Did he live on the other side of the world or was he some kind of astronaut?
“I think you’re very smart and cute, but I’m glad he could see it too.” I’d figure out the moon part later. “After we get our cleaning done, did you want to do a stay home date or an out in public date?”
I didn’t care as long as food was eventually involved.
“Hmm…” Rhodes made exaggerated thinking sounds as he wiggled against me because the faster his brain worked the faster the rest of him moved. “Yes.”
I managed not to laugh out loud but I couldn’t help the way my chest jerked. “I’ll figure it out then.”
I was going to have to see what food he had in his fridge and how long he stayed Little first. I wasn’t sure what kind of public places to take a chatterbox Little but the only things that were coming to mind were too far away.
He’d love something like the zoo or the aquarium, but those were full day trips, not an afternoon date.
Rhodes clearly liked that plan because I got a cute happy dance wiggle. “I like having a Daddy.”
Because they made decisions and chased off the invaders.
“I’m glad because I like having a cute little firecracker to play with.” That got a giggle from him but it quickly turned into a sigh as the doorbell rang. “At least they’ve realized they can’t get in with the door locked.”
And my gate also had a lock after an unfortunate incident with a neighbor’s child’s birthday party I’d refused to host because I wasn’t related to him in any way. Some people really didn’t understand that just wanting the bigger yard didn’t mean they actually got to have it.
“Invaders are naughty, Daddy.” He huffed and hid against me. “No spankings for them.”
Agreed.
“Alright. You run upstairs to my room and lock the door just in case.” I could see one of them slipping in and creating chaos. “I have a surprise for you. Go look under the bed.”
Giggling like a cartoon supervillain, Rhodes threw himself off my lap and flew through the house, clomping up the stairs so loudly every neighbor on the block probably heard him. “Mine. Mine. Mine.”
Shaking my head, I tried not to laugh because that just encouraged him. “Behave.”
I was going to have to tell his family the same thing but they weren’t nearly as cute as he was. My little firecracker made me smile but I frowned at the chaos horde as I opened the door about six inches and planted my foot firmly behind it to brace it. “Yes?”
I wasn’t sure if the current wave of bad decisions was because there weren’t any wives or even exes in the invading army, but it told me they’d escaped their keepers.
“We need to talk to Rhodes.” Axel was glaring at me like I was the invader, so I wasn’t sure what kind of crazy he’d concocted. “He’s not at home, so he’s probably hiding in your backyard.”
Huh?
I was really glad I’d locked my firecracker’s fence too.
He wasn’t going to be able to tell me that I might’ve been overreacting any longer.
“I’m going to need someone else to translate that for me.” I glanced around at the horde, focusing on the ones I’d actually talked to. Ranger and Cross had just glared at me during the barbecue, so I ignored them as I focused on the second-tier nuts.
Hmm.
Not any of Axel’s kids because they were weird too.
Matt’s barely subtle wink said I needed to find my wallet but I knew better than to bring attention to that. I’d need him in the future, so I was subtle and would talk to him in private.
Finally one of Rhode’s midrange brothers spoke up… maybe Cross but they looked too much alike for me to be able to easily tell them apart. “Rhodes actually thinks you guys are dating and it’s going to fuck him up when he realizes you’re straight. We’re here to clear up that shit. Mom’s found a nice guy for him, and if it works out, they can get married in the fall.”
For fuck’s sake.
We needed more money for Matt.
“Where did your mother find someone to marry him?” That probably wasn’t where I should’ve started but it was the weirdest.
