“You put a kid in there,” I say, calling out a waitress clearing a nearby table. “Get us another round,” I tell her, turning back to Theo. “Quit whining and feed your wife.”
“I’ve not had a full night’s sleep in forever, and the kid isn’t even here yet. She’s either sending me shopping, asking for massages, or waking me up because she can’t sleep. Was Cass like that?”
Logan shakes his head. “I can’t relate.The only thing Cass craved were lemons. Easy enough to find.”
“Lucky bastard. At least tell me you weren’t getting any. I’m riding solo almost since the start. No way we’ll have any more kids if this is what every pregnancy is like.”
“Can’t help here, either, bro.” Logan pinches his lips, clearly amused. “Thalia wakes you up for licorice and pickles, right? Cass woke me up for sex. Almost every night. Sometimes twice.” He smirks, then all-out laughs when Theo folds his arms over his chest like a moody kid. “Stop pouting. It was fucking awesome, but not easy to keep up with her needs.”
Theo shoves him away, feigning annoyance. “Boohoo. Cass didn’t eat weird shit, and you had sex all the time. That sure sounds like torture.” His eyes dart to me, and he automatically straightens his spine. “What did she do to you?”
I cock an eyebrow, looking at the waitress who just set another round of beers on the table. “She didn’t do anything. Why?”
“Not the waitress. Mia. What did she do to you?”
“I know you think you’re making sense, but you’re not.”
“You’re not wearing your AirPod,” he explains, explaining absolutely nothing. “You’re not barking or glaring, and... shit, man, you’resmiling.”
“Which you shouldn’t do,” Logan chips in, eyebrows pulled together. “Honestly, quit it. You look weird.”
“She didn’t do anything.”
“Yeah, she did,” Theo insists, emphasizing every word. “Spill it, bro. Is it the sex? That good, huh?”
I punch his shoulder harder than intended. “You want me to split your lip again? Mia’s just...” I trail off, searching for the right words. “I don’t know. I’ve been in the highest gear for years, working, chasing money, searching forsomething.”
“You mean a woman?”
I shrug, chugging a mouthful of beer. “Isn’t that what we all want? Life revolves around love in one way or another. Family, friends, that one person you come home to. I wanted that someone, but I was looking at the wrong women. I thought I needed a female version of myself... high-maintenance, career-driven. I was high—”
“High?” Theo mouths, exchanging a concerned look with Logan. “You mean drugs? You were ondrugs?”
“I think you’d know if I were using, don’t you? I meant the chaos in my head. I was always on the go, never stopping, but since Mia came along, I’m low. My head is quieter. Not silent, but the chaos is manageable. She’s not exceeding my pace. She doesn’t have a pace. She rolls around in neutral, going with the flow, and I’m learning to do the same. I switched my phone off the other night for the first time in years.”
“Considering that thing is glued to your hand most of—” Logan huffs, waving me off when I pull my cell out, feeling a short vibration. “Baby steps, I guess.”
Mia: Hey, while you’re with your older brothers, could I go out with the younger three?
No.
No, baby, stay home. I’ll be there in twenty minutes,iswhat I want to reply.
There goes my mellow composure...
Images of Mia dancing at the club fill my head. Her delicate moves, hips swaying while her fingers run up and down her sides, lipsyncing every song. Bliss on that pretty face. How oblivious she is to the men staring, craving what’smine.
Looks like Toby was wrong. Not even the triplets can take Mia out without my mind going into fucking overdrive. I want to leave the bar, drive to her house and spend the night making her moan in my ear, then strangle my brothers in the morning for even thinking that taking my girl out is a good idea.
I toss the phone on the table. “Fuck.”
“What’s wrong?” Theo asks, his eyebrows pulled together.
“Mia wants to go out with the triplets.” I get up, the screaming in my mind not letting me sit still. I grip the back of the chair with both hands like it can anchor me in place. “Cheeky fuckers waited until I made plans and swooped in.”
“Very tiny baby steps,” Logan mutters, resting his elbows on the table. “You have a long way to go. She’s going out for a drink. You know the triplets will keep her safe. What’s the problem? You’re acting crazy... and I’m more comfortable with that than you smiling, so hit me. What’s going through your head?”
I know I’m acting crazy. He doesn’t have to tell me. I’m in low gear with Mia, but my protectiveness never hit as high.
