“Here. Take these.” Shea slid her rolling chair to a set of shelves on the other side of the room. She retrieved a purple file folder stuffed with loose leaf paper, handing it to me. “Sometimes, clients can’t get a babysitter, so they bring theirkids to the shop. I printed out a few of my tattoo designs for coloring pages to keep them entertained.”
“You’re a genius,” I replied. “Thank you.”
“No problem. Say hi to the little man for me.”
Waving to Raine on my way out the door, I headed to my bike. Two years ago, Tarzan and his wife welcomed their first child into their lives, a bouncing baby boy named Kenny. He was the spitting image of Tarzan, with the same golden locks and blue eyes. I never passed up an opportunity to spoil the hell out of that kid.
When I arrived at the clubhouse, I tucked Shea’s folder of coloring pages under my arm and hurried inside. The tables had been pushed aside to clear a large area while Kenny toddled around the room, trying to catch the paper airplanes that Wingman and Hades sent gliding through the air. They both had kids of their own and knew how to easily keep Kenny entertained.
Tarzan sat at the bar, nursing a coffee as he watched his little boy playing.
“You look like you could fall asleep standing up, big brother,” I said, taking the vacant stool next to him.
Tarzan closed his eyes with a grunt.
“Kenny said he doesn’t believe in naps today.”
I smothered a laugh behind my hand.
“He doesn’t…believein them? Like Santa Claus? Or the Easter Bunny?”
“Nope.” Tarzan sighed. “He claims they’re not real. And he got into the cocoa puffs for a snack when I wasn’t looking. So, he’s buzzed on a sugar high.”
I ducked my head, biting the inside of my cheek to hide my amusement at Tarzan’s suffering. For the most part, my big brother adored being a dad. He’s always so fucking proud to talk about Kenny, to show off pictures to anyone who would listen.
He deserved this happiness though. He’d waited a long time to marry a good woman, and his wife was the sweetest angel on earth.
“Is Keely here?” I asked, glancing around the room.
Tarzan shook his head. “No, I told her to stay home and get some peace and quiet. She’s been more tired than usual lately, so I took Teddy out of the house.”
“When was the last time you two went on a date?” I set Shea’s folder on the bar and grabbed a bowl of peanuts nearby, popping a few in my mouth. “I know parenthood keeps you busy, but that’s why you have me, the World’s Greatest Uncle. I’d be happy to look after the kid.”
Tarzan hummed in thought. His gaze followed Teddy around the room as Teddy grasped at the paper airplanes soaring overhead. I caught one and sent it sailing back to him. He squealed with laughter.
“I think Keely is pregnant again,” Tarzan said.
I choked on a handful of peanuts.
“She hasn’t said anything,” he added. “It’s just a…gut feeling.”
“Well,” I said, pushing the bowl of peanuts aside. “It’s not exactly surprising. You and Keely haven’t been able to keep your hands off each other since the moment you met.”
“Teddy,” Tarzan said, exasperated, using his nickname for me. “What the hell am I supposed to do with a second kid? I don’t even have a handle on the first one yet.”
“You’ll figure it out, big brother,” I replied. “You always do.”
He sighed, casting a look of gratitude in my direction. More than once, Tarzan had called in the middle of the night to pour out his pent-up worries about being a father. Our parents weren’t exactly role models we wanted to emulate, especially after their disastrous divorce when we were young.
“As I recall,” I said. “You and Keely mentioned having a big family to fill that big-ass house you bought.”
Tarzan huffed and rubbed his forehead.
“I don’t know what the hell we were thinking when we said that.”
“Baby-making sex does tend to shut off the common sense switch,” I agreed.
He shoved me in the shoulder and I nearly fell off the stool.
