by C. W. Gray
She chewed on her fist and gave him a sloppy smile. “I go up?”
Justin smiled and picked her up. Ever since Griff had moved to Hobson Hills, Justin had gotten to spend a lot of time with his brother and his niece. “How’s it going, honey bee?”
“Want yum-yum.”
Tanner laughed and leaned over to kiss the giggling girl’s cheek. “You’re always hungry, Bebe.”
Bea leaned over and puckered her lips. “Kiss Ronnie.”
Tanner held the baby up and let Bea kiss her head. “Ronnie loves your kisses.”
Griff leaned around Justin. “Guys, really. Come on before Laura comes up here and drags us all downstairs. The woman is scary.”
Justin nodded. Laura was scary. “Let’s go. We still need to dress up.”
“North brought the costumes.” Griff reached down and grabbed Button’s ball. “Nell already grabbed Butter Bunny too.”
Justin pulled Tanner through the house and followed Griff downstairs. Bea’s favorite book by Grey was about a ranch in Australia. She loved all the different animals and would spend hours with Justin reading the book over and over.
Justin could understand why Grey was worried about taking a chance with his books. As bright and kind as the omega was, he was also a little insecure. Just like Justin.
They went to the dining room of The Irish Rose. It was early enough that the pub hadn’t opened yet, but all the staff had gathered with their families for the photoshoot. Laura was dressed as a rancher and her kids were little wombats like Rhonda. Others were dressed as cattle dogs, house cats, kangaroos, horses, cows, koalas, wombats, and crocodiles. There was even a little Tasmanian devil.
“Please tell me we get to be ranchers too,” Tanner said, sighing.
Laura smirked. “There are only three humans in the story, Tanner, and Griff, Justin, and I have them covered.”
Justin’s eldest brother, Zed, stepped forward, and he started laughing. The big alpha was dressed like a kangaroo and Butter Bunny rode in his pouch.
Zed handed Tanner a bulky costume. “You’re another kangaroo, man. Deal with it.”
A few hours later, Tanner finally got to shuck the kangaroo costume and managed to again find his dignity. It had helped to have Zed hopping around the pub with him, but still, the things he did for Justin.
By the time he made it back downstairs, the pub was open, and Justin had grabbed them a table against the window. Tanner watched his omega from the bar.
Justin smiled, then laughed at something Griff said. His eyes were bright and happy. Damn, I’m a lucky man.
Mateo set a pint of beer in front of a customer, then slid over to him. “You going to join them?”
Tanner didn’t look away from Justin. “Yeah. I’m just admiring my husband.”
Mateo slapped his back. “We are lucky bastards, you and I.”
Tanner shot him a look. “How did your own photoshoot go today?”
The large man winced. “Abel’s dads and Iggy’s grandparents were there. I don’t think it was a good idea to introduce them. I think they’re planning themed holiday photoshoots now.”
Tanner laughed, but he felt a little jealous. He wasn’t too close to his own parents, and they didn’t really like Justin. They hadn’t even seemed interested in meeting Rhonda. His mom had told him to get a blood test to make sure the baby was his. She honestly thought Justin had wanted to trick Tanner into marrying him.
“By the way,” Mateo said. “Gramps and Grammy aren’t too pleased that Zed hasn’t made it to a Sunday breakfast yet. You might want to give him fair warning. I think Gramps is planning on visiting him next week.”
Tanner rubbed his chin. “Zed isn’t shy exactly, but he likes his own company. Does that make sense?”
Mateo shrugged. “Tell that to Gramps. The man is determined to join your family to his.”
“I think he just likes Bea,” Tanner said, chuckling.
“That is entirely possible.”
A customer called for Mateo, and Tanner left the bar. He sat next to Justin, taking a moment to kiss his husband’s cheek.
Justin smiled at him, then turned back to Zed. “I’m just saying that I know some omegas who would love to spend some time with you. There’s no reason to spend your nights cooped up in your house.”
Griff shook his head, eyes worried. “You don’t even have a pet, Zed.”
Zed snuggled Rhonda. “You two don’t need to worry. I’m doing alright without dating or a pet. I have my houseplant. Don’t forget Eugenia.”
