Page 113 of Embracing the Beat
MICHAELA
“If that’s coffee, you’re not supposed to drink any.”
Sawyer’s voice makes me jump and spill coffee—he called it—all over my hand.
Lowering my cup to the counter, I turn to face him with a glare.
“A.” I hold up a finger. “Dr. Jeffries said I could drink one cup a day. This is that one cup. B, how did you get in here? I locked the door.”
This is exactly why I took Mia and Garrett up on the offer of their guest house. I stayed at Sawyer’s for one week when I first arrived and left before he could drive me bonkers.
I’ve heard of helicopter-moms, but never heard brothers described the same way. Sawyer is going to create his own word. If I don’t kill him first.
He shrugs, stepping past the couch and table in the small living area and grabbing me into a hug.
“How’s my nephew?” He ruffles my hair before stealing my half-full mug and holding it aloft when I try to take it back.
I roll my eyes with a huff, jumping at the cup. “Sawyer.”
“It’s not good for you. I was reading this article on The Pregnant Connection that, even though doctors allow one cup, it still impacts fetal heart rates.”
“The Pregnant Connection?” I forget my mission of getting my coffee back.
“A website I found for pregnant women. Random questions and facts not included in books.”
“Since when are you a pregnant woman?” I tease.
“Ha. Funny.” He takes a sip of my coffee and grimaces. “God, what’s in this? Creamer with a little bit of coffee?”
“Since that was mine”—I doubt I’ll successfully retrieve the cup from Sawyer—“what do you care?”
“Coffee isn’t good for you,” Mia says, walking in with a bottle of something the color of blended grass. “Read it on The Pregnancy Connection.”
Sawyer looks at me with an eyebrow raised, and I growl, stomping my foot like a three-year-old in the middle of a tantrum.
“I love you both, but you’re going to drive me crazy before this baby even makes an appearance.”
Sawyer is bad alone, but he and Mia together are like helicopter-moms on steroids.
“Here. Drink this.” Mia hands me the bottle of green stuff.
I eye it warily. “What is it?”
“Spinach, mango, pineapple, banana, and coconut milk.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad.” I pop open the lid and sniff. The scents of pineapple and banana tease my nostrils. I shrug and take a sip, then go back for more when it tastes better than it looks.
“I also have a recipe for a peanut butter and banana one we should try later,” Mia says.
“I still want my coffee,” I pout but take another drink of the smoothie.
“Did you take your prenatal this morning?” Helicopter-mom Sawyer tags in for this round.
“Ugh.” I lift my chin, dropping my head back in frustration. “Yes. You know, you two, I appreciate the…attention, but I’m fully capable of taking my vitamins and eating breakfast without the reminders.”
“You were eating chicken tenders for breakfast yesterday,” Mia reminds me.
“Haven’t you ever heard of chicken and waffles?” I ask.
