by Jayne Rylon
Dave tried not to turn into a giant pussy right there in the middle of the super-cool shop. There was no stopping the wave of emotions that slammed into him, though. When he saw what they’d transformed his leg into, it told his story so well it felt like it had always been there under the skin and they’d only revealed it to the world.
Dave crushed Kayla to him and sobbed as he took in the illusion of ripping skin that framed the main design. Instead of the typical cyborg bits “revealed” underneath, his tattoo made it look like he was made of wood. Planks nailed together made a base that held up timber for bones and wooden gears formed fabricated joints. The grain patterns secretly formed the names of all his crew members and their wives, artfully disguised in the design.
He hoped the crew realized that it was true. They were the skeleton that had held him up when his own body quit on him. They’d rebuilt him, stronger than before. And they would always be a part of him. Now when he looked at his leg, it made him smile instead of making him cringe.
“It’s incredible. Thank you.” He turned to the artist, who scrubbed away a few tears of his own, and shook the guy’s hand.
He nearly yanked the dude off balance before he realized how much adrenaline still coursed through him.
Then it was Kayla’s turn. She squealed when he lifted her off the floor and kissed the shit out of her, damn anyone watching, right there in the shop. Whistles and catcalls echoed around them when he set her back down.
“When we get home I’m going to thank you properly for my gift. I love it and I love you, Kayla. More every day.”
“I love you too. Now, hurry up. Let’s go.”
He laughed as they held hands and practically sprinted back to the truck.
8
“Where the hell did you get that tree?” asked Kaige Davis, affectionately known as Nova for the car he drove and the legendary temper he’d had before his wife and daughter tamed him, as he squinted at the TV in the Hot Rods’ living room.
“My girl chopped it down for us.” James grinned as Devon flexed in her pink plaid shirt. She made the cutest damn lumberjack he’d ever seen. Only a fool would underestimate her, though. She was a fierce pixie and he loved that about her.
“Does that thing even fit in there?” Eli asked, laughing.
“Sure. I mean, mostly.” Kate picked up the laptop and tilted it so the Hot Rods could see the top of the tree. The last foot and a half or so bent and ran at an angle along the roofline. Good thing the ceiling in this place was super high.
The crew had busted out their tallest ladders to decorate the beast, including hanging a star from the rafters in about the right place to make it seem like it was attached, given the diagonal cant of the treetop.
Nathan and Abby had cheered as their dads put the shiny topper in place and wound lights around the highest branches. They’d helped out, putting ornaments on the few low-hanging bits.
The Powertools had cracked up when the kids had refused their offer to lift them up so they could have access to more branches. Instead, Nathan got on his hands and knees and let Abby stand on his back to reach just a little higher on the mammoth tree. Not even four yet, they were essentially a power couple.
Helping his friends raise them had turned out to be an unexpected pleasure. It might not change the world, but at least they were bringing up two tiny humans to think independently, respect others, and value their differences. In a country that suddenly seemed to have tumbled backwards about fifty years when it came to social equality, it was one of the few things that made James feel less apprehensive about their future.
There was always a niggling fear these days, when out in public, that people wouldn’t approve of his relationships and that their ignorance could somehow limit his ability to share a happy life with his family. Or worse, harm them simply because they loved him.
“Hey James, you listening?” Mike asked.
“Huh? Sorry.” He shook his head and concentrated on the people surrounding him. The ones who brought him joy. They were the only ones who truly mattered.
The foreman repeated himself. “I was saying we have a present for the Hot Rods.”
“Oh! Yeah, we do.” He grinned. “Who all is around?”
“Just us,” Alanso said as he gestured to the mechanics and their lovers. “Quinn is watching Ambrose for Kaige and Nola. They’re hanging out at Tom and Ms. Brown’s place with Amber and Gavyn. They’re being kind of sneaky. I think they’re up to something.”
