Mia smiled at Lily before looking back to Race. “Why don’t you just quit?” Mia suggested as she pulled Lily into her lap.
Race scrubbed her face with her hands and sighed. “I’ve worked my butt off to get where I am. I can’t imagine just walking away.”
“Do you love it?” Mia asked.
“My work?”
“Yeah. Do you love it?”
“Ugh,” Race muttered. “I used to, but I don’t know anymore.”
“I’m sure what you’ve been through changes things.”
“So, dude, when are we going to go out?” Mike asked, elbowing me.
“What?” I asked, too busy listening to the ladies talk to have heard Mike’s question.
“I want to hang out.”
“Oh,” I said, glancing over at him. “I’m so busy between work and Race. Sorry I haven’t been around.”
Mike nodded. “I get it.” He motioned toward Race. “New love.”
“As soon as stuff levels out, we’ll have a guys’ night out.”
“Maybe we can get everyone to go.” He smiled, looking around at his brothers. “Kids have put a damper on everything.”
I peered over at Mia after he spoke. “How would you know?” she asked, glaring at him. “It’s not like you’ve even changed a diaper in your life.”
Mike blanched. “Have you smelled what comes out of those little things? I don’t have the stomach for it,” Mike said, waving his hands.
“For such a big guy, you sure are a sissy,” I teased Mike.
“You change her, then,” he said, pointing at the beautiful little Lily, with her wild, curly, dark hair as she sat in her mother’s lap.
“Daddy sissy,” Lily said.
“Lily,” Mike said.
“Daddy sissy.” Lily giggled, staring up at Mia.
“Great, man. Nice job,” Mike muttered as his shoulders sagged.
“Baby, Daddy isn’t a sissy. Look at how big and tough he is,” Mia said as she glanced over at Mike.
Growling, Mike flexed. “That’s right, baby. Daddy is tough,” Mike said as he stared down at his biceps, watching them jump.
“Daddy sissy,” Lily repeated as her giggles grew louder.
“Jesus,” Mike muttered, scrubbing a hand down his face.
Race giggled, covering her mouth as tears started to form in her eyes. She mouthed “Thank you” to me.
We stayed on the lanai, chatting until the sun hung low in the sky and dusk started to settle across the backyard.
“We better get going, princess. You have to be up early for work,” I said as I pushed my chair back.
“But I don’t want to go,” she whined as she climbed from her seat.
