Chapter 74 Socket or Lugnut
Jax was still staring at his brother, his mouth slightly agape, the apple in his hand forgotten. The math of "four babies under the age of two" was visibly short-circuiting his brain.
"Does Mom know?" Jax whispered, his eyes darting to the kitchen door as if summoning her by name might make her appear. "Or Pops? Because if mom finds out she’s getting another set of grand-twins—or even just one—she is going to expand the nursery into the west wing. She might actually buy a school bus."
Fennigan ran a hand through his still-damp hair, shaking his head. "No. Nobody knows. Leela wanted to sleep before we unleashed the hurricane. So keep your mouth shut, Jax. seriously."
As if on cue—because Elana Blackwood always had impeccable timing—the swinging door from the dining room pushed open.
"Keep whose mouth shut about what?" Elana’s voice floated in, cheerful but sharp as a tack.
She waltzed into the kitchen, a picture of grandmotherly strength. She had Caspian balanced on her right hip and Briar on her left. Both babies were chewing on teething rings and looking suspiciously sticky, but Elana didn't seem to mind the weight or the drool.
She stopped in the center of the room, looking at the trio. She saw Fennigan (wet hair, fresh clothes, looking shell-shocked), Jax (holding a wrench and looking guilty), and Ginny (chopping strawberries with manic intensity).
Elana’s eyes narrowed. The "Mom Radar" pinged loudly.
"Why is the air so thick in here?" Elana asked, bouncing Briar slightly. "And why does Fennigan look like he just wrestled a kraken in the shower? What are you boys hiding?"
Jax panicked. He opened his mouth, and Fennigan knew—he just knew—that his honest, wrench-wielding brother was about to blurt out, “Leela’s pregnant!”
But Ginny, thank goddess, was faster than her knuckle-headed husband.
She slammed her knife down on the cutting board with a decisive thwack, startling everyone, including the babies. She spun around, wiping her hands on her apron, and plastered a bright, dazzling smile on her face.
"We were just arguing about names!" Ginny declared loudly, stepping in front of Jax to cut off his line of sight to Elana.
Elana blinked. "Names?"
"Yes!" Ginny rushed on, grabbing Jax’s arm and squeezing it hard enough to bruise. "For our baby. You know, the one currently kicking my bladder? Jax and I were just telling Fennigan that we... uh... we think we’re finally almost settled on a name."
She looked up at Jax, her eyes widening with a silent Play along or I end you command. "Right, honey? We were just telling Fenn that we narrowed it down."
Jax, bless his heart, stumbled but caught himself. He felt the phantom pain in his arm and nodded vigorously.
"Right! Yes. Names," Jax stammered, sweating slightly. "For... for the pup. My pup. Not... anyone else's."
Fennigan exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding, leaning back against the counter to hide his shaking hands.
Elana looked between them, her gaze lingering on Jax’s flushed face for a second too long. Then, she smiled, shifting Caspian’s weight.
"Well, that’s exciting," Elana cooed. "It’s about time. Please tell me you aren't naming him 'Lugnut' or 'Socket' or whatever garage thing Jax is obsessed with this week."
"No!" Ginny laughed, a little too hysterically. "Definitely not Lugnut. It’s... a surprise. A total surprise. For everyone."
She shot a look at Fennigan over Elana’s shoulder. You owe me, the look said.
Fennigan nodded imperceptibly. I owe you big time.
The evening sun was dipping low over the valley, painting the sky in bruised purples and burnt oranges. On the wide, wraparound porch of the Pack House, Fennigan and Jax were on dad duty.
Caspian was currently trying to eat his own foot in the bouncing chair, while Briar was contentedly shredding a leaf she had found on the floorboards, sitting between Jax’s boots.
The screen door creaked open, and Tara stepped out. She had shed the flannel pajamas for a pair of low-slung, soft gray sweatpants and one of Fennigan’s old black t-shirts that hung loose on her frame. Her hair was pulled up in a messy, wet bun, and while her face was still pale, her eyes were bright.
Fennigan looked up from where he was leaning against the railing. the expression on his face wasn't just love; it was a devastating, total adoration. He looked at her like she was the only gravity holding the planet together.
Leela caught his look, a small blush rising on her cheeks, before she turned her attention to his brother.
"Hey, preggo," he drawled, reaching down to pick up Briar and then looked at his brother like uh-oh I did it again.
Leela rolled her eyes, walking over to stand next to Fennigan. She poked her mate in the ribs. "Fenn, why did you tell him? I thought we agreed on a twenty-four-hour embargo. I haven't even told Elana yet."
"I didn't tell him!" Fennigan protested, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his side. "I swear. He walked into the kitchen while Ginny and I were debriefing. He heard Ginny say 'there's nothing better than being pregnant together' and his brain short-circuited."
Fennigan smirked, looking at his brother. "He actually thought Ginny meant that she and I were pregnant together. Like, as a couple."
Leela burst out laughing, the sound genuine and light. "Oh my god. Jax."
"It was a confusing sentence without context!" Jax defended himself, his ears turning pink. "And you guys were whispering! It looked suspicious!"
"Well, you can thank your wife for saving your hide," Fennigan continued, resting his chin on top of Leela’s head. "Because Mom walked in about two seconds later, and 'Socket' over here was about to spill the beans."
Leela frowned, confused. "Socket?"
"Yeah," Fennigan grinned, gesturing to Jax. "Mom made a crack about how she hoped Ginny wasn't naming the baby 'Lugnut' or 'Socket' because Jax is always in the garage. But honestly, after he almost blew the secret to mom in the kitchen, I think the nickname fits him better."
Fennigan kissed Leela’s temple. "Ginny had to lie and say they were just arguing about baby names to cover for his panicked face. So, Lugnut is safe for now, and your secret is still safe with the four of us."
Jax groaned, setting Briar on his knee. "I am never going to live that down, am I?"
"Not until the twins graduate," Leela promised, leaning back into Fennigan’s embrace. "Thanks for keeping the secret, Lugnut."