“Careful, old man. I don’t want you throwing out your back and then bitching because I hurt you and you can’t help train Team Dragon,” I teased.
Hollis grimaced and made a face as if what I was saying would never happen. He was in his forties and still in incredible shape, but his focus since he retired had been working with a younger generation of Team Dragon. I dodged Hollis’ hand when he reached out to playfully slap me.
“See, I have quicker reflexes,” I pointed out.
“Yeah, don’t do anything to make him complain,” Patrick said. I turned to look at him and smiled when I saw that he was smiling at me. Patrick stepped closer and hugged me.
“See, Hollis? Patrick knows how to hug,” I said jokingly.
“Mhmm. Patrick gets to hug you at your calmest stage after I shook your excitement right out of you.”
I rolled my eyes and looked at Morgan.
“I hugged you last night, so we’re all caught up on that,” he said dryly. I loved his sense of humor.
“You guys want anything to drink or eat?” I offered and looked at them. Suddenly they all looked at one another seriously. My heart started to pound, and my eyes gravitated back to Patrick.Please don’t let this visit be over anything bad.
“I’ll have some water,” Patrick said.
“I’ll have some water, too, and some of whatever is on your jeans,” Hollis said.
Fuck, the Cheez-Its.
I looked down and felt my face turn hot. I glanced over my shoulder at the box of snacks sitting on the counter and gestured for Hollis to help himself.
“Sorry about that. I was just working on some stuff and eating some crackers. I wasn’t expecting anyone,” I said as I went to the fridge.
“I’m just kidding you, bub,” Hollis said.
“I frequently wipe my fingers with food on my pants when I’m not expecting people,” Morgan sarcastically jabbed. He made me laugh.
“I know, I know,” I said as I tilted my head back to laugh. “I don’t think you ever wiped your hands on your clothes,” I commented as I handed bottles of water to Patrick and Hollis.
“Yeah, I don’t think he ever did either,” Hollis added.
“See, you’re perfect, Morg,” I said.
“If being perfect means I don’t wipe my messy hands on my pants, then I will go ahead and claim the perfect title of the Hawkins brothers,” Morgan said. He looked down at the floor and then up at Hollis. “Can we sit, Chase?”
“Yeah.” I nodded and pointed to the couch.
Thank God I fluffed cushions and vacuumed. I let the three of them take their seats first and then I took the remaining spot on the end of the couch beside Hollis. Morgan had taken the single chair next to the couch.
“Figures you’d take that chair,” I said to Morgan as I shuffled my feet around his to get to the couch.
Morgan held his hands up in defense.
“You guys gave me the title of perfect, so naturally I’m going to take the chair that commands control.”
“Is this suddenly the Kingdom of Morgan?” I asked.
“Yes.” He laughed and then looked at Hollis again. “We wanted to talk to you about something important, Chase.”
“I figured as much with you all suddenly showing up late at night like this. You guys don’t show up out of the blue, so just tell me. Are you all disowning me for the Cheez-It pants?”
“No, bub.” Hollis ruffled my hair, then flung his arm around my shoulders. “You’re our perfect little brother. Cheez-It pants and all.”
“I ran into someone today, Chase.”
