The “game room” was on the other end of the house, and it took a few minutes to get there. I almost reminded Anna that we were running late for rehearsal, but I didn’t. I loved this game. Sometimes I disagreed with Anna about stuff just so we could play. The game room was kid paradise. We had a movie theater–style popcorn machine, so the room permanently smelled amazing. We had a half dozen old-school arcades, Frogger included. We had a ball pit for Gibson, which is where we usually found her when she disappeared on us. We even had an indoor batting cage and a boxing bag. But what Anna and I used to settle disputes was in the center of the room: the Ping-Pong table.
Anna started setting up while I set Gibson down by the ball pit. She squealed and made a beeline for the colorful plastic balls. With a mighty jump, she belly flopped on top of them and started swishing her arms and legs like she was making a snow angel. I almost wished the pit were bigger so I could join her.
When I headed to the “negotiation” table, Anna already had ten cups set up on her side, forming a pyramid, and was working on setting up the ten cups for my side. Anna’s cups were filled with seltzer water, since she was preggers and couldn’t drink. It took some of the fun out of the game, but it couldn’t be helped. Baby Hancock would have to wait at least fifteen years to play the real beer pong. Anna had won that negotiation too.
I helped Anna fill up my cups with a tasty chocolate stout; it was more like dessert than alcohol, but I had a massive sweet tooth. Once everything was set up, we flipped a coin to see who went first. “Heads,” I told her with a smile. If given a choice, I always chose head, although tail wasn’t bad either.
Anna tossed the coin up, caught it, then smacked it on the back of her hand. When she lifted her fingers, we both leaned in to see who would be first. Predictably, it was tails. “Me first,” she said with a grin.
“Not a problem. I prefer going second anyway.” I pinched her butt. “Ladies should always come first.”
Anna laughed in that low seductive way that made my dick twitch. Then she grabbed her ball and lined up her shot. “Here’s to a short visit,” she said, before she let her ball fly.
It expertly splashed into one of my cups, and I nodded in approval. My girl had skills; it kept the game interesting. “Game on, babe. Game on.”
Chapter 2
The Day Awesome Died
It was official. My family was staying for twenty days. Anna had accepted the outcome of our game, but she wasn’t happy about it. A deep frown was fixed on her face as we packed Gibson into our “family” car—a bright yellow Hummer; I wanted people to see us coming a mile away. For safety reasons, of course.
Anna glared at me as she buckled Gibson into her car seat. “I can’t believe you made that last shot,” she murmured.
Still feeling buzzed from the game, and my admittedly lucky toss that had won me the argument, I huffed on my knuckles, then rubbed them against my shirt. “Never doubt the master, babe.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled. “Well, when I’m too tired and irritated to put out anymore, remember that you wanted it that way.”
The smile fell off my face. “What do you mean? You always put out…that’s what makes us work so well together. It’s the glue that holds us together.” I made my fingers interlock, then pushed them together and apart a few times, simulating the act we were both so very good at.
Anna gave my body a once-over before she answered. “I’m not saying I won’t want to jump your bones, but the odds of it happening will diminish with each day your family stays here. Just warning you now.”
“Well, that sucks.” I tossed Gibson’s bag of crap into the back a little more harshly than necessary. It fell on its side and some of her diapers spilled out. Guess I should have thought that one through a little more before I’d fought for it. Too late now. Maintaining the sanctity of the negotiation outcome was the closest to keeping a promise that I got.
With a sniff, I told Anna, “I’m not worried. I bet I can change your mind.” Grabbling myself, I jostled the boys in an age-old gesture of I know you want this seduction. “A few days without the Hulk, and you’ll be climbing up the walls. You’ll be begging for a little action.”
Shaking her head with an amused smile, Anna replied with “Only time will tell.”
A slow smile spread over my lips. “Oh yeah, that’s what I thought.”
She frowned as she got into the driver’s seat. “That wasn’t a yes.”
My grin grew wider as I stepped into the passenger’s side. “It wasn’t a no either. Your ass is mine, Milfums.”
