Free AJ's Salvation by Sam Destiny Page B

started beaming.
    "Good choice. I'll take the same." He grinned and then high-fived Jam.
    "Just tonight because your dad’s here," she fussed, giving them a serious look before turning away.
    "I never get marshmallows before going to bed," Alessandro whispered.
    "Thought so." Jam grinned back.
    "Stop whispering, you two, or you'll get only milk," Aly called from the counter, her back toward them. Alessandro rolled his eyes at Jam with a smile. "And stop rolling your eyes at me. It's impolite," Aly went on, making Alessandro giggle. Jam couldn't help but bite his cheeks, rolling his eyes as well. Alessandro giggled even more. "Jamison Loane, stop encouraging your son!" She hadn't turned yet seemed to be able to see it all. Alessandro held his hand in front of his mouth so he wouldn't burst out laughing, but Jam couldn’t help it and they started chuckling like crazy. 
    Aly came over and smirked as she placed the steaming mugs in front of them. Jam caught a whiff of cinnamon and spice and gave her a questioning look.
    "Chai cacao, Mommy's specialty," Alessandro announced before drinking his whole cup without a pause and then smacking his lips in utter satisfaction. "Try it," he encouraged Jam, and Jam lifted the cup. As ordered, the chocolate was exactly the right temperature and tasted unlike anything he ever had tried. It was good and actually reminded him of Aly. It was crazy how much he liked it.
    "Wow," he remarked with pride in his voice. She gave him a smile, obviously pretty smug. 
    "There's a lady from Atlanta who comes to Mom's café just because of this," Alessandro told him while almost literally inhaling his food. 
    "That's true. How about you go and brush your teeth and pick a story. I’ll tell your dad about the lady, and when I'm done, I'll send him up?" 
    Alessandro was gone before she had even finished her sentence, and Aly got up, carrying his plate and cup to the kitchen sink. Jam took his own and followed her. He settled against the counter while she cleaned the dishes.
    "Her aunt lives two towns over and is pretty sick. She comes over maybe four times a year, and each time she's here, she'll drop by to get a cup for her and her aunt. She loves her cocoa," she explained. 
    "I'm in bed, Dad! Mom, you can tell him the story later," Alessandro called from upstairs, and Aly sighed. 
    "Smell his breath and then send him to brush his teeth again, okay?" she pleaded, and Jam couldn't resist. He reached out, brushing his thumb over her lip.
    "Will do, Mom," he teased, and she threw the towel at him, shaking her head. He could still hear her laughing as he made his way upstairs.
    "Let me smell your breath," Jam said to his son, and instantly, Alessandro's face fell.
    "It smells like chocolate," Lesso insisted, crossing his arms in front of his body. 
    “Go and brush your teeth while I check out all your rockets, okay?” Jam suggested, already walking around the bed to show he meant it. Alessandro hesitated for a moment, and then he bolted out of the room. Jam couldn’t help but smile. He was all child, contrary to what Jam was used to seeing from TV shows. Sometimes, he was sure childhood ended at five. He was glad it wasn’t the same for his son.
    “I’m gonna go and read in my room. Come and say good-bye before you leave,” Aly said from the door, carrying Alessandro’s dirty laundry. She looked every little bit the amazing mother he knew she was. 
    “I will,” he promised, watching as she turned away. “And Aly?” She looked over her shoulder at him. “Thank you for …” Jam shrugged, not exactly sure where he should start. He could be thanking her for so much, yet only one thing stood out at that moment. “Thank you for loving Alessandro like your own.”
    “He is mine,” she just gave back as a way of explanation and then left. Jam cursed under his breath because each and every time she softened toward him, he managed to make her mad again.
    He could hear how she and Alessandro