Page 18 of Maldives & Mistletoe

TEN

Eve and Theo

THEO

Theo walked in step with Damian just a few feet ahead of Adriano and Tommas. A good deal could do wonders for a mood, honestly. He looked forward to the changes this would bring to the Outfit over the coming years. While his work for the Outfit was at a higher level, keeping an eye on the boss and his business, Theo needed to get his hands a little dirtier. He missed really working—being in the thick of a job that kept him challenged as much as it entertained him.

He figured the guns were going to give him exactly what he was looking for on the side. And, of course, he’d keep up on his job of looking after Tommas’ business.

As they neared the docks that would lead them down to their huts over the water, the conversation turned from the weapons they had just agreed to traffic to what would be left of their vacation.

“I vote on here again,” Theo said.

“We’re not coming here again,” Damian muttered beside him.

“Are you still on the water thing?”

“Yes.”

Theo rolled his eyes. “The kids are fine—I told you that. We got everything locked and safe, just like you wanted. Pull that stick out of your ass, Damian, and have some fun for once.”

“I have fun.”

A scoff left Theo’s lips. “Rarely.”

“Listen, it’s decided,” Damian said, “you and Eve are never planning another vacation again.”

Theo scowled. “Why not? This place is great, asshole.”

Tommas sighed loudly. “It is great. That’s also not the problem.”

“Then—”

“But it isn’t very kid friendly,” Adriano added.

Damian jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “That right there—see, I am not the only one who thinks so, Theo.”

Theo’s scowl only deepened at that, and he didn’t bother to hide it, either. He made sure each and every one of them saw it for what it was because that was ridiculous.

“Listen, you fucking pricks, I am not going to Disneyland for my once-a-goddamn-year vacation, all right? I can’t help the rest of you decided to go out and procreate right away.”

Damian’s hand came up fast to strike Theo in the back of the head playfully, but he dodged it just in time, and with his middle finger pointed up, too. “Smartass.”

“I said what I said, dammit.”

“Disneyland could be fun,” Adriano said absently.

“Oh, my God,” Theo groaned. “I am not going to fucking Disneyland on the next vacation!”

Laughter from the other three lit up the docks, but Theo was busy mourning the loss of his youth, frankly. Somehow, he had managed to surround himself with dads as his friends. There would be no escaping it, he knew. This was going to be his life whether he had a kid or not. But he wasn’t … having kids, that was.

Never.

He had all these people’s kids to keep him entertained. That was enough for him.

Damian’s arm snagged Theo around the neck, and dragged him in close. He managed to get his own swing in, landing a punch right to Damian’s kidney.

“If we go to fucking Disneyland, you will go, too,” Damian muttered through his laughter.