As they pulled into the driveway, the front door opened and Brandt walked out to greet them.
“Who’s that?” Leo asked.
“It’s my cousin, Brandt,” Ronan said.
“Are all your friends your cousins?” Leo asked.
Ronan laughed. “Yeah, pretty much. It’s like when you and Matteo grow up you’ll still be brothers, but you’ll also be friends.”
Brandt walked out and waited for the truck to stop before he tapped on the fender and smiled.
Maverik got out of the truck and quickly opened the back door. “Can I get you out?” he asked Leo.
Leo nodded at him and waited until he was unbuckled to reach toward Maverik as best he could with his hands full of his toys and his pillow. Maverik picked him up and held him while taking a few steps away from the truck.
“Wait for us!” Matteo called out.
“What do you think I’m doing? Standing out here in the middle of the night because I like the night?” Maverik teased.
Matteo grinned at him. “You might like the night.”
“I do like the night. But not enough to stand around for no reason.”
Ronan had unbuckled Matteo and got out of the same side of the truck Leo had been sitting on. “Alright, now listen, Momma has a bad headache so we’re going to be quiet and really calm when we see her, okay?” Ronan said looking back and forth between both boys.
“Yes, we are,” Leo said confidently.
“Alright. Now, she might still be sleeping so don’t be disappointed if she doesn’t wake up yet. She needs to rest so her headache will go away.”
Both boys nodded.
“Who do we have here? Is this the famous Leo and Matteo I’ve heard so much about?” Brandt asked.
“That’s us!” Matteo exclaimed. He looked at his brother. “We’re famous.”
“We’re not famous,” Leo said.
“Yes, we are. He knows us.”
“Well, I know you because Ronan told me all about you, and because Mr. Havoc and Mrs. Analise did, too. And even Ruger and Lola told me about you guys.”
“We’re their new friends,” Leo said.
“Exactly!” Brandt said.
“And you’re Mr. Brandt. Ronan told us who you are,” Matteo said.
“I sure am. And you know what? I have a little boy about your age. I bet he’d like to be friends with you guys, too.”
“Can he come over now?” Matteo asked.
“It’s still nighttime,” Leo scoffed.
“So? We’re awake,” Matteo said.
“How about we go ahead and get inside then,” Ronan said. He led the way with Maverik right behind him, and Brandt and Bam bringing up the rear.
“Hey, girl! How you feeling?” Maverik asked Tempest, who was lying on the sofa.
