A Bundle of Mannies

by Lorelei M. Hart

  “I kicked the corner of the doorframe on accident.”

  Sure enough, he had forgotten his glasses again. I understood why Jagger didn’t like them from a twin perspective. The boys had been notorious for not letting people know who was who, and the glasses ruined that fun. From a practical perspective, I didn’t get the not-wanting-to-see thing. I wore my glasses from the time I cracked my eyes open in the morning for that exact reason.

  “Glasses are where?”

  He huffed and pulled them from his jean pocket and put them on his face. “Better?”

  “I will be when we are waiting outside for the bus.” I had somehow convinced BJ to change routes and pick us up here instead of where they originally specified. I wanted not to have to worry about my car, and leaving it with my mother felt better than a random garage where I had to pay by the day, and I was giving up the apartment—or rather subletting it, so that spot was gone.

  “We could drive if you didn’t give the car away when you gave away our bikes.” And back to the bikes it was.

  “The bikes and the car are all with your grandmother who will take good care of them while we are gone.” Or not. At this point I was fine with those bikes disappearing.

  “Fine.” He huffed again, brushing past me to get his backpack.

  If this was seven, I couldn’t begin to fathom what my life was going to be like once they hit their teen years.

  “Outside. They will be here any minute.” They grumbled the entire way, but soon enough we were outside just as the bus came into view. Goddess, that was a sight for sore eyes. I had forgotten how much I missed going on tours with the bands I loved until the carrot was dangled in front of me again.

  “Okay, boys, remember, this is Daddy’s work, so you need to behave.” As if kids could behave for four months straight under the best of circumstances. At least Freddie was there with his three kids in tow, so they would both have someone to play with and at least one other adult with the tour who understood children.

  Please let the manny be a good one.

  So many things had rattled in my brain about the man who was going to be their caregiver most of the time. I could only hope that the reviews of Manny’s Mannies were spot-on and that he’d be the perfect one for us.

  The bus pulled up to a stop, and the boys began to mumble.

  “Stop it,” I said in my fiercest, yet quietest voice. They knew better.

  Footsteps echoed telling me that someone was coming down to meet us, and initially I assumed it was the driver to help us put our luggage away, but I lifted my eyes to meet the most mesmerizing green ones looking back at me.

  “Hi, I’m Edwin, and I’m your manny.” He held out his hand, and I managed to get mine free of things well enough to shake his. He did not look like a pregnant down-and-out dancer needing a job. He didn’t look pregnant period, although, given his kind smile, I imagined that once he filled out he was going to be sexy as fuck.

  He is the manny. Shut that shit down now.

  “I’m Judson, and these are my boys, Jagger and Bowie.” His face tilted slightly, and I didn’t blame him for judging the boys’ names slightly in his head before schooling himself. Their names were their mother’s choice and, in hindsight, I might’ve argued more for less theme-based names, but now the names suited them, so maybe she had done well.

  Honestly, it was hard for me to differ with her past choices because as munged up as so many were, they got me where I was today, and I’d allowed them at the time.

  “Nice to meet you boys.” When they didn’t respond, he didn’t miss a beat, instead reaching for a small bag and asking, “Want me to show you where the luggage goes?”

  I gave a nod, and the two boys and I followed him to the open spot and placed our stuff inside, surprised to see how much was already in there, thinking we were picking up the rest of the band about an hour north. “The guys are already here?” I asked.

  “Not yet. For now, it’s just us.”

  It was very obvious the dancer-turned-manny had never been on tour before if he alone had that much shit. Things could get very interesting. Especially with him looking like a prospective date and not the stuffy manny the title implied.

  Chapter Five

  Edwin

  My new boss was the hottest alpha I’d ever met, his sons a sullen pair. They certainly did not seem excited about the opportunities this trip presented them, but for all I knew they did this all the time and were sick to death of the road. I’d been provided with a schedule of our travels and had done research on things we could do at each stop where time allowed. Many of the concerts were arrive in the morning, perform at night, and leave in the small hours. Not ideal for children. But I had a vague idea of how to make it more homelike for them. They should be able to sleep regular hours in the bus while their dad worked then when we got to a town, get up, eat breakfast, and head out to see the sights or whatever.