She started the car. “Whatever…Dilfums.” By her expression, she didn’t believe me. But I knew, from the bottom of my loins, that as soon as she was cleared for takeoff, she’d want to take a ride on the Griffin Express again. Past experience told me so.
The drive to Kellan’s place took forever. I honestly had no idea why he insisted on living in the middle of nowhere. Or why we kept having rehearsals at his place. Evan’s place was fine. Even better than ever now, since he had more room than before. And it was close too. It didn’t take three thousand hours to get there. Sure, Kellan had a soundproof room all set up with recording equipment, and yes, he lived far enough away from the world that we weren’t bothered by anything but the occasional raccoon or grizzly bear, but honestly, the isolation wasn’t worth the sores on my ass.
By the time the Gate of Mordor was finally in front of us, my buzz was completely gone. And just when I could have used it too. Gibson was watching her favorite TV show on the overhead DVD player. It was the third episode on the disc, and my patience was wearing thin. If one more of those little half-wit bastards asked me some stupid shit like what color the sky was one more time, I was going to punch something.
Kellan’s “fortress of solitude” was circled by a six-foot-tall wood-and-metal fence. It screamed, Leave us the hell alone! They hadn’t built the moat yet, but I was positive one was coming soon. In front of the imposing nine-foot-tall metal gate, there was an intercom box. Since the gate was closed—as always—Anna rolled down her window and pressed the call button. After a half minute, a thin, reedy voice sounded from the speaker. “Please state your full name and the nature of your business.”
Even though he was trying to disguise it, I instantly recognized Kellan’s voice. Leaning over my wife, I shouted into the speaker box, “My name is Griffin Suck-My Hancock, and I’m here to punch Kellan Kyle in the nuts. Now let me the fuck in, antisocial fucker.”
Kellan sounded more like himself when he responded. “Wow. Do you kiss your kid with that mouth?”
Cameras were everywhere around the entrance. There was one on the intercom, and one on each side of the gate. Getting in this way unnoticed wasn’t possible. Stretching over Anna so Kellan would get a clear shot of my face, I replied, “Yeah, I also lick my wife like an ice cream cone.” I waggled my tongue, just to gross him out. Or Kiera, if she was watching too. With a smile, I added, “In fact, I’ll do it right now while I’m waiting for the gate to open. You can watch.”
I dropped my head into the slim space between Anna’s stomach and the steering wheel. She laughed and started threading her fingers through my hair while a disgusted noise came from the intercom box. It didn’t take long for the gate to start squealing open. “God…just get in here before I change my mind and have the gate permanently sealed…along with my eyes.”
Gibson giggled as I lifted my head from Anna’s lap. “I-cream, Daddy! I-cream!” Anna snorted as she looked back at her daughter, then she quickly drove us through the gate. Kellan might actually lock us out if we took too long.
Kellan’s driveway was about sixty thousand miles long. There were a couple of decently sized potholes too. Kellan should really be a better homeowner and fix that shit. After the third bump, Anna put a hand on her belly. “I have to pee so bad,” she said through clenched teeth. I wasn’t surprised; she had to pee every five minutes. When the three-story estate came into view, Matt and Evan’s cars were al
ready parked in the driveway. Anna stopped beside Matt’s rig, threw the Hummer in park, then dashed out the door without even turning the car off. As I watched her perfect ass bounding away from me, I wondered if she’d just pick a bush outside and squat. I wouldn’t blame her if she did. Kellan’s house was on a hill, and there were at least a hundred steps leading to the front door. Maybe more. It was annoying. Before he put in the moat, he should really consider an escalator. Or a boom lift. That would be awesome.
Turning around in my seat, I faced Gibson. “Looks like it’s just you and me, kiddo.”
Gibson gave me a toothy grin. “I-cream.”
Laughing at her one-track mind, I unbuckled my seat belt. “Okay, we’ll see if Auntie Kiera has any.” Gibson clapped her hands while I shut the car off.
After slinging Gibson’s bag over my shoulder, I freed her from her car seat and scooped her into my arms. She yawned, making me do the same. “Yeah, I know. Uncle Kellan practically lives in another country. We’d already be done with rehearsals if we were still at Uncle Evan’s place, but nooooo, we’ve all got to suffer so Kellan can have his ‘privacy.’” Giving her a serious look, I added, “Sometimes family sucks. Not always…but sometimes.”
