Come Back Around

by BA Tortuga

  A wet five-year-old went streaking and laughing hysterically through his rooms. “Daddy! Catch me!”

  “Luce, I can’t!”

  “I got you!” Mat grabbed a towel and swooped, lifting Luce right up.

  “Papi!” She squealed and wiggled, laughing hard.

  “I wanna play too!”

  “Don’t you stand up, Daniela!” Reid hollered.

  “You weren’t supposed to either,” he told Luce.

  “Papi, I’m okay! I was lonely.”

  “You want to get in with Dani?”

  Luce lit up. “Yes!”

  “Okay, kiddo. Dani, is that okay?” He knew Dani would say yes. She looked up to her sister.

  “We can play Barbies.”

  “Oh.” Luce wiggled to get down. “I’ll go get mine.”

  Such good girls. “Scoot back, Dani, and I’ll run a little warm-up.”

  “Sí, Papi.” She looked one hundred percent better, nothing more than a bit of pink on her cheeks.

  “Good girl.” He would still get her juice and let her finish it. He got Luce in the bath, gave both girls juice, then set up the dining area in Reid’s cabin section for lunch delivery. Lord.

  How had Reid done it all without him? Just the thought made him respect his husband even more.

  Reid came limping in with the girls’ clothes and hairbrushes.

  “You’re supposed to be on crutches, querido.”

  “Am I?” Oh, he was getting the big, innocent eyes.

  “You are. Sit.” He pulled out a dining chair. “I’ll dry and dress here in a few. What did you get us big kids for lunch?”

  “Potato soup and bacon sandwiches.”

  “That sounds amazing. I mean, I’ll be craving taco Tuesday when we get home, but the food here is so good.” He grabbed towels out of the little hall closet.

  “I’ll make the guacamole….” That little offer made him shiver.

  “I love your guac, baby.” He really did. “And you owe me a blowjob.”

  “I know.” God, that was a happy smile.

  “Just so you remember.” Mat winked, feeling so damn free and light.

  “I’ll remember.” Reid licked his lips.

  God, this overtly sensual, needy Reid made him crazy. Hard.

  Reid reached across the table, offering his hand. Mat took it, squeezing. “The girls would interrupt us, huh?”

  “Totally. I want to touch you, you know? Connect.”

  “Me too. We can tonight. Promise me.” He wanted Reid so bad.

  “You have my word.” Reid twined his fingers with Mat’s. “God, this feels so decadent.”

  “Right?” Mat did have to wonder what things would be like at home, when life was both normal and crazy.

  “Papi! Papi, Luce pooted in the bath and it made bubbles!” The sudden giggles were wild and hysterical.

  “Bubbles in your bubbles!” He took the brushes and all and moved to the bathroom so he could scoop out his girls.

  The little ones laughed and wiggled, so happy and joyful. God, he was lucky. They were healthy, smart, and loving. They were also relatively easy, as his mama was happy to tell him.

  “Pop-Pop said we’re having a fancy dinner tonight. Are we wearing our fancy dresses?” Dani was obsessed with her flower girl dress.

  “Not those, no. We need to keep those clean and not wrinkly for the big day.”

  Dani got the big eyes and the pout, and then Reid saved the day. Again.

  “You can wear your fairy dresses, baby, and then your Easter dresses for the rehearsal.”

  “Okay! Are there sammies?”

  “They’re on the way.” He got the girls dressed. “Let me do your hair, baby girl.”

  “I want pigtails!”

  “Me too!”

  Oh God.

  “Come sit with me, girls!” Reid called. “I can teach Papi how to do it.”

  Good man.

  “I want Papi to brush, though. Papi never pulls.” Luce grabbed his hand.

  “Papi doesn’t have to rush you to swim class, gymnastics, cheer, softball, dance class, karate….”

  “Please, Papi?”

  “Of course I will.” Reid wasn’t wrong, but if she asked, Mat would move heaven and earth to help.

  “When I start school, I move up to the big girl dance class, and Sister has to stay down because she’s little.” Luce plopped down as Reid held his arms open to Dani.

  “So? I get to stay home with Daddy.”

  “It’s all good, huh?” No fighting, please. Please. “School can be fun, but so can art and naps.”

