“She used to. She’d let me know if a seizure was comin’. Sometimes she could tell that I was feeling poorly or just needed to feel her next to me. Make me get up from my bed on those days when I just wanted to stay there all day and feel bad for myself.”
Diego’s hand rested on Brody’s lower back. “I’m so sorry you went through that.”
Brody sighed, leaning into that touch. “Maybe I needed that to realize how much I have to live for, and how I never want to get that way again. Now I’ve got the boys and the business—and I’ve got you.” Brody noticed a hopeful note to his voice, one that he liked hearing. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.”
Something shifted inside of Diego, a comforting warmth that settled into his bones. No one had ever truly needed him before - his sister adored him, and he had close friends—but Brody needed him. “You deserve the best, Bro.” Words seemed so inadequate to Diego, incapable of conveying the intensity of emotion behind them, so he reached out and squeezed Brody's hand in silent understanding.
The backdoor opened and Diego dropped Brody’s hand. “Uncle Brody, can I have cereal?” Jonah asked in a loud voice.
“All these kids want to eat in the morning is cereal.” Brody chuckled as he nudged Diego’s foot with his own. “C’mon,mi amor. Let’s get this day started,” he added, and the two men walked back inside the house.
“You still not feeling great, Jacey-boy?” Brody had the little boy bundled up in the living room, watching his favorite cartoon. He felt his forehead. “Fever’s gone, but he still doesn’t want to eat.”
Diego sat on the sofa next to Jonah, teaching him some simple guitar chords. Jonah looked up at Brody’s words. “Our Mom makes us chicken soup when we’re sick, but Uncle Brody said he didn’t have any in the house, but we could go to the store and get some today.” Jonah’s bright eyes dimmed when he talked about his mother.
Diego felt a pang of heartache at the idea that they had pulled these boys from their mom at such a young age. “When I was little, my mom always made me chicken soup, too. She called itcaldo.” Diego hesitated, then added, “I can make some for you if you want. I know how.”
“Real soup or the stuff in the red can?” Jonah asked suspiciously.
Diego laughed at his skeptical tone. “The genuine article. Chicken and rice—or noodles if you like them better. A few veggies, maybe a potato or two. It’s one of the few things I can make that’s decent enough to share with others.”
Brody smiled at Diego, but that hunger in his eyes warmed Diego to the core. “We’d all appreciate some homemade soup if you want to make it. Wasn’t my intention to put you to work while you’re out here visitin’ us.”
Diego laughed, as if years of tension and worry fell off his shoulders. When was the last time that he felt this way, like he was at home? “That’s the magic of soup. It does the work all on its own.”
Diego found most of what he needed in Brody’s pantry and freezer, and a few hours later, he had a decent chicken soup simmering on the stove. Jonah planted himself at the kitchen table while Diego worked on the soup, peppering him with questions.
“Why is your hair long?”
“Why do you play guitar?”
“How do you get tattoos?”
“Can I get a tattoo?”
Brody sat in the living room with Jace, listening to Jonah’s interrogation. “I think that’s enough, Jonah. And no, you can’t get a tattoo until you’re all grown. Go outside and see how our herd is doing in the yard.”
Jonah popped out of his seat and headed for the door. “Don’t forget your jacket,” Diego called out and grinned as the little boy stopped, changed direction to grab his thick coat, and then ran to the yard where the dogs played.
“You’re good at this whole taking care of people.” Brody had stepped into the kitchen and slipped behind him, long arms wrapping around Diego’s waist while they were out of the boys’ view. “Did you know that?” he purred into the back of Diego’s neck, sending shivers down his spine.
Did he? “Never thought about it,” he replied, leaning back against Brody’s strength. Then again, when was the last time Diego had anyone to care for, other than a foster dog or two? Diego turned in Brody’s arms and leaned into his sturdy frame, feeling safe and wanted. “You’re the one doing a great job with Jace and Jonah.”
A shadow crossed Brody’s face, but before Diego could ask what was wrong, Brody leaned in for another kiss and that thought disappeared.
Chapter Nineteen
Brodydidn’tthinkhe’dbe hungry for dinner after two heaping servings of Diego’scaldofor lunch. But his stomach growled when Aaron and Audra walked through the door that evening with bags of barbecue from The Pit Stop, their favorite local barbecue restaurant and he caught a whiff of their tender brisket, ribs, and coleslaw.
Audra settled the bags on the table in the kitchen before reaching over to hug Diego. “I hope you don’t mind us barging in on your weekend together. But we were curious, and I wanted to meet you. Brody hasn’t stopped talking about you since you two reconnected and yet, I don’t feel like I know anything about you.”
“I have not been quite that bad.” Brody rolled his eyes.
“You’re quite the smitten kitten, Sergeant,” Audra answered before turning back to Diego. “At any rate, it’s nice to put a face with a name, and I hope we’ll see you around here more often.”
“Me too.” Diego’s face flushed. Brody’s own face went hot and inside warm flutters at the thought that Diego would be back for more visit, and more nights loving each other.
Aaron looked around the room. When he didn’t see the boys, he asked, “Any news about the court case?”
