“I did not. I did good!”
AJ and Missy glanced at each other, then spoke. “For a blind guy.”
Lord have mercy on them all. “Well, why did I need to bring everyone in on this if you was just gonna kill yourself, then?”
“Ididn’t, god damn it. I thought…for a second there I could. Fuck.” Jason’s lips went tight, cheeks dark red.
Oh, fuck a duck sideways. That shit wasn’t fair.
Bax grabbed Jason’s hand, and Missy suddenly had to go check on the baby, and it was AJ who broke that ice. “Well, now we know what Jason will do when his sight comes back. He’ll go to Disneyland!”
Coke blinked at AJ, then he started laughing, deep, hard belly-laughs.
Bax and Jason joined in, and soon enough they were all howling, slapping legs and all but spilling their beer. Which was, naturally, when Benji came in, rubbing his eyes and blinking.
“Uncle Poppy?”
“Hey, buddy.” He opened his arms and got a hug and a kiss on the cheek before the sweet boy went to Jason, pushing into the man’s lap like he belonged there.
Jason didn’t even stiffen a moment, just pulled Ben right on up on his thighs, kissing the bright head. “Hey, kiddo. Did we scare you?”
“Uh-uh. Just woke me up.”
Man, that boy had Jason’s number.
“Well, buddy, you can sit here a bit with me.”
“Okay.” Benji snuggled in, and Coke thought it was ashame for a minute, how Jase would probably never have kids. Course, that little bit of decency only really shone for Benji. The rest of the world got the growl and snap.
“So, somebody tell me there’s going to be burgers on the grill tomorrow.” AJ looked hopeful and Missy chuckled, swatted him.
“Sure.” Bax waved a hand. “You’re the grill master, Aje. You do it.”
“I’ll help. I haven’t gotten to grill since I left here.” He thought for a second about his pool, his hot tub, his big-assed fancy-pants grill. Man, he missed home.
Come to think of it, he missed Dillon, too. He could picture that man in his hot tub, for sure. He’d bet Dillon would be a hoot—hell, he’d seen it, that hard little body all bubbly and wet and…
Man. Coke. Ease up.
“You okay, Coke? You went away there for a minute.” Bax didn’t miss nothing.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Woolgathering.” Fantasizing. Whatever.
“You tired, man? Missy made up the green room again.” AJ smiled at him, all sympathetic.
“I can sit and jaw a little. I more got road doze, yeah? How’s that baby girl doing?”
Missy beamed. “She’s walking good, Poppy. I imagine she’ll crow to see you. Although, I have to say, Andy’s her favorite.”
“Andy? Uncle Candy?” That was a hoot. Who woulda guessed that little Daisy would pick the crotchety-est rider ever.
“Yup. She follows him around, tugging on his jeans. It’s sorta cute, so they tell me.” Jason’s lips twisted a little, went tight.
“Unca Candy is funny when he looks at her,” Benji piped up. “He looks like he hasta go to the bathroom.”
They all blinked, then stared, then Missy just cackled. “I think that’s love, son. I do.”
“No, that’s how Daddy looks at you, Momma.” Benji made the most extraordinary face, all AJ when he gazed upon his woman.