  “And you’ll be in pre-K next year. Maybe we can talk about preschool for a couple days a week. Maybe.” Reid chuckled, the sound a little wry. “I’m not sure Papi and I are willing to let you go already.”

  Jesus. His heart stopped. He hadn’t had near enough time home with either girl, and he would love to stay home with Dani. Just—and Reid was talking about them being a couple again. For real.

  He looked over, trying to breathe, and caught Reid staring right back at him. Those blue eyes never wavered, so he nodded. Okay, yes. They would figure this out.

  Assuming they ever got more than seventeen minutes alone together at a time.

  Chapter Thirteen

  REID stopped right before they reached the big dining room, using the crutches as his excuse, but knowing he was facing the entire Harris/Gonzales clan, walking into the lion’s den. He was the bad guy, as far as his ex-in-laws were concerned, and there was a very good chance someone would eviscerate him when the girls weren’t in the room.

  Mat came back for him a moment later, frowning. “Baby? You okay?”

  “Just resting.” Having a panic attack. No worries.

  “Well, come sit.” Mat let him lean a little, then kissed the tip of his nose.

  “Are you sure I’m welcome, darlin’? Weddings are stressful.”

  “I know, but Frank and Markus want to see you, and I think Mama is on some kind of mission. The good kind.” That grin made him want to laugh, it was so right.

  “Can I have a kiss? Just real quick?”

  “Yes.” Mat gave him a slow, deep kiss. Nothing quick about it.

  Oh. Oh bet—

  “You two stop that, right now. Mateo! Bring your man in and sit. Now.”

  “Sí, Mama.” Mat rested their foreheads together, grinning at him.

  “And no grinning!”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, woman, let them grin.” Pop-Pop was laughing, Reid could tell. The man had the pure devil in him.

  “Is that Reid?” Markus’s voice was deep, booming.

  “I note you didn’t ask if it was me, you old butthead,” Mat said, leading Reid into the dining room.

  Markus stood at the doorway, all smiles, pulling him into a hug, heedless of his crutches. “It’s so good to see you, kiddo. You’ve been missed.”

  “Thanks.” He hugged back, then man-hugged Frank, half handshake, half embrace. “Something smells so good.”

  “It’s probably me.” Frank winked over. “God, the girls are getting so big….”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “My angels.” Mama had the girls on either side of her already, all of them wearing their fancy dresses. Mama’s had wings.

  Reid had to chuckle.

  “You look beautiful, all three of you.”

  “Doesn’t she?” Alejandro brought him a stool. “Sit.”

  “Thanks. Man, crutches are harder than they used to be.” He didn’t even think he was that old, but physical recovery got harder every time something happened. He would never tease his folks again.

  “Sure, brother. Does it hurt a lot?”

  “It’s not too bad. I’m managing.”

  “Bullshit. You have painkillers?”

  He lowered his voice, making Alej lean down. “I can’t poop if I take them.”

  “Dude. Once the wedding is over. Morphine and Ex-Lax.”

  “I do like how you think,
Alejandro.” Uncle Frank’s laughter filled the air, drawing the attention of the whole room.

  “’Uelita, what’s Ex-Lax?” Dani’s tiny voice seemed so loud in the lull after Frank trailed off. Bless her.

  “It’s a pill to make you poop.”

  “Oh. Popcorn makes you poop, did you know?”

  “So does yoga,” Alej intoned. “What? Jen likes yoga. I fall asleep at the end every time.”

  They all began to laugh, the entire room cracking up, and for the first time since he walked in, he could breathe.

  “I like the sound of this room.” Tiny sailed in carrying a tray. “Munchies!”

  He remembered the first time he’d seen this crowd hit the appetizers—it was vaguely like a plague of locusts—and it hadn’t changed significantly, to be honest.

  His family, they could munch for hours on a veggie tray and some ranch dip, but Mat’s people sure went to town.

  Mat took a taquito and a celery stick with cheese. Huh. Maybe his stomach was upset again.

  He shook his head. Mat needed someone to make sure he ate normal, real food.

  “So, I hear congratulations are in order,” Markus said. “Good job on Pottery Barn, Reid. I read it in a trade journal.”

