Page 75 of Downforce

Now, watching him ham it up for our nephew, I can hardly remember that brother who swore he didn’t like kids. I never believed him when he said it. I know my brother’s soft side. I also know why he wields his grumpiness like a shield.

“When are you going to become a father?” I blurt out.

Both Tristan and Travis look at me.

“What?”

“He is not ready to be a father. Plus, what woman would allow him near her long enough to impregnate them?” Travis teases.

“Fuck you,” Tristan grouses.

“Watch your mouth,” I tell him. “There’s a baby here. You don’t want Lucky using that kind of language, do you?”

“He can’t talk.”

“Yet,” I counter. “But he’s like a little sponge, soaking everything in. Let’s not fill his developing mind with curse words and your cantankerous attitude.”

“I’m not cantankerous.”

“Tristan, you’re the most ‘get off my lawn’ twenty-seven-year-old grandpa to ever live.”

His frown deepens, which makes me laugh.

“I’m not having kids. I don’t even like kids.”

Travis barks out a laugh, which startles Lucky right before he realizes his dad’s laughing and joins in. It’s the cutest thing ever.

“Yeah, that’s what you said before he got here.” He gestures toward Lucky. “But he has you wrapped around his finger.”

Tristan’s eyebrows narrow in anger.

“He’s right,” I add. “Wasn’t it you who flew over just to babysit for a weekend?”

“My brother and sister-in-law were in a pinch,” Tristan defends. “Since our sister decided to be out of town that weekend.”

“Excuse you,” I snark. “Chloe, Mom, and I had plans.”

“That you didn’t invite me to,” he chides.

“Why would we invite you to our girls’ weekend?”

He rolls his eyes toward the ceiling. “I didn’t want to go anyway. I had plans with my favorite nephew.”

“Your only nephew.”

“And mine, too,” I tell him. “Which wouldn’t be the case if you’d find someone to pop out a baby.”

“I’m not having kids,” he says with finality.

It’s bullshit though. Just like he’s putty in Lucky’s hands, I bet my last dollar Tristan will find someone who’ll have him willingly knee-deep in diaper changes and nursery rhymes. Who that person is, I have no idea, and realistically, I don’t expect it to happen anytime soon.

“If you say so,” I sing-song.

“Speaking of kids, where’d you disappear on Thursday night?” Travis asks.

I blink, completely thrown by the question while also fighting off memories of my kisses with Max.

“How is that a segue?” I ask, buying time to come up with a reasonable explanation that doesn’t include me making out with his biggest rival.