“Hey.” Missy grabbed his hand, squeezed. “We’re family, you big dork. I’ve seen you so drunk you peed in the bathroom sink.”
“Missy!”
Bax burst out laughing. “Hell, yes. When you’ve seen a man’s johnson, you’ve seen it all. Come on, Mini.”
“Oh, don’t get all smug, Andy Baxter. I got stories on you, too.”
“Be good, Missy, or we’ll tell AJ you want another baby.”
Missy snorted. “Like you’d have to tell him that to get him wound up. He’s the one wants enough to have a whole rodeo team.”
“Haven’t you heard of overpopulation?”
“Well, someone has to make up for boys like y’all.”
“Well, good lord, Missy.” He stopped, Bax running right into his ass. “How many kids do you think I could have fathered? You have what? Fourteen? Twenty?”
“We’re making up for Coke, too. He’s never gonna settle and make little Cokes. Now, come on.” Missy grabbed hishand and tucked it in the crook of her elbow, and he caught the scent of fried chicken and baby powder.
“Woman, you’re a force of nature.” He could hear the kids laughing, hear Coke and AJ teasing and playing.
“I do try.”
As soon as they were out in the front room Benji was on him, hugging his legs like to bowl him over.
“Whoa, now, son,” Bax said, sorta peeling Benji off. “Let’s let Jason get down.”
“Yeah, Ben. Yeah. I’ll have a sit and you can hang with me.”
“Okay.” Lord, the kid was always so good-natured, even if Benji did try to sit in the very same chair Bax was lowering him to.
He settled then his arms were full, Benji jabbering at him, holding on tight. Benji was AJ’s first kid and all the guys had tried to make things good for the wee boy. He could smell the food, hear everyone else like a dull roar in the background, but it was Benji who made him feel like it was all okay. Ben just cuddled in, clinging to him and he rubbed the skinny back, humming a little. Sometimes you needed to know you could make it right for someone.
“Y’all ready to have some supper?” Missy asked, the air moving as she set up something next to his chair. “I got you a TV tray, honey.”
“Is Ben sleeping?”
“Yeah, he’s nodded off. Is he too heavy? I’ll get AJ to move him. He’s been buzzing since you showed, and you’ve only seen him the once.”
“I can help out,” Bax said, pulling up something and sitting next to his knee. If he knew Bax it would be a kitchen chair turned backward and straddled.
“Cool.” He thought that he could just let little Benji rest for a while. It eased him, bone deep.
Benji snored a little, making him smile at how the kid just trusted him so easy and good. Next thing he knew, Bax was taking his hand and putting it on the table, talking him through where all the food was.
He could hear the kids, jabbering and laughing, calling Coke ‘Poppy’. Missy was singing low and AJ plopped down close by. “You cool, Jason? I can take him.”
“Naw, man. He’s fine. He’s getting big.”
“Shit, yes. Hell, they all are. Maybe time for another one.”
Bax laughed. “Lord, AJ. Missy might need a break.”
“She’s good at it, man. Real good. I just want a couple more.” AJ sounded love-struck. Weird ass.
“A couple? Damn. You’re going to make her old before her time.” Jason chuckled, shook his head.
“I already am,” Missy said near his right ear. “Here’s some more tea, honey.” The clink of ice in a glass sounded oddly loud.