Griff rolled his eyes. “How can I forget? I had to keep that damn fern alive while you were overseas. You are way too attached to that thing.”
Zed kissed Rhonda’s head. “I also have Bea and Ronnie. Let me savor being an uncle, guys.”
Tanner hid a smile. There was no way Griff and Justin would let Zed be alone. There would be some kind of pet keeping the alpha company soon enough. Then there was Gramps and the rest of the Wilsons. Yeah, Zed was out of luck.
Movement over by the window caught his eye. “Isn’t that Luke? Griff, I thought you were dating him?”
Griff groaned and banged his head on the table, making Bea laugh. “I swear, small towns are ridiculous. Luke and I are just friends.”
Zed’s eyes narrowed on the couple across the room. “The asshole doesn’t know what he’s missing. You’re ten times better than that woman.”
“You’re a nurse,” Tanner said, nodding. “You help people every day and make being a single parent look easy. Luke would be lucky to have you.” Tanner was proud of Griff. The man had grown up dirt poor, just like Justin, and had worked hard to make something of himself. He took good care of Bea too.
Justin laughed. “Get used to gossip, Griff. Nell told me someone told her that Luke, Jackson, and you were a throuple.”
Griff moaned and looked up at the ceiling. “If only my life was half as exciting as everyone thinks it is.”
Tanner laughed as the brothers started squabbling about dating, ferns, and gossip. He should probably miss his parents, but these three men and two children were his family now, and he already felt closer to Zed and Griff than he did to the people who raised him. His mom and dad didn’t know what they were missing out on.
Abel and Mateo
Abel turned his blinker on, then switched lanes. Traffic had slowed down quite a bit since they’d left the airport. It should only take a couple of hours to get home, but with the frequent pee breaks he would be taking thanks to the baby girl sitting on his bladder, it would probably be more like three.
Gabriela and Fernando were going to spend the winter break with them, and Abel was looking forward to it. Now, though, it was time to focus on the interrogation. He needed to ease into it or Gabriela’s new boyfriend might jump from the car. He glanced at Valentina in the front seat.
She nodded at him before looking into the back seat. “So, Artie, what’s your major?”
Abel watched the young man blink in confusion. Uh oh.
“I don’t know. It’s freshman year, so I haven’t thought about it,” Artie said. “I like music.”
Abel gripped the steering wheel. Fuck trumpet. The next thing the boy said had best not be that he was in a band.
“My friends and I have a band,” Artie said. “We play every Friday and Saturday at the Cumbubble.”
Abel took a breath. “The Cumbubble?”
“It’s a bar close to campus,” Gabriela said, slapping Fernando when her brother started to laugh.
“A bar? You two are only eighteen. How is it possible for you to work in a bar, Artie?”
The young man shrugged. “The owner’s really laid back. He doesn’t ask our age, and we don’t tell him.”
Abel’s lips clamped together, and he fought a scowl.
“Does your band play the sunshine song?” Iggy asked from the very back of the SUV. Linc and he sat close together, reading one of their favorite books. “Grey and Harper sing it to us all the time. It’s the best.�
�
Artie grinned over his shoulder. “Little dudes, I’ll play you any song you want. I brought my guitar. We’ll party all night.”
Valentina cleared her throat. “That sounds fun and age appropriate. How are classes going, Artie?”
“Okay, I guess. They’re really boring, and the college, like, makes you go to class. If you don’t, they drop you. It’s so stupid.”
Abel almost whimpered. This was the guy Gabriela had said she’d fallen in love with?
“Wow. That must be so hard,” Valentina said, voice dry. “Your grades are alright, though, since you have to go?”
“I don’t know,” Artie said. “I don’t think they released grades yet.”
“They have,” Fernando said, glee in his voice. “Here, we can check yours on my phone.”
“No, that’s okay,” Gabriela said quickly and smacked her brother again.
“Oh, please,” Abel said. “Let’s check his grades.”
They weren’t promising.
“I got a C,” Artie said, surprised. “That’s awesome.”
