“Brandon, it’s so nice to finally meet you,” Charles said as we shook hands.
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you both too,” I said while James exchanged handshakes with Kristin and Charles.
Chase motioned to the three tall guys near the great room. I knew who they were from the online searches that Salem and I had done. Hollis was big.
“These are my brothers and your uncles. Brandon and James, you already know Morgan.”
We shook Morgan’s hand and then I looked at Chase for the rest of the introductions.
“This is my oldest brother, Hollis, and my other brother, Patrick.”
“Hello, nice to meet you guys,” I said.
I stepped forward and offered my hand. Patrick and I shook hands first and then Hollis and I shook. Hollis’ muscles and stature were much larger in real life than he looked on the internet and old TCF videos I’d watched of him.
“Brandon, it’s great to meet you,” Hollis said.
I nodded and looked at Hollis, Morgan, and Patrick. These were my uncles. I could hardly believe it, and I was somewhat at a loss for words. Just off to my left I heard Kristin comment about how much I looked like Chase.
“He really does,” Charles said.
“When I met with Chase, I was taken aback at how much I thought he looked like an older version of Brandon,” James said.
“Brandon and James, can I get you something to drink?” Morgan offered as he walked toward the fridge. Chase closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Sorry, I should have offered. Can Morgan get you anything to drink?”
Several laughs broke out, and Hollis playfully jostled Chase. I’m sure it was in a playful nature because I had a feeling that even though Hollis was retired from fighting, that he could still knock people around. Patrick and Charles joined Morgan in getting drinks for everyone.
“Offering for others to get people things is Chases’ way of being a polite host,” Hollis said.
I was listening to Morgan call out what the drink options were while Chase and Hollis joked with one another. They teased each other, which seemed commonplace for them. They made me laugh and distracted me from Morgan.
“Brandon,” James called my name, nudging me to pick something.
“Coke, please,” I said and then turned to face Chase and Hollis again.
“What’s in the bag?” Chase asked.
For whatever reason, I held the bag up as I explained, “It’s just a few small things for everyone.” I slid my hand under the bottom of the bag and started to reach inside, but Chase stopped me.
“You don’t have to open it standing there. Let’s all go sit down,” Chase suggested. He looked at Hollis, who was patting his stomach. “I mean, let’s all sit down after we get something to snack on.”
They were all so funny. I could tell Chase was nervous, too, but his family nudged him along and tried to keep his nerves calmed. It also made me less nervous to be around everyone. Patrick carried two glasses over to the couches, and Hollis offered to get him something to eat.
Morgan handed me a glass of Coke with ice and then James offered to carry it to the coffee table. I nodded and murmured, “Thank you.”
James and I chatted with Kristin as we put some food on our plates and then headed to the couches with her. Chase’s great room was large, and he had lots of seating. There were two long gray couches that touched at an armrest, and two wide club chairs sat next to each other and opposite one of the long couches. In the center of the seating area was a huge glass coffee table with ceramic coasters with the Team Dragon logo on them. Yeah, sea-green was definitely a good choice for the bag.
I set my plate and the gift bag on the coffee table and then sat beside James. Morgan, Charles, and Kristin sat on the other couch, and Hollis and Patrick took the two club chairs. Chase took a seat next to me.
While everyone was still getting situated and had started to eat some of the snacks, I noticed Charles was looking at my legs. He leaned closer to Kristin and said, “Look at his socks. Remind you of anyone?”
“What’s on your socks?” Patrick asked.
I knew my face was red because I could feel myself getting warm. I pulled my pant legs up so everyone could see my dark green socks with the aqua colored stegosauruses on them.
“You’re not into socks by any chance, are you?” Patrick asked.