“I think you’re right,” Morgan said. “I don’t want to ruin any surprises, but they asked for a few of my secret recipes…”
“They’re making cookies?” Holden perked up as if he might bolt off the couch, down the stairs and across the lawn to Tom’s house. “Oh shit. Please tell me you gave them lessons on making the brown sugar kind with the gooey bits in the middle.”
Morgan shook her head. “I blabbed enough. You’ll have to wait and see.”
“Trust me. You’ll be occupied for a while after you see what we got you.” Mike grinned wickedly.
Sally clapped and bounced on Eli’s lap. “Ohhh, it sounds dirty. Come on, tell us.”
“We’d rather show you.” James took out his phone and transferred a file to the electronic storage they shared for swapping proposals on garage builds or car restorations for mutual customers. Or the advertisements Powertools ran on the Hot Rods’ show and website.
Despite the distance between them, they’d found a way to profit off combined special projects. Plus, if they had reason to spend a little time in each other’s territory and work to keep them busy there, they always took the chance to hang out together.
“Is it done?” Mike asked James, who nodded.
“Check out that file we just sent.” Joe cracked his knuckles. “Two requests… Delete it off the server before you send it to a customer by accident, and leave this call open while you watch it.”
“Watch what?” Bryce shuffled closer so he could get a good look at the image they were beaming onto their large-screen TV. It was obvious by his widening eyes when the video began to play, even if James hadn’t heard himself singing “Jingle Balls.”
“You made a porno for us?” Nola asked. “Awesome!”
“Well, it was sort of a happy accident, but use what you’ve got, right?” Dave laughed as the Hot Rods began shucking clothes like it was the hottest day of the year.
They hadn’t even made it to the part where the girls came home early before the Powertools were getting off on watching the Hot Rods watch the recording of them getting off, sweeping them all into some infinite erotic loop.
It was going to be a fun night of celebrating, Powertools and Hot Rods style. Hands down the best holiday party he’d ever been to.
9
“Snowball fight!”
Joe took the first one to the face. He didn’t even mind the sting so much when Nathan fell into a fit of laughter and ducked for cover behind his legs. He twisted his torso toward Morgan, shoved the presents he was carrying into her arms, then dodged the second handful of snow Neil threw at him from the porch railing.
“You guys are such assholes.” He laughed as he scooped up a handful of snow, bounded up the stairs, and smashed it down the back of Mike’s leather jacket.
“That’s a bad word, Daddy.” Nathan put one finger to his lips, then held out his little hand.
Joe figured the crew had funded half of the kid’s college fund with f-bombs by now. Their ambush deteriorated as everyone went inside and Joe dropped a quarter into Nathan’s palm.
“Thanks, Daddy.” He tucked it into his tiny pocket and ran off to find Abby, who was building something out of blocks in the living room.
While playing in the snow was fun, coming inside to the warmth of the cabin, the smell of whatever masterpiece Morgan had baked, a group of friends that included a bunch of pretty women…well, that didn’t suck.
Joe couldn’t believe how happy he was now, and every day that he got to spend wi
th his crew. If someone had asked him right then, he would have said he couldn’t have been any happier.
And then their laptop began making the obnoxious car revving noise his cousin Eli had associated with his incoming videochats. The Hot Rods were calling again. Truly, they were lucky beyond belief, blessed with friends who had become family.
After last night’s festivities, he couldn’t believe they were all still functioning. But it was Christmas Eve, after all, and they had meals to eat, presents to exchange, and more time to spend with the people they loved most. The best gift of all.
“Hey, everybody!” Quinn shot them a half-assed wave, barely pausing his tug-of-war with Buster McHightops. He’d probably given the dog the new toy he was trying to destroy for Christmas.
“Hey yourself.” Mike cleared his throat, obviously not wanting to rat the kid out but as curious as Joe was about what might have happened since the last time they’d talked. “Everything okay?”
“Oh, yeah. Sure.” He did glance up then. “I did what you said. Amy broke up with me, but she doesn’t hate me. Or her brother. Turns out he told her first and she was waiting to see if I’d come clean.”