  No reason they had to keep rock-band hours. I hoped.

  Once the luggage was stored and BJ checked to make sure I’d secured the hatch properly, we all climbed back aboard and headed north to pick up the rest of the traveling circus. “I don’t know why they want me to go up that road…” the driver grumbled as we drove back onto the freeway. “But I am just an employee.”

  One of those private cabins in the back belonged to Judson and his kids, the other to Freddie who also was bringing his tribe of three, so we spent the hour drive settling them in and getting to know one another. The four of us sat cross-legged on the bed and talked as we rattled down the road. “So, boys,” I started out, glad Jagger wore glasses or I’d never be able to tell them apart. “I have a lot of fun ideas for our summer, but I need to know if there’s anything you want to do.”

  “Ride bikes,” piped up Bowie.

  “Yeah. We want to ride bikes,” echoed his brother. They both then gave their father glares that could have turned him to ash on the spot, or would have if they’d had the ability to do so.

  “That’s enough, boys,” their father told them with a glare no less intense. I wasn’t sure if I was glad it wasn’t fixed on me or wished it were. “Your bikes will be waiting when you get home. You know there’s not room on the bus for large items. Space is very limited.”

  I gulped, picturing the amount of luggage I’d brought, about the same as they’d had for three people...but I had nowhere else to put anything. It wasn’t enough to rent storage for after all. Pushing those thoughts aside, I tried to think like an experienced caregiver of children. “You know a lot of places have rental bikes and even scooters for seeing the sights. I’m sure we can do some bike riding along the way.”

  “They won’t be our bikes,” grouched Jagger, but he was no longer hunched over like an abused dog. “But it might be okay.”

  “I want to ride scooters,” Bowie chimed in. “Dad never lets us ride them, says we’ll break our necks.”

  So I’d screwed up again, but their dad just laughed. “How about we make sure that you have pads and helmets when you do—if you do. I think scooters are something responsible well-behaved boys might get to try.”

  “He means he’s holding them over our heads,” Bowie told me, nodding wisely. “If we don’t embarrass him, we can ride scooters.”

  I didn’t know what to say, but their dad, who’d been sipping a soda, laughed again, his head tipped back revealing a sexy throat and bobbing Adam’s apple. So. Hot. “That’s enough. You’re going to make Edwin think you’re smarter than me.” He winked at me. “They are, that’s why I need the backup. So, why don’t we say you guys can have some screen time until we get to the cabin. You can go in the media cubicle while I talk to your new manny.”

  He no sooner had “screen time” out of his mouth than they were gone, slamming the door behind them and leaving us alone in the small room filled almost entirely with a huge bed. Suddenly the walls closed in and the whole thing felt way too intimate for me and my boss. “We should probably go up front,” I said. “In case
the boys need something.”

  “By now they are head down, eyes glassy, and intent on absorbing every second of their video game. That’s one of the things I wanted to discuss with you. I allow them a half hour a day of gaming and either a family-friendly movie or documentary… Jagger loves anything with animals, but Bowie is more about the cars and trucks. Anything with wheels, so he will probably beg for one of those reality shows where they fix up an old vehicle or something. Don’t let them convince you that it means they each pick one and so watch two. I like them to learn to take turns.”

  “Okay.” I considered his words. “But while I have a lot of good ideas for activities both on the bus and in various stops, there will be such long days of travel I would ask you to give me some leeway on that. I don’t plan to have them watch a lot of movies or anything, but what have your mannies done in the past? I’m always up for more ideas.”

  “You’re our first manny, Edwin, and this is their first road trip.”

  I startled. “Then why aren’t they more excited? When I was a boy, I’d have been over the moon at the chance to see the country.”