Gibson tilted her head like she was considering my statement, then she closed her eyes and started falling asleep. Patting her back, I laughed. Then I turned to look at the five thousand steps in my way and groaned. “Goddammit,” I muttered, then began the hours-long trek.
I was hot and sweaty by the time I reached the top. Then there were five more damn steps to get up the front porch. I was freaking done with stairs by the time I got to the brick-red door. I knocked on it with my boot, then yanked it open with my free hand before anyone could respond.
Kellan and Matt were in the entryway, along with Matt’s girlfriend, Rachel. Rachel was glued to Matt’s side, like she’d float into space if she wasn’t holding on to him. Kellan and my cousin were discussing something about the band’s schedule. Looking at Matt was like peering into a hazed, cracked mirror. Sure, we looked alike, but my hotness was crisp and clear while his was muted, a sepia-toned replica that didn’t hold a candle to my brilliance. Kellan was…well, a lot of girls seemed to think he was the be-all and end-all of male perfection. No, sorry, girls. He’s not. That strong jaw, deep blue eyes, and just-fucked hair was nothing special. And sure he was ripped, but…his body was just so-so next to mine. My body art made my skin much more interesting than his boring, chiseled lines. Whatever. His abs were airbrushed on anyway. I’d read that somewhere, and I totally believed it. Kell didn’t work out enough to have definition like that.
Matt was in the middle of a sentence, but I interrupted him as soon as I stepped into the room. “What the hell is up with all those steps, Kell?” Readjusting Gibson, I snarked, “You know, maybe you should have put the driveway on top of the hill with the house, instead of at the bottom of the hill. Then you wouldn’t have to climb freaking Mount Everest every time you got out of the car.”
Kellan frowned. “I didn’t design the house, Griff.”
I shrugged off Gibson’s bag and it hit the ground with a thud. “Yeah, but you can redesign it, can’t you? It’s not like you’re the lead singer of the most successful band in the world, with more cash coming out your ass each morning than most people make in their entire lifetime.” I paused a minute, then finished with “Oh wait, yeah you are. Fix this shit.”
The click of Anna’s heels echoed on the tile as she stepped into the room. “I agree with him on this one, Kellan. That climb sucks, especially when you have a bowling ball pressing on your bladder. I almost had to water your roses.”
She lifted a brow at him and Kellan flashed her his trademark million-dollar grin. “I’m glad you didn’t. How are you feeling, Anna?”
I knew Kellan was all gung ho about his wife, but sometimes his niceness toward mine irked me. Maybe it was because of how we’d hooked up. Me and Anna, not me and Kellan. She’d been visiting her sister, Kiera, and had been goo-goo-eyed for Kellan for all of five seconds, until she’d gotten a whiff of me. After that, Kellan hadn’t had a chance with her. I think he still resented me for that. Anna was the one who got away. Well, sorry, Kell, but she’s all mine. From those luscious lips to that five-star ass…mine.
Anna sighed as she walked toward me. Patting her stomach, she answered him with “Like I wish it was September already.”
Kellan’s eyes got that sympathetic softness that I had seen girls swoon over time and time again. Whatever. I could make that silly-ass I-care-about-you face too. “You sure you want to go on this tour, Anna? It pretty much knocks on your due date.”
Anna yawned and nodded at the same time as she stepped to my side. Since Gibson was half-asleep on my shoulder, I figured my two girls would be napping during rehearsal. I wished I could join them. “Yeah,” she told Kellan. “It beats hanging around the house, bored out of my mind, while you guys are out having all the fun.” With a grin, she looked up at me. “Besides, being on the road during the last part of my pregnancy is good luck for the baby. Just look at how gorgeous this one turned out.” She gave Gibson’s shoulder a soft kiss.
She was right about that. Gibson was perfect. We’d been somewhere back East, on tour with the hotness that was Sienna Sexton, when Anna had spit Gibson out. I’d missed the show that night to be there at the hospital, but that hadn’t mattered to me. Still didn’t. I’d miss every show in the world to be there when my kid was being born.
