I watch him work through what I’m asking before that addicting smirk crosses his face. “ I don’tknow, babe. We’re Chaos and Beast, Jake and Dec, best friends, partners in crime, probably cellmates one of these days. I agreeboyfriendssounds weird, but I guess that’s what we are? What do you want us to be?”
My mouth works quicker than my mind can catch up. That’s the only excuse I have for blurting out, “Husbands, but since that isn’t right, I guess we can be partners.”
His eyes grow wide in surprise before a playful smirk pulls at his plump lips. “You wanna be my husband, Beast?”
“No, I take it back. I want you to choke on a dick. Leave me alone, your family is waiting on us.” I grumble as I push out of the truck and leave him behind as I walk up the driveway.
He jumps out of the truck and chases behind me. Laughing the whole way. “Stop! Baby, stop. I was just playing around.” He grabs my forearm and spins me until our chests crash together and his hands come up to cup my jaw. “I love being partners with you. I’m sorry. Truce? Please?” He juts his lip out for added dramatics. A trait I’m certain he gets from his father.
“Fine, but you’ll pay for that later.” I growl out.
“I’d better.” He winks obnoxiously at me before placing a fast kiss on my lips and leading us up to the front door.
He drives me insane, but I’d be lost if he ever decided to leave. He may joke about the husbands thing, but I’m dead set on rectifying that as soon as all this shit is done with. He will be Jakob Emmett Fischer-Byrne by the time it’s all said and done. Mark my words.
* * *
Dinner has gone exceptionally well. All of his siblings arehere, obviously his parents, and then my brother and Annie’s boyfriend. I don’t think I like Calvin, personally, but who’s to say if that’s because he actually fucking sucks or just because Flynn’s hung up on her. He gives me a weird vibe. I notice things the others don’t seem to. The way she’s not really looking at anyone when they’re talking to her, and she keeps looking at him after she answers a question as if to check that she said the right thing, just to name a couple of red flags for me. Those are just a few things I want to bash his head in for.
There’s also the Flynn thing. I know exactly what happened with them that night over three years ago. It’s not my business, so I keep my mouth shut, but I know. We all get a reputation for being up in each other’s business, and it’s one hundred percent warranted. I know everything about my brothers. Sometimes because we confide in each other, and other times because we eavesdrop like nobody’s business, then blast each other in the group chat. Much like how Jake and I were found out.
Jake’s parents are acting completely normal. He said the talk with them went really smoothly, but I was worried how it would be once we were all together. They’re doting over Mac right now, and I think it’s safe to say I’ll never make it to ‘the favorite son-in-law’ with him around. Which is why I’m silently contemplating how to discreetly take him out. What? I’m competitive by nature, and I want to be the favorite. They act like he walks on water. I guess when you take into account all that’s gone on with him and Lee, in their eyes, he does.
Sometimes it’s weird watching your brothers be in love and take care of their girl when you look at them and just see the five year old version of them. Mac was my little buddy his entire childhood. Now he’s beating me out for favoriteson-in-law and making Lelonie Fischer the happiest woman on the planet. Pride surpasses my competitive streak and radiates deep in my chest. Damn, I’m so proud of him.
“So Declan, what is it that you said you did for work?” Calvin asks, trying to come off as indifferent, but I know that he’s fishing.
“I didn’t.” I glare at him, causing Jakob to discreetly smack my thigh under the table.
“He runs multiple of our businesses. Why do you ask, little bald one?” Mac smirks, but the joke goes over my head.
“Don’t call me that.” His voice comes out like he’s barely restraining his anger.
“Change the meaning of your name, then.” Mac shrugs as he goes back to eating like that didn’t just happen.
Calvin looks at Annie in anger and disgust before scoffing and going back to eating as well. Mr. and Mrs. Fischer don’t even act fazed by Mac clearly goading the guy, which tells me this isn’t an unusual occurrence between them. It also tells me that they must not like him very much.
“So, Declan. We hear about how your siblings are doing through Mac, but how have you been? What’s been going on in your life since we last saw you?”
Well, Mrs. Fischer, that’s a loaded question.
“I’ve just been working and helping my brothers out where I can. They’re where the excitement in my life comes from. I’m sure you already know, but Rowan has a little girl now, and Kieran’s about to be a Da himself. Mac’s wedding is just around the corner, and the twins are just getting settled in their careers.” I can’t help the way I beam or the pride that swells in my chest as I talk about my brothers.
“What about you, though? Did you ever finish your degree?”
She isn’t trying to take shots. She’s actually an incredibly kind woman. I think she just remembers how devastated I was when my parents died and when I had to give up my dream to pick up the broken pieces of my family.
“Uh– no, ma’am.” I give her a sad grin and cast my eyes down at the table. Jakob’s hand encases mine in a show of silent support. Of course weird ass bald kid or whatever the hell Mac called him has to speak up.
“Oh, you never graduated college? What was it you were going for?” He’s doing a shitty job of hiding his excitement over my failure.
“I was in my last year of my paramedic studies degree.”
He scoffs, “Isn’t that an associate’s degree? You dropped out before completing two years in college?”
Everyone shoots him warning glares, but before I can respond, Jakob pushes to his feet and slams his hands down on the table in anger.
“Listen, you fucking idiot, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Dec had to leave college because his parents were murdered. That left him at twenty three and his brother at twenty-five now taking care of a twenty year old, a seventeen year old, and two fifteen year olds. Mind you, Dec did that without a second thought. He’s helped raise those boys with little to no recognition and has kept them alive and out of jail for years. You don’t know shit about my partner, and I won’t let your snobby ass sit here and talk to him like that. So I’ll award you this one courtesy by letting it slide for now, but if you so much as look at him too long again, I’ll rip your vocal cords out through your rectum and set them on fire. Do I make myself clear?”
