“That won’t be a problem.” Leaf chuckled.
“That’s what I told him,” Seth admitted and put the phone away.
They kissed good night and cuddled into their usual sleeping position, with Leaf as the big spoon and Seth the little one. They’d drift apart in the night when they got too warm, but starting like this offered the warmth of security to him.
“Night, honey.”
“Night, sweetheart.”
Chapter Nine
LEAF FLIPPEDthe pieces of chicken and burgers on the grill as Seth and Dev played with the dogs in the back of the yard.
“They’re adorable together,” Rainbow said, smiling as she handed him a bottle of his favorite beer, one from her neighborhood brewery in LA.
“They really are. Thanks.” He took a sip as he closed the lid of the fancy grill Seth had bought them in the beginning of the barbecue season.
“I can see how he complements both of you. He’s a good find.” Rain tilted her head as Dev leaned over to give Missy some love.
“Are you checking out my boyfriend’s ass, sister mine?”
“It is one fine ass,” she said thoughtfully, then made a grabbing motion with her free hand. “Plenty to go around for all of us.”
Leaf chuckled and took another pull from his bottle. He’d never share with his sister even if his partner—or partners, as it might be—would’ve been game. There had been enough of that sort of shit in their childhood.
Dev straightened his back again and said something to Seth, who was sitting in one of the lawn chairs, then jogged to the porch with Missy on his heels. “Did you get the cooler out yet?” he asked Leaf, while coming close, right into his bubble, as if he belonged there.
Leaf pulled him closer and nuzzled his neck. “No. Thought you were going to do it. It’s by the island.”
“Nnngh, can you not in front of your sister?” Dev managed to say, then kissed him on the cheek and dodged a grope from Rain on his way inside.
Leaf hadn’t really thought he needed Rainbow’s acceptance of Dev as much as he had. Rain and Dev had been in the same house for all of an hour, and they were thick as thieves already.
With how well Seth and Rainbow had always mixed, Leaf thought his family even more complete. He hoped it would last, because he hadn’t experienced this sort of ease in a while. He knew it would diminish a little when Rain went on her merry way again, but for the time being he’d enjoy it fully.
THEY ATEtheir weight in salad and whichever protein they happened to prefer and then went to clean up the kitchen together.
Rain and Leaf were filling in the dishwasher when Dev came in from the pantry, carrying the large cake box he’d brought in when he’d come over.
“Seth, can you find us plates and stuff?” Dev smirked at them all as he placed the box on the island and raised the top off.
“Oh my God,” Rain moaned in a way Leaf never,everwanted to hear his sister moan.
“This, my dear friends, is my special Death by Chocolate cake.” Dev made a distinct ta-da gesture, and even Seth seemed to swoon a little at the cake.
Leaf shook his head, made sure the rest of the dishes went where they should while Rain abandoned the task at hand and made googly eyes at a mound of chocolate.
To be honest, the cake did look awesome, and Dev cut them all big slices.
“The rest is for munchies, just so you know,” Dev, the baker extraordinaire said, grinning.
As soon as Rain had taken the first bite, she let out that god-awful sound again, making Leaf wince. This time Seth and Dev both noticed and burst out laughing.
“You need to keep him,” Rain said, then peered at them all in confusion. “What?”
Seth took a bite, closed his eyes, and made a sound that curled Leaf’s toes and had Dev almost dropping his plate.
Rain, on the other hand, blushedhard. “Oh,” she said, realizing Seth was teasing her. “Oops?”