  “I’m not sure,” he said, studying his hands as if they held answers. “Their mother has been in and out of their lives and I think it’s been unsettled enough. Maybe I was selfish to take this tour, but it’s what I do best and I hope with your help we can give my sons some good times.”

  “And their mother won’t have easy access to pop in and out if we’re on the move.” I was guessing, but if she was anything like my mother, they were better off like this.

  “Yeah. A side benefit. I never want to keep them from her because she is their mom, but whenever she’s around they act out for days afterward.”

  I couldn’t help myself, the pain in his voice washed over me. He was my boss so it didn’t matter if he was the hottest alpha I’d ever met. And his last partner was a woman so he probably preferred them to male omegas, making suppressing my rising feelings easier. I hoped. But I dropped my hand over his that twisted in his lap and gave a squeeze. “We’ve got this, alpha.” Crap, why did I say alpha? “I mean, Judson. I will spend this summer giving your boys good times and as much stability as a home on a tour bus allows. You can do your job and know they are well cared for.” I lifted my hand away and gave him a smile. “And you can hang with them, with us, when your schedule allows.”

  “As much as I can. Make sure you take breaks when the boys are with the tutor. Or with me. I am sure you’ll need the rest. He moved his hands to his sides and nodded. “Manny’s Mannies recommends you highly. Manny himself told me you were the best manny for our family. The best fit. I just hope the boys don’t run you ragged and make you regret taking the job.”

  “Oh, I am sure I won’t—”

  He stopped me with a head shake. “And before we get any further, let’s address the elephant in the room.”

  I sucked in my still flat but about to expand to the size of a watermelon stomach. “The pregnant elephant you mean.”

  “I mean the pregnant manny. There’s a doctor along with the tour and I want you to see him as you would any doctor caring for you at home. He is aware of your condition and prepared to do so, all right?”

  “Yes.” I was so touched at the consideration of everyone on this venture. “And thank you.”

  He slid to the foot of the bed and pushed to his feet. “Judging by the twists and turns, we’ll be at the cabin in a few.” How had I missed all the swaying? “At least we haven’t plunged off a cliff to our deaths. Yet.” He left the cabin and I followed, but one look out a window and I saw what he meant.

  The road was barely wide enough for one ordinary vehicle and as I watched in horror, we traversed a series of switchbacks and, without plunging off a cliff to our deaths, stopped in front of a massive A-frame cabin.

  Chapter Six

  Judson

  We were going to die. How could I have forgotten the evil that was the switchbacks on the way to Freddie’s new place. I’d only been once before on Iliana’s insistence, and I swore never again. Not wanting the manny to see the coward I was over the insanely stupid path we were taking in such a huge-ass vehicle, I went to find the kids. If we were gonna die, might as well die together.

  Sure enough, their eyes were glued to some computer game I didn’t even recognize where they were building some kind of tower.

  “Whatcha up to, guys?”

  Silence. This epitomized why I hated screen time.

  “Can I play?”

  “We need to finish the tower so we can knock it down.” Jagger handed me his controller and jabbed his brother with his elbow. “I get to knock it down first ’cause I let Dad do my turn.” Leave it to some company to find a way to get a ton of money out of playing knock down the blocks.

  “Fine. It’s not like you’ll get it first time out.” Bowie flashed that evil grin that was his trademark way to make his brother lose his mind. All we needed was a knock-down, drag-out fight before we even started the tour.

  “I gotta pee anyway.” Jagger stood up as I gave him my dad look indicating language and do not sock your brother in this instance. “I mean I need to use the restroom.” He brushed past us and to the bathroom.

  I tried to build the tower but was getting nowhere. My sons seemed to have been born with the skill to tackle any video game I allowed—and a few they’d managed to sneak into without permission. At seven years old. I was in so much trouble when they were teens. “Bowie, what am I doing wrong?” I asked despite knowing what I was doing wrong was exerting so much energy not thinking of us plummeting to our death.

