Wait, so they knewkneweach other.
“Good. Fiona is due to have another rug rat soon.”
“And your brothers?”
“Wickedly annoying, every one of them.”
“And you wouldn’t have it any different.”
The more they spoke, the more Daniel’s Boston accent showed itself. Surprisingly, Lillian’s bland newscaster tone shifted, taking on a bit of Boston, too. It was more refined, softer, but still there.
“Nope. I like them just as they are. So, how are your little ones?” Daniel asked.
“Growing like weeds. They’ll be four in February. Foster and Julie have five now,” she said, moving back to where she’d been sitting with her husband, who pulled her into his lap.
“Five,” I said with a gasp, shaking my head at the beer Parker offered.
He took a swig, set it back down, then said, “And that, people, is why I will never procreate. There are three sets of twins between the two of them, plus the single Foster and Jules have, and the ones Piper has. Mama and Daddy have plenty of grandkids.”
“You gotta get someone to stick with you for longer than a couple of dates before you need to worry about procreating, little brother,” Walker said, pulling Lillian into his lap.
“Yet another thing that makes you the stupidest Holt child. You don’t even need a date to procreate. All you need is a quickie with a willing partner.”
A set of tits pressed against the side of my head as a brunette I never met snaked her arm over my shoulder, her hand resting on my chest as she spoke over the table to Parker, “Gorgeous, I’ll be your quickie partner. Any time, any day. Just name the place.”
“Thanks, love. I appreciate it. Get me your number before you leave,” Parker said, giving her a wink, then me a look.
I expected the guys at the table to cheer like the guys I’d known in high school had whenever a girl offered herself up like this one had just done, but they didn’t. Instead, they went silent, waiting.
She blew him a kiss, then went on her way. I knew there were women out there like her who threw themselves at frogmen. I grew up in the area. I did all the research I could before enlisting, but to experience it, even adjacently, was too much.
“You okay there, new guy?” Marcus’s brow lifted.
I nodded, but it was a lie. What the fuck did I get myself into whirled through my brain, dancing a jig and making me question everything. Daniel shifted in his chair, his knee brushing against mine. That small touch provided the answer and the energy. “Tired, that’s all.”
“The rookie left a special someone behind to come hang out with us,” Parker teased.
“Oh! You should’ve brought her with you. Julie and I can help her acclimate.”
Her. It grated that everyone assumed it was a female.
“Yeah. That’s probably never gonna happen, ma’am.”
Her face turned sad. “Oh, no. Was she having a time of it…”
“Lil,” Julie interrupted. “That’s not our business.” Then she turned to me and said, “Better to learn it early on, Alex. This life is not a good fit for everyone, but don’t hesitate to call if there’s anything Lillian and I can help with.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” I said. The offer was sweet.
“And that’s why my sisters-in-law are the best siblings a guy could have.”
“Here! Here!” the men at the table agreed, making the two women blush.
The rest of the night continued the same. Hours filled with teasing, taunts, and found family passed until…
“The Bosstones!” Lillian screamed, jumping up from her chair to run around the table to Daniel. He stood, joining her, as did so many others in the bar. Everyone was screaming lyrics and jumping around with their arms in the air as if they were a bunch of concertgoers.
And I watched every moment.