“You also got two Ds and an F,” Fernando said.
“Ds get degrees,” Artie said, grinning.
Abel squeaked but managed to keep his mouth shut. Valentina’s wide eyes watched him for a moment as she struggled not to laugh.
“I’m gonna be a policeman when I grow up,” Linc said, smiling at Artie. “Tanner is a policeman, and he gets to wear a shiny badge. I’m gonna take Huckleberry with me, and we’ll patrol the streets, keeping peoples safe, and both of us are gonna have shiny badges.”
Fernando bit his lip, trying not to laugh. “Huckleberry is his pet rabbit.”
Artie blinked at him. “That’s, like, the best thing I’ve ever heard. You’re going places, little dude.”
If only Artie would go some other place, Abel thought, sighing.
A couple of hours later, they stopped to get gas and take a bathroom break. Valentina and Gabriela hunted for a bathroom while Fernando pumped gas.
Abel turned and looked at Artie. The young man had a scraggly beard and was a bit plain. His smile was nice, though, if a bit strained.
“Gabby’s really nervous about me meeting her brother. Do you think he’ll like me? I know I’m not, like, the best guy on campus, and she could do so much better than me. I love her though. She’s so smart and funny. Did you know she made a club, and they do all kinds of smart things? Like, they started this garden, and we pick stuff from it and bring it to the homeless shelter. Who does stuff like that?”
Abel sighed. Damn it. “I think as long as you’re honest with Mateo, he’ll give you a chance. Gabriela is very special and you need to remember that. Start thinking about your future.”
Artie blinked. “It’s just freshmen year.”
“Artie, don’t make me jump back there and smother you with Fernando’s duffle bag.”
The young man’s face wrinkled. “His bag stinks.”
“I know,” Abel said, nodding calmly.
“Okay. I’ll, like, start thinking.”
“Think about your abilities and what you’re passionate about,” Abel said. “Think of something that will get you employed.”
“I like music,” Artie said, rubbing his goatee. “Like, I could be a rock star.”
“Employment,” Abel said again, voice hard. “Think about employment.”
Artie nodded, resembling a bobble head. “Yeah. What did you major in Mr. Lawson?”
Abel sighed. “Abel. My name is Abel. I majored in, uh, brewing.”
Artie blinked again. “You can make money doing that?”
“If you’re very good at it,” Abel said, wincing. He may not be the best role model here. Fuck, I’m an old man.
“I’m going to be a teacher like Uncle Ernie and Uncle Fernando,” Iggy said. “You could be a teacher too.” He started bouncing in his seat. “You could be a music teacher.”
Artie gave Abel a bright look. “Yeah, I could do that.”
Abel gave the young man a hard look. “You need to figure it out. You can’t rely on two children to plan your life for you.”
Artie slumped into his seat. “Yes, sir.”
Mateo moved around the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on the callaloo soup he was cooking for dinner. His omega would be home from the airport soon. “I should have taken off from work and gone to the airport myself.”
Pete sipped his beer and scratched Gordo’s ears. The fat English bulldog sat in the man’s lap, relaxed and happy. “Abel’s perfectly capable of driving a few hours, pregnant or not. He wanted to go, and if you’d tried to stop him, he’d have probably clobbered you with a beer stein.”
Carol laughed. “My precious Abel wouldn’t do that.”
Really, Carol? Mateo thought. He knew the woman adored Abel, but the two had spent a lot of time together. Surely, she knew his husband was perfectly capable of beating him with a beer stein.
“He collects beer steins for the pub, you know,” Carol said, shrugging. “He wouldn’t risk damaging one.”
Mateo snorted. “So true.”
Pete smiled at his wife, then looked back to Mateo. “While we have you alone, we wanted to talk to you about something.”
Carol reached across the table and scratched Gordo’s head. “I know we’re only technically related to Iggy, but we love you like a son, Mateo. Valentina may be your sister, but she feels like our granddaughter. I know the more we get to know Gabriela and Fernando, the more they’ll feel like our own too.”
Mateo turned away from the stove and gave them his full attention. “You have no idea how thankful I am that I met Doug and we had Iggy.”
