Just The Guys

“What’s up?” Ry replies.

“So I was thinking. Mama says I can only ride my bike when someone is here to watch me,” Dae-Dae says, turning it on thick with those big brown eyes.

“Say no more,” Ryan laughs.

“This should be fun,” Braxton snorts getting ready to follow.

We all know Ryan took the longest to learn how to ride his bike. I think he crash all of our bikes at least once. I still say it’s because of his big ass head.

“Don’t teach him to lead with his head,” John teases.

“I was just thinking the same thing,” I burst into laughter.

“Fuck you,” Ry hisses.

“Kid, he’ll have you in the shrubs,” Noah teases. “Let me show you how it’s done.”

“Yes!” Dae-Dae cheers, jumping up and down.

“I think he wanted to ask you anyway,” I laugh.

Noah grins, shrugging his big shoulders.

I’ve been watching Dashawn follow Noah with his eyes since my brothers arrived. I think the kid is both fascinated and scared of the big giant. He has been getting up the nerve to talk to him all day.

It makes me think of how long it’s been since he’s been around my cousins. I make a mental note to have him around the guys more. They’ve taken to him like I knew they would. It’s hard not to fall for the kid.

“Look at you, playing the family man,” Wyatt teases.

“Yeah, I guess I am,” I say, flipping the burgers on the grill in front of me.

Kaye is out taking some time for herself. I invited my brothers over to the house to hang out with me and Dae-Dae. After all, they’ve been asking after him.

“He’s a cute kid,” John adds.

“He’s amazing.”

“So what’s the plan?” Wyatt asks.

“I want to propose. I was going to but shit happened,” I say.

“Okay, well, what about now?”

“Everyone doesn’t have to get married just because you are,” John mutters.

“In what language did I say they did?” Wyatt tosses back.

“Whatever,” John replies.

“You want to tell me what’s going on with you?” Wyatt narrows his eyes at him.

“Nope,” John responds.

“How’s Roni?” Wyatt asks, his golden eyes honing in on John.

John’s head whips in Wyatt’s direction. They stare each other down for a few beats before John curses under his breath. He runs a hand over the front of his hair.

“You can ask her yourself,” John mumbles.

“What does that mean?” Wyatt grunts.

“She’ll be here later. You can ask her yourself.”

“Why is she in LA?” Wyatt and I say in unison.

“Wait, you know about her?” Wyatt turns to me and asks.

“Duh,” I deadpan. “I’ve been working with Briggs and some of the trainees.”

“She’s not one of his trainees,” John grates out.

“No, because she’s yours. What the fuck have you been up to?” I narrow my eyes at John as I speak the words.

“Wait…hold on. So you’re not fucking her?” Wyatt asks in confusion.

“No, she’s a friend,” John grits out.

“I’m totally lost,” Wyatt huffs, placing his hands on his hips.

“Don’t bust your brain. New York and the compound have been a hard sell. She doesn’t trust easily. This…what’s going on works. I’m not talking about it,” John says in frustration.

“How’d you get this shit by me?” Wyatt pushes.

“Don’t. Just leave it for now,” John says releasing a heavy sigh.

“I think I’m going to propose soon,” I change the subject as I see both of my brothers getting annoyed.

“Just tell me the time and place and I’m there,” John says.

“Yeah, you know I’m always here for you,” Wyatt says pointedly, as he stares at John.

“Never a question,” John replies to the words meant for him.

“Daddy,” Dae-Dae squeals as he runs over to me.

My head snaps in his direction. He stops in his track as if catching his own words too late. He looks down at the ground in front of him with a long face.

I put down the spatula and go to lift him in my arms. Kissing his cheek, I put my forehead to his. It may have been a slip, but I felt it in my heart.

“Yes, son,” I whisper to him.

He looks at me, his eyes lighting up. His little arms go around my neck, squeezing the breath out of me. I hold him back just as tightly.

“I love you, Lix,” he says.

“Yeah, I’ll be getting on that,” I say to my brothers as they watch us.

“Sounds about right,” John says.