“No fucking way.” I point at him. “We’re working out some kind of roster or schedule. Each of us is gonna get at least an hour or two for some uninterrupted romance. I’m serious, man.”
“Zoey’s fourteen now.” Wily looks at Zander with a grin. “She can babysit everyone.”
Zander’s eyebrows pop up. “Twelve kids? Are you kidding?”
“Yeah, I am.” Wily laughs, bopping his buddy’s knee with his fist before struggling up to his feet.
“You good?” I steady him, and he pats my shoulder.
“Yep, it’s only a twinge.”
I give him a pained smile, but he shakes his head. “It’s all good, man. I’m okay with not playing anymore. In fact, I kind of like the idea of staying home more, you know? No away games, no endless practices and interviews and shit. I can just… be normal.”
“Maybe that’s what’s bugging her,” Zander mutters, then looks up at us. “Do you think it’s ’cuz I’ve been away too much? Do you think she wants me to quit football but just can’t say it?”
Carson crosses his arms, shaking his head. “I don’t think that’s it. She loves that you’re an NFL superstar, man. She’s proud of you.”
Zander sighs, his shoulders slumping, so I clap my hands together.
“Okay, back to Valentine’s Day. Do you want that bottle of wine?”
With a wince, Zander shakes his head. “She’s not a huge drinker. I’d never buy her wine.”
“How about chocolates?” Carson asks.
Zander glances at him with a hopeful smile. “What’ve you got?”
“I’ve got a tray of heart-shaped things you can have.”
“Really? That doesn’t leave you without?”
“Nope.” Carson shakes his head. “I made my little kitty cat a whole Mommy care package thing. It’s got candles and massage oil so I can give her a foot rub. I threw a bath something-or-other in there. The lady at the store said pregnant chicks love it. They can soak and relax. Sienna said there’s like three bathtubs she can choose from in this house, and I’ve got a playlist of chill songs she loves all lined up. Then after that, I purchased a ten-pack of 80s movies on my Apple account, so we can sit in bed and watch one of those, eating the popcorn I’ll make her and wearing the love-heart nightshirt I got.”
“Dude.” Wily slaps his shoulder with an impressed grin. “Her own personal spa and movie session. Never knew you had it in you.”
“Yeah, well, I had to google ideas,” he admits. “But I think she’s gonna love it, and she won’t even notice if the chocolates are missing. Plus, if the movie thing doesn’t work out because the twins need us or whatever, we can just do that when we get back home. So it’s like drawing out Valentine’s Day. It’s gonna score me so many fucking points.” He gives in to a smile, and I laugh at his expression.
“You’re outdoing us, man.” I lift my chin at him as Zander lets out a guilt-ridden groan.
“Thanks for the chocolates,” he mumbles, then looks at Wily.
The big guy rolls his eyes. “I wrote her a poem.”
“Seriously?” We all balk.
“Okay, fine. ChatGPT wrote her a poem, and I refined it.”
That makes us snicker.
“Shut up. It’s romantic.” He scowls at us. “Plus, I bought her this special-edition book she’s been wanting for ages. It’s got sprayed edges and everything. She’s going to fucking love it.”
“Anything else?” Zander whispers, desperately hopeful. “It’s her birthday, right? Have you plumped up the gifts because of that?”
“No.” Wily frowns. “She wants us all to pretend that her birthday isnextweekend because she doesn’t want to take away from the family celebrations, so I left her birthday presents at home.”
“We can’tnotacknowledge her birthday tomorrow.” Carson scowls at him.
“I know that.” Wily gives him an exasperated look. “I’ve smuggled a birthday cake in and Jane’s made her a special card. Whether she wants it or not, Satch is getting ‘Happy Birthday’ sung to her and she’s blowing out thirty-one candles.”
