Dust kickedup around the car as they took a slow drive up to the pack house. After nearly destroying the suspension, it seemed they’d shaken a wire loose in the air conditioning too, making the car a literal hot box, which was just fucking great.
They’d driven the track to the pack house a thousand times before, but that evening it felt different. Like they were about to walk in and tear the place down. Taylor sidled up to him as they got out of the car, and they ambled up the remainder of the driveway hand in hand, more slowly than usual.
Rock music blared from the top left window, indicating that Gabriella’s grunge phase was in full swing.
“Should we knock? I feel like we should knock,” Taylor said, fidgeting and rubbing his neck.
Johnny sighed, tugging his hand away. “When have we ever knocked? That’ll make things weirder, don’t you think?”
Taylor shuffled from foot to foot, pulling back. “Will it? I just think it’d be polite, and now that Ireallythink about it I wish I’d worn a shirt, and maybe trousers, and why the fuck did you let me wear my ratty old trainers?”
Johnny laughed, running his eyes up and down Taylor’s body. He was wearing his usual football shorts, a black vest and Converse. Like every other non-workday in summer.
“Why do you want to dress up? It’s not like you’re meeting my parents for the first time.” He shook his head, dragging Taylor up the drive.
“But it’s respectful, you know? What if Maman thinks I’m scruffy, or the girls don’t like me anymore? Oh God, what if Marty rejects me? Maybe I should just stay at home, wait for this whole thing to blow over.”
Johnny turned, hooking a hand into Taylor’s waistband and pulling him close. “I’m sorry to break it to you, baby-cakes, but this thing is not going toblow over.”
Taylor rubbed his neck again, nibbling his bottom lip. “I know that, I just… What if the kids don’t accept me?”
Johnny’s mouth opened and closed several times, his heart melting a little as he watched Taylor frown at the ground. Sliding an arm around his shoulders, he pulled him in for a tight, sweaty hug.
“What are you talking about? They’ve accepted you since the day they were born. You’re their brother, Tay. You’ve been a part of this family for fifteen years.”
Taylor shrugged. “I don’t know. I just… I feel like it’s all going to be snatched away the second things change.”
Johnny ran a hand down Taylor’s chest, resting it over his heart. “It won’t. I promise.”
After several more minutes of gentle persuasion, Johnny finally coaxed Taylor into the house. They were greeted by the usual wall of noise and Papa’s cap bobbing behind his newspaper. The scent of Maman’s cooking wafted into Johnny’s nostrils, settling his nerves.
Papa dropped the paper a couple of inches, looking up at them. “Evening, boys,” he said, looking them up and down and wiggling his eyebrows.
Taylor withered, sliding back out the front door. “He’s being weird, JP. I-I-I can’t handle him being weird.”
Johnny caught his elbow, pulling him back into the house. “You, get it together.” He turned and shot his dad a venomous look. “Andyoustop doing that thing with your eyebrows.”
Papa dropped the paper again, a toothy grin plastered across his face. “I just can’t wait to watch you try and explain this to the girls. It’s going to be comedy gold. And actually, if I get the camera out, I could use it at the wedding.”
“Wedding?” Gabriella said, space buns bobbing as she came barrelling down the stairs. “What wedding? When? Can I get a new dress?”
Papa’s smile grew even wider. “You’ll have to ask your brothers, mon trésor.”
Gabriella frowned, eyes darting to Johnny before drifting to his neck. A riot of emotions washed over her face before settling on cold, hard disdain. “Clem!” she screamed, leaping off the last two steps and darting into the kitchen. “Clem! Clemmm! It’s happening! Get the water guns, fill the balloons!”
“Oh my fucking God,” Taylor said, and Johnny grabbed his arm before he could turn tail and run.
He dragged him into the kitchen, shoving him into the corner. There was a maelstrom of frantic shouts and banging cupboards before the girls finally reappeared in the kitchen, each clutching a massive Super Soaker.
“Where are they?” Clementine snarled, pumping the gun as she stared at Johnny’s neck. Her thick glasses were fogged up, ruining the intimidating look a little.
“Who?” Johnny said, holding up both hands as laughter bubbled in his throat.
“Don’t be stupid, JP.” She jabbed the gun towards his neck. “The alpha that did that to you. Who are they? Is it serious? You’re not actually getting married, are you? We won’t allow it.”
Johnny crossed his arms, driving his tongue into the side of his cheek. “Oh really? And you think you have a say in the matter, Sisters?”
“Of course we do! You’ve never brought anyone to the pack house before.”