  “I’ll show you.” He sighed and spent the next few minutes trying to help me get the bricks where they belonged and not toppling to the ground. Finally he grunted in satisfaction. “Now we get to knock them down.”

  “Didn’t you promise your brother?” I reminded him as I started to rise. It was taking far too long for Jagger to get out of the bathroom, and the dad in me half feared all the curving in the road had him falling over, knocking his head on the seat then bleeding out on the floor. I might have been a little melodramatic in the synopsis running through my mind.

  “You snooze you lose.” Bowie smirked, and I took his controller and dropped it on the seat beside him.

  “I’ll get your brother, and when he comes back, he can knock them over.”

  I didn’t get halfway to the bathroom before I ran into Jagger—literally—the bus taking a far-too-sharp turn for my liking, which had me figuring we were just about there. Please let us be just about there.

  “Sorry.” I helped right him. “Your brother will be glad you’re back. He wants to knock things over now.”

  “I’m still waiting my turn.”

  “What?” And then I heard it. Our new manny was puking his guts out in the bathroom.

  “Has he been there the entire time?” And why hadn’t he just gone to the other bathroom? I yanked on it but the door was stuck. I’d get BJ to fix it before we took off. Or one of the guys could. This kind of thing happened a lot on tours. The bus pulled to a stop. Thank fuck we were there.

  “He was there when I got here. The roads are not good here. I almost want to puke, too.” He started to say something else but was cut off by the bus driver telling us we’d reached the cabin.

  “Why don’t you and your brother go out and say hi to everyone, and I’ll check on Edwin.”

  He agreed and ran toward the front of the bus. Freddie would have a bathroom for him.

  “Knock knock,” I spoke at the bathroom door, not quite sure I was loud enough for him to hear.

  “Someone’s in here.” Did he not think that his sickness could be heard through the door, or even the walls for that matter?

  “Do you...do you need help?”

  The toilet flushed, and the sink turned on. That was a positive...right?

  “I could get you some crackers?” Probably. Maybe? I hadn’t checked the kitchen yet, but the odds were good I could at least find a
viable substitution if there were no saltines.

  The door cracked open. “I’m fine. I just made a rookie mistake.” He stood in the doorway, and it took me ten seconds too long to figure out he was standing there like that because I was in the way.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled, tearing my eyes from his face long enough to get out of the way, a face remarkably not green. Had I not heard him, I’d have never thought he’d been sick. “What rookie mistake?”

  “I looked out the bus window. How are we not dead?”

  “I’ve been wondering the same thing. Had I realized we were getting Freddie here, I’d have not had them pick me up.” Even now, I was already nervous about the trip down when BJ not only had to deal with the insane curves but also with potentially melted brakes.

  “You’ve been here before?”

  “Just once, years ago...in a car. My hands still hurt from that white-knuckle experience.” It was not much of an exaggeration.

  “Should buses even be on roads like this?”

  “Dad. Dad! Come quickly,” Bowie called back to me before I could tell Edwin how very much buses should not be on these roads. “We need you.”

  I jogged after him, not sensing his need was serious but also not willing to risk it.

  Sure enough, after I ran down the bus stairs almost falling ass over tea kettle, I reached the bottom only to see the boys with Freddie’s three kids and their bicycles. Enough with the freaking bikes already. I ignored them, instead directing my attention to Freddie and his mate, Rich.

  “Hey, man, good to see you.” I gave him a hug complete with man pats and waved at his mate. I didn’t know Rich all that well, but I did know not to hug him. He was an accountant by day and was the complete opposite of the love of his life, from not liking loud music to not liking to be “manhandled” by anyone not his lover, said manhandling including things like hugs, handshakes, and arm punches.

  “Did you tell him?” Rich asked his mate in a stern you’d better do it now manner.

  “Our manny quit,” Freddie began. “Wanted to work in Europe or some shit. Can we share yours?”