Carol smiled sadly. “We miss our son every day, but we’re thankful he gave us you and Iggy. Now, you’ve given us even more.”
“What we wanted to talk to you about was our place in your family,” Pete said. “Abel welcomed us with open arms, but is it too much to hope that we can be grandparents to Valentina and the new baby too?”
Mateo gave them a soft look. “You already are. Valentina calls you Grandpa and Grandma, and Abel and I fully expect Emma will too when she’s born.”
Carol wiped at her wet eyes. “Thank you. We love them all, Mateo, including you. We’ll be by to visit often.”
Pete cleared his throat and set Gordo on the floor. “We should get ready for dinner, honey. We’re meeting Barry and Jamie at the diner in town.”
“What? You don’t want to meet Gabriela’s boyfriend?”
Carol gave him an amused look. “Valentina has been texting me. I think we’ll leave Artie to you.”
The two left and Mateo finished dinner and cut up some crusty French bread he’d begged off Reuben. He heard the sound of Abel’s new SUV in the driveway and hurried to set the table. His omega would be hungry. He always was.
Abel, Linc, and Iggy were the first ones inside, and all three went straight to the bathroom, only pausing to kiss his cheek before running. Linc’s kiss was a little slobbery, and he wiped off his cheek.
Fernando came in next, eyes dancing with laughter. “You’re going to love Artie, big brother. I promise.” He laughed all the way to the guest room down the hall.
Mateo sighed and went outside to help with the luggage. A tall, thin, scraggly-looking teenager was kissing his sister. The asshole looked like the member of a grunge band. I don’t like him.
An hour later, Mateo stared at Artie across the dinner table. I really don’t like him. The kid was not good enough for Gabriela. He felt Abel’s gentle kick, and he cleared his throat. “How did the interview with the school go, Fernando?”
His brother grinned. “As long as I pass my last semester, I have the job. The principal said middle school was like a trial by fire. If I survive the first three years, I’ll be good.”
Iggy looked up from his bowl, mouth full of bread. “Uncle Ernie likes teaching. He can show you how to do it right.”
Linc nodded, looking extraordinarily wise for a four-year-old.
“Ernie is super smart. He hunts Big Foot and almost caught him last week.”
Artie’s eyes brightened. “Really? You know Big Foot is an alien, right?”
Gabriela groaned and buried her face in her hands. “Artie, you’re supposed to be impressing Mateo and Abel. Remember?”
Mateo frowned. “He’s right, Gabriela. It’s common knowledge Big Foot was left on Earth by an alien species. Why else would there be so many Big Foot and UFO sightings in the same places?”
Abel and the others stared at him, but Artie grinned. “Seriously. Big Foot’s, like, their way of watching humans without drawing too much attention.”
Mateo smiled. Maybe this kid wasn’t as bad as he thought. “Yeah. You need to go with us on our next excursion, Artie. I’ve only been out once with Ernie, but he has a lot of gear. You’ll love it.”
“I’m so there, man,” Artie said, nodding eagerly.
Abel cleared his throat. “Are your parents upset that you’re spending the holidays away from home, Artie?”
The young man shook his head. “No. They’re divorced. I don’t see Dad much, and Mom’s new husband doesn’t like me.”
Linc stopped eating and reached out to take Artie’s hand. “You can visit us all the time. We like new friends, don’t we Iggy?”
Mateo’s son nodded so hard his glasses almost fell off. “We do. You can play with us, okay? We’re going to play with Poppy and Pudding after dinner.”
Gabriela smiled. “I don’t know if Artie wants to play with a rabbit and a lizard, Iggy.”
Iggy gave her an affronted look. “Pudding is a dragon, Aunt Gabby.”
Artie gave him an excited look. “A dragon? That sounds awesome.”
Fernando snickered when Gabriela rolled her eyes.
After dinner, Valentina and Mateo did dishes while Abel propped his feet up, hands resting on his big belly. Abel’s Saint Bernard, Nana, lay on the floor beside him, while Gordo cleaned up the crumbs from under the table. Mateo’s cat, Ragamuffin, watched him from a windowsill.