“You screwed up, but I’m proud of you for making the best of the situation in the end,” Barracuda reassured his little bro. “Next time you’ll do better.”
Quinn gave Roman a one-shouldered shrug that proclaimed him a genuine teenager.
The kid still needed support. The Hot Rods especially had overcome rough beginnings by leaning on each other. Quinn had the rest of the gang, but in a lot of ways, the gap in their ages meant he was struggling through this phase of his life on his own. Joe wondered when Quinn would realize he could form a tribe of his own if he really wanted to.
Maybe he should say something about it. Joe met Mike’s stare and realized his best friend must be thinking something similar. They’d help him figure things out as he transitioned from a lost kid into a young man ready to build a life for himself.
“He isn’t going to have time to worry about dating anyway.” Gavyn, Amber’s husband, knocked his knee into Quinn’s shoulder. “I just promoted him from shop boy to mechanic at Hot Rides.”
“That’s a pretty big step up.” Kayla beamed at Quinn. “You must be doing an awesome job.”
“I can sweep floors like nobody’s business.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s about time Gavyn let me do some real work. I can handle it.”
“I’m sure you can—” Tom rushed to bolster Quinn. He didn’t need to. The kid was pretty confident in his skills, at least when it came to motorcycles. As he should be. He may still be figuring out how to be in a relationship, but he could build a bike from a bobby pin, a coat hanger, and a garbage can, Joe was pretty sure.
“I know, Tom. Thanks. Just busting his balls.” Quinn tossed Buster’s toy so he could give them his full attention.
“What have I told you? Don’t say balls in polite company, Quinn.” Ms. Brown tsked, then ruffled his hair as if he were nine instead of mostly grown.
Nola and Amber both winced when their mom said “balls”. Meanwhile, Tom grinned.
Then again, if balls was the worst thing that slipped from Quinn’s lips after hanging out with the Powertools and Hot Rods, they’d all consider themselves lucky. Oops.
“None of them are exactly polite,” Quinn argued. “Except for you, of course. Sorry.”
“Be nice or I won’t give you this.” Gavyn jingled something Joe couldn’t quite make out from where he stood. “Here.”
He tossed what looked like a chunk of metal at Quinn, who snagged it out of the air with lightning-fast reflexes. “What’s this?”
“Keys to that big shed out back of Hot Rides,” Amber answered for her husband.
“Do you need me to clean it later?” he asked.
Tom laughed as Ms. Brown smiled warmly at Quinn. Say what he wanted, he was decent and hardworking, willing to earn his keep however he could.
“Nope. It’s your new place. Shed, sweet shed,” Roman told his brother.
“You’re kicking me out?” Quinn’s stare winged between the Hot Rods and Tom.
“Never.” Roman clapped his brother on the shoulder. “But it’s yours if you want it. The crew agreed to come out here in the spring and build it out for you. Into your first apartment. It’ll be ready by graduation. You can help them design it and make it however you want.”
“Wow. Seriously?” Quinn stared at the keys in his palm. “I was kind of wondering…you know…where I’d go…”
“Well, we’re hoping you’ll want to stick around.” Gavyn kept piling on the good news, making Morgan blink back tears. “Especially because I’d like to grow Hot Rides. If you kick ass in the first six months you’re working full time, I’ll let you hire a team. Be the manager and oversee the shop.”
Quinn rocketed to his feet and spun toward the windows, away from his family. Roman approached him and hugged him hard. Quinn discreetly lifted his forearm and wiped his flannel sleeve across his eyes. “This is too much.”
“It’s nothing compared to what you deserve,” Tom told him.
“And don’t get us wrong, it’s not a hand out. It’s a fucking job. You’re going to work for it. Like you do now.” Gavyn seemed genuinely concerned Quinn might turn him down. The kid was genius with bikes according to Alanso, who would definitely know. “So you’re in?”
“Yeah, I’m in.” Quinn faced them then. He crossed the floor to where Gavyn stood and held out his hand. Gavyn gripped it hard and shook it, then drew Quinn in for a hug complete with a solid slap on the back.