  “Thank you, sir.” He took a deep breath, deciding in the next heartbeat to share his good news. “I just signed with Crate and Barrel.”

  “Oh! I love that store.” Mama clapped her hands, smiling for him, and he knew it was genuine. She could be a dragon, but she was a good person.

  “You know you get originals from me, Mama. I mean, Patricia.”

  “Mmm. We’ll talk later.” She waggled her fingers at him, and he knew she was going to want one of everything.

  That was Jen’s wedding gift, after all, a set of his dishes, specially made just for her. He smiled, thinking how she might plotz. She was his biggest fan.

  He looked up, Mat’s eyes fastened on him.

  “Someone’s interested,” Markus whispered.

  “Hush.” His face flushed, his body tightening. Lord, this was no time.

  “Why did you two split up again?” Uncle Frank asked.

  “Stupid pride, man. Sheer idiotic stubborn pride.” And he wasn’t proud of it either.

  “Well, suck it up. It’s obvious you two still belong together.” Frank patted his arm.

  “We’re divorced. He has a condo. Dani doesn’t remember living with him.” And none of it mattered.

  “No matter. People have done stranger things.” That came from Markus, who he knew had lived a lot before Frank.

  “God, yes.” Uncle Frank smiled over at his lover. “Many of them perpetrated by us.”

  “You guys are terrifying,” Alej complained. “I want to hear good marriage stuff.”

  “It’s good to know that someone always will be there,” Frank said.

  “You’ll always have a movie date,” Reid added. “And a Texan to make you chili.”

  “Mmm. Chili. And mine can make babies.” Alej winked.

  “She most certainly can.”

  Alej shot him a look, and he went for an innocent smile, turning to Markus to ask about something ridiculous. He didn’t want to upstage any announcements. He wondered if Alej would tell his people tonight or wait. Probably wait, since Jen wasn’t there.

  Alej kept trying to talk to him alone, but Reid made damn sure not to let that happen. No friggin’ way.

  Let the boy sweat.

  He turned to Markus, winking broadly. “So, how was Hawaii? Didn’t y’all spend six months there?”

  Frank’s eyes narrowed, and Mat started heading his way.

  “We did. Maui. Y’all should go.”

  “We should.” He glanced at Mat, who was smiling at Luce as she told her Abuelita about the pony she was going to ride tomorrow. “Maybe when the girls are grown.”

  “Like their grandparents wouldn’t take them both for a couple weeks… wait, y’all should?” Markus blinked.

  “Sure.” He shrugged. “I’m willing. But not right away. We would need to get into a routine, and the girls spent a long while with my parents. They’ll want to be home for a bit.”

  The uncles shared a long, slow look, a grin. “Good deal.”

  “What?”

  “Nothin’.”

  “Old farts.” He grabbed a couple of apps as they came around. Better to keep his mouth full.

  “We want you to sit with us for supper,” Markus said. “It’s been so long.”

  “Okay.” He really wanted to sit with Mat….

  “He can sit with you, but I get his other ear,” Mat said, appearing next to him.

  “Hey.” Oh, that felt so good, Mat right there, touching him.

  “Mateo. Come give your Uncle Frank a hug.”

  “Hey. I was being cornered by Mama.” Mat winked, then moved to hug Frank hard.

  “She loves you. God knows why.”

  “I know. I’m just glad she does.”

  They all grinned, and the tray of munchies passed again, so they all ate a little more. He felt… happy. Good. Mat’s hand stayed on the small of his back, solid as anything.

  He felt like—like part of a couple again.

  “You look like you have a secret, querido.” Mat’s breath tickled his ear.

  “Do I?”

  “Uh-huh. You’ll have to share.”

  “After supper, darlin’. You have my word.”

  “Oh, good.” Mat scratched lightly at his back, teasing.

  Oh, that gave him shivers. There were a lot of things they were going to have to “discuss” after supper. He grinned. Yeah. Talking. That was what they would do.

  Dani came over and tugged on his shirt sleeve. “’Uelita wants to know if y’all are ready for supper or if you’re going to make cow sounds all night?”

  “Cow sounds?” What the hell?

  “Uh-huh. Moo.”