With another yawn, Anna took Gibson from my arms. Gibs let out a sigh and stretched her arms, but that was the only move she made. Anna squeezed her tight, then looked over at Kellan. “She didn’t sleep well last night. I’m gonna go lay her down. Where’s Kiera?”
Kellan pointed upstairs. “She’s putting Ryder down.”
Anna nodded, then sighed when she looked at yet more stairs. Turning to me, she leaned in for a kiss. “I’ll see you after rehearsal.”
Seeing an opportunity to make out with a hot girl, I cupped her cheek and drew her lips to mine. Our mouths moved together, and I pushed my tongue inside her. She let out a low noise that instantly ignited me, and I grabbed her face with my other hand. Yeah, game on…
We were just getting hot and heavy when someone cleared their throat. I looked up to see Matt grimacing at us. “Dude, get a room.”
Pulling away from Anna, I smirked. “We’re in a house, jackass. That’s like one giant room.”
Anna giggled, then she rubbed my arm, said goodbye, and walked that sweet ass away from me. I watched her swaying figure until she was completely gone. Once she was out of view, I adjusted my junk and turned to Kellan. He was eyeing me with a mixture of disgust and amusement. When I stepped up to him, he took a step back; his hands drifted down to cover his privates. I was confused at first, until I remembered what I’d stated as my “business” earlier at the gate.
“Relax, sunshine. I won’t damage your family jewels. Anna wants another cousin for Gibson and Newbie.” Tapping my jaw, I reconsidered. “Maybe I should though. It might help you hit the high notes.”
Kellan took another step back. “I can hit the ones I need to hit just fine, thanks.”
I cracked my knuckles. “Okay, but the offer stands if you ever change your mind.”
“Noted,” he muttered with a laugh.
“Evan here?” I asked. His truck was here, but he could have gone for a walk or something. Although I had no idea why he’d want to. He’d probably get run down by wolves or chased by Sasquatch. God, I missed civilization.
Kellan pointed out back, where the soundproof room we used for practice was. “He’s working on something with Jenny.”
Instantly, the picture of Evan bending his fiancée over his drum set entered my head. I mimicked with my hips what Evan was most likely doing. “Yeah, I bet he’s working on something.”
Rachel made a noise and I shifted my attention her way. She shut her mouth and her cheeks flushed bright red. Rachel was shyer tha
n Kiera, which was saying a lot. The girl so rarely talked that I often forgot she was there. And when she did speak, her voice was usually soft and polite. Just once I wanted to see her lose her ever-loving mind. There was a freak buried under the calm, I just knew it.
Rachel’s eyes searched the floor for a moment before lifting to Matt’s. “I’m going to grab Jenny and start working on her website.”
Matt nodded, then cringed. “I still think she should reconsider the name of her gallery.”
Rachel shrugged. “She has her heart set on it.”
Confusion washed over me like dirty seawater. What the hell are they talking about? “What’s she naming what? What gallery? Like an art thingamabobber?” An idea struck me and I immediately offered it up, because I was thoughtful like that. “Does she need a subject to paint?” Sticking my tongue out, I cupped myself. “’Cause I’ve been told my subject is a work of art.”
Matt’s expression turned bland while Rachel turned even redder; the tips of her ears were almost purple. After Rachel hurried away like her hair was on fire, Matt frowned at me. I was used to his thin lips turned into a perturbed scowl, so it didn’t faze me. In his typical sarcastic voice, Matt droned, “No, I think what you were told was that you’re a piece of work. While similar sounding, there is a distinct difference between the two. I can draw you a diagram, if you don’t get it.”
While I flipped him off, Kellan answered my question. “Jenny is opening an art gallery downtown. She’s calling it Bagettes. It’s opening the day before the tour stars, and we’re all playing at the opening.” Kellan looked at me expectantly, but all this was news to me. Seeing my blank expression, he scrunched his brows and said, “We’ve been talking about this for the last three rehearsals, Griff. You don’t remember that?”
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