“Well, I think that about wraps up our gift exchange this year,” Sabra joked. “I mean, what else is going to top that? Damn, guys, you usually save the best for last.”
“Hang on. I think I might have something.” Morgan trotted in from the kitchen and reached into the pocket of her apron.
“This I have to see.” Ms. Brown leaned in, staring at the screen as Tom clutched her hand and beamed at her. Knowing his uncle had found someone to share the rest of his life with filled Joe with even more cheer. He never would have believed it possible when his aunt died all those years ago. But he knew she would be so happy if she could see them today.
“Thank you, cupcake. But I doubt you’re going to outdo me. I am the surprise expert around here.” Hell, Joe had ordered her the industrial custom-made blender she’d been drooling over for months. “Besides, you can top me anytime. Especially later, when you see what I got you.”
Kate snorted, Kayla shook her head, and Devon muttered, “Idiot” under her breath. Oh shit, all of the ladies were in on whatever Morgan was cooking up?
That couldn’t be good.
Joe started to get a sense that maybe his brilliant, gorgeous wife could have the upper hand. He never expected what she said next.
“I tried to come up with some clever way to reveal this, but I think I’ll just let you read it for yourself.” She smiled at him then, her gorgeous eyes turning glassy with unshed tears and handed him the envelope. His heart skipped a beat when he saw her doctor’s return address printed on the outside.
But this was a good surprise, right?
Joe tore it open and scanned the words as fast as possible. They made no sense.
None at all.
So he read it again.
And again.
Then he managed to choke out a single word. “You’re…?”
She nodded. “I’m pregnant.”
He looked around the room, his head whipping from man to man to man surrounding him. Had they conspired to do this for him, as a surprise? Had someone else slept with his wife?
Although they’d all been with her many times, and he’d enjoyed every minute of sharing that pleasure with her, he wasn’t sure how he felt about them getting it on with her behind his back. Even for a good cause and all.
But…a baby?
It was worth it.
In the time it took him to process the situation, Morgan crossed to him an
d took his cheeks between her palms. She angled his face toward her and stared into his eyes when she whispered, “It wasn’t them. The only person I’ve slept with unprotected…was you. Keep reading. She’s yours.”
“She? Mine?” He reeled. It couldn’t be.
He flipped the page and saw a paternity test. It was true.
“Yup. You.” Morgan beamed at him, her tears overflowing and rolling gracefully down her cheek. “Don’t tattle on me for forging your signature to get that done, okay?”
Joe didn’t give a fuck about that. “How can it be?”
She shrugged. “They said it would take a miracle, and honestly I think that’s what you are to me. So I guess I shouldn’t be so shocked. You give me the best surprises, even when you don’t mean to.”
Joe’s legs gave out. He dropped to his knees in front of his wife and rested his cheek on her still-flat belly. Then he turned his head and kissed her softly, there where their child grew. “Hello, baby. I’m your daddy.”
That set the rest of the crew off. He even heard Ms. Brown sniffling over the videochat as the rest of the crew surrounded them, sharing their congratulations. In the background, he could hear the Hot Rods cheering for them.
With this many friends and such a strong family, built by choice, Joe knew life would always be incredible.
10
Mike smiled as Kate finished fluffing a pretty silver bow on top of their daughter’s big present. Her first, very pink and sparkly, big-girl bike. He couldn’t believe it was possible Abby was old enough to ride it even with training wheels.
He crouched down, stacking the gifts his wife had wrapped neatly under the twinkling tree they’d set up in the living room of the house next door to the one he’d been renovating when they first met.
Mike plucked the Santa hat he’d worn for the Powertools photo shoot from the mantle, did his fatherly duty by chomping down the cookies Abby had left out for Santa, and then he turned mischievously to his wife. If his stocking brimmed with coal for being naughty this year, he was fine with that. “Ho, ho, ho….”
“Who are you calling a ho?” She propped one hand on her hip and pretended to be offended.