  “Cow eyes, I bet.” Mat rolled his eyes. “Are you done eating munchies, Mama?” he called.

  “Are you done mooning, mi’jo?”

  Ah. Right. “I get it. Moo.”

  “Indeed.” Mat rose, then held down a hand to him, dapper as all get-out. “Let’s go get something with some bite, huh?”

  “I’d rather bite you.” The words just slipped out of his mouth like his lips were greased.

  “No, Daddy. Biting is bad.”

  “Oh, right.” Reid had forgotten his girls were right there. “No biting. Gets you in trouble.”

  “Yes, sir.” Dani looked so serious. “Big trouble.”

  “Did she bite someone in Florida?” Mat asked.

  “How did you guess?” He rolled his eyes this time.

  Mat glanced at Dani, then blinked up at him. “Well, someone looks contrite.”

  “Yes. She had to go apologize to the little boy and his grandparents.” It had been the highlight of his parenting career. Not.

  “In Disney!” Lucia said.

  Mat stared. “Dani bit someone at Disney?”

  “I said sorry!” Dani screamed and then ran, sobbing.

  “Shit.” Mat took off after her, which left him teetering until Alej caught him, then gave him his crutches.

  “Thanks.”

  “Do you know?” Alej hissed.

  He went wide-eyed, and when that didn’t work, he winked over. “No worries. I said I’m totally in.”

  They would be amazing godfathers.

  “Okay, but we want to announce at the reception.”

  “Then stop whispering or everyone will want to know what you’re talking about.” He’d learned that all over again from having children.

  “Right. You need help?”

  “We have him,” Uncle Frank said. “Go find your brother and niece.”

  “I’m on it.” Alej hightailed it, and he wanted to go after them, but Luce was biting her lip, looking uncertain.

  “So, we won’t be teasing Daniela about that, huh? Whoa.” He winked at her.

  She gave him a tiny grin. “Nope
. I think she’s worried she’s still in trouble.”

  “Yeah. She’s not. She was sorry and she said so.” And he was so grateful that Lucia wasn’t into teasing her baby sister.

  “Papi won’t yell, will he?”

  “No, honey. He was a biter when he was a kid.”

  Mat and Alej came in, Daniela in Mat’s arms. Everyone stared, and Mat patted her back, shook his head, and smiled. “I think it’s been an exciting few days.”

  “I bet she’s hungry. I am.” Alej was a good guy. “Do you want to sit next to me, baby girl?”

  “Uh-huh.” She reached for him, little face all red and wet.

  “Oh, good. You can share my bread.” They chattered while they filed into the dining room.

  Lucia went to her Pop-Pop. “I can sit next to you?”

  “Of course.”

  Lord, what a family. Seriously. Tomorrow the rest of Jen’s people would come, and they would be even busier.

  “Come on, querido. Stop daydreaming and come eat with me.”

  “Not daydreaming. Just….” He felt overwhelmed, but when Mat put a hand on his elbow after giving Dani to Alej, Reid calmed right down.

  No wonder it worked on the girls, huh? He was a sucker.

  “Hey. It’s all good.” That low voice sent shivers up his spine.

  “It’s more than good, love.” It was like falling in love again.

  “See? I’m sorry about Dani, though. You’ll have to tell me when she’s asleep.”

  “Of course. It’s way bigger in her head, you know?”

  “I bet it seemed huge. I remember when I almost bit that kid’s toe off….”

  “Mama’s told me that story.” Reid leaned in, whispering soft. “I assumed she was trying to get me to avoid blowjobs….”

  “Huh.” Mat hooted, drawing the eyes of the room as they sat. His lover waved his hand at his folks. “Private joke.”

  “Uh-huh.” Pop gave him the stank eye, and he winked, making everyone laugh this time.

  The big table was full of bread and wine and candles, and he could hear Luce gasp. “’Uelita! So pretty!”

  “It is, huh? That Mason, he’s good. So is Geoff.”

  “Geoff is teaching me to be a chef,” Lucia said, eyes so wide.

  “Is he?” Uncle Frank asked. “What have you made so far?”

  God, he wanted Mat to come home. He wanted to really belong here.

  “Sanguiches. Pizza! Pancakes. He’s so nice.”