“Don’t try to embarrass me in front of my boyfriend, then,” she said plainly, and all three boys looked away, shaking their heads.

“Are you sure you want to be with her? She’s mean,” Jace called over to him. Benji smiled as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“Yeah, I love her, the mean side too.”

“She bites, did you know that? Like, I still have the scar,” Jude said, pulling his shirt up, and sure enough, right by his ribs was a bite mark scar.

Benji looked over at Lucy and she shrugged. “He tried to tickle me.”

“She broke my nose. Twice!” Jayden yelled and Benji laughed.

“I won’t even try to tickle her, she’s like a ninja.” Jace shook his head, looking to Avery. “Like, really, she’s evil.”

“I feel like I should try. Get you down one good time and tickle the heck out of you,” Benji said and she grinned up at him.

“Please. Try.”

The challenge was in her eyes, and he almost wanted to do it until Autumn said, “Benji, honey, I like you a lot. Please don’t.”

He looked back at Lucy wide-eyed and she smiled. “I knocked her tooth out.”

He gasped as Autumn nodded, pointing to the front one. “Fake tooth.”

Looking back at Lucy, he said, “You are mean!”

That had everyone laughing as the server came by to refill their drinks. They were at Catbird Seat, some ritzy place Autumn and River really enjoyed. But Benji was still hungry and he had already eaten all his plate and most of Lucy’s. It had been a great Christmas, though. For the first time in forever, he felt at home. He felt wanted being with Lucy’s whole family and watching her with them. As much as they picked on each other, the love they showed for one another was almost suffocating. Benji had never been intimidated by anything, but he was by her love for her brothers. It was like they almost did no real wrong. They were idiots, she’d say, but they were her idiots. It was sweet, and he loved watching her interact with them and their wives.

Especially baby Ashlyn.

She loved that baby like she loved Angie, and it was easy too. The little nugget had dark black hair, big green eyes, and the brightest red lips he had ever seen. She was adorable, and when he finally got to hold her, he wasn’t about to give her back. Even if he was hungry.

“Isn’t she pretty?” Angie asked as she stroked her little head. “She’s my favorite.”

“She is pretty,” he agreed and Angie smiled.

Leaning toward him, she whispered, “I’m still hungry.”

He nodded. “Me too.”

“Can we go stop to get some more food before we go home?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said and she grinned as she leaned into her grandma, Autumn taking her in her arms and kissing her hard on the head.

“You look great with a baby in your arms, Benji. Plans to have some?” Avery asked, her lips curving up when Lucy glared at her. For being so young, Avery was wise beyond her years and very intelligent, but apparently she had a little bit of a teasing streak.

Nodding his head, he looked back at Lucy and shrugged. “Got to get her to marry me first.”

“Oh my God, are you asking?” Autumn practically screamed, fumbling for her phone as the boys and Lucy all groaned. “Let me get my phone. Pictures. River, get your phone, honey.”

“Sweetheart, I don’t think he’s proposing,” River said and Benji laughed.

“Not now. One day,” he said, looking back at Ashlyn. “She says I rush into things.”

He felt Lucy glaring at the side of his head, but he just kept grinning at Ashlyn as Avery said, “Sometimes, the best things are rushed.”

“I loved rushing. Even though, I think it took you like a month to agree to date me,” Jace said and she grinned.

“But, hey, didn’t take that long to get pregnant,” she said with a huge, exaggerated wink and Benji was sure he was missing something, but that didn’t stop Lucy from snickering or Jude and Jayden from laughing hard.

“Nope, one and done,” Jace said proudly and Benji grinned.

They were young, but they sure were in love. “How long have you two been together?”

“A little over a year,” Jace said, kissing her head. “We moved fast, so I got you on the whole rushing thing.”

Benji chanced a glance at Lucy and she shook her head. “Look the other way, Paxton.”