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“Hey, hey,” he says, flopping onto the couch so his head lands in Drew’s lap, and his feet hit Ryan’s lap near his groin. Drew laughs as Ryan winces from the impact and shoves Axel’s feet to the ground. Axel says ouch and kicks at his brother's thigh. Ryan reaches over to smack him but misses as Axel rolls over Drew’s legs onto the floor by his feet, then sticks his tongue out at his brother.
Yeah, they need to get out of this house before they kill each other in a heat-induced haze. “I was just about to tell your brothers about the surprise I have for you all today.”
“I love surprises,” Axel shouts, reclaiming his former position on the couch—not learning from before—using his feet to annoyingly push Ryan in the thigh, but stops as soon as Ryan levels a death glare on him.
“I hope all of you do because it’s for everyone. I got all of us tickets to the amusement park. Roller coasters and wave-pool all day if you’re interested, and free food. All on me.”
“Hell yes!” Ryan says. “I’m going to Lazy River it all day.”
“Me too! Yeah! You’re the best, Noah. You’re really nice.” Axel gets off the couch and throws his arms around my waist, almost pushing me back a bit.
“Well, thanks.” I laugh, glad that I could make him this happy.
“Come on, Axel, I’m going to get my swim trunks. I’ll help you find yours.” Ryan leads the way up the stairs.
“I can’t believe you did that,” Lexi says. “I can’t let you pay for all of us, Noah, it’s way too expensive.”
“I got this, Lexi. If I couldn’t afford it, I wouldn’t have offered. Besides, you can’t say no now, babe, already paid for.”
“Do you know how much they can eat? On top of what you’ve already paid for the tickets for all of us? It doesn’t feel right to me to let you do this without me at least contributing something.” She stares up at me, a line formed between her brows like she's seriously going to flat-out refuse my offer and say no.
“Stop worrying. I got this,” I say before she has a chance to say no. “Let me do something good for you, a day out. With your family and me. It’ll be our first family date. It’s good practice.”
“For what? Being broke and highly annoyed by all the arguing and the ‘stop hitting me’ on the way there,ifI say yes to this.”
“You remember what I said about the pressure cooker? Come on…” I give her my best smile holding her hands and shaking them in an attempt to make her smile. “Take—the—lid—off.”
“Yeah, Lex, take the lid off. Let the man do something good for us,” Drew says from his spot on the couch where I’d forgotten for a second he was still there. “We deserve it.”
“Drew.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but listen to Drew.”
“You should always listen to Drew. Besides, Axel is going to throw a shit storm of tantrums if you tell him no now. Do you want to deal with that all day in this hot ass house?” Drew looks at her.
“Hell no.” She sighs, head hanging down. “Fine! We’ll go. But you’ll let me pay you back for some of it when I get paid. That’s the only way I’m agreeing.”
“Whatever makes you happy.” I try to keep the triumphant smile off my face, knowing full well I won’t be taking any of her money.
“I’m getting my trunks.Andyou're welcome, Noah,” Drew says, walking past us.
“I guess I don’t have to ask if he’s going.” I pull Lexi to me, smiling, hands on her hips.
“He was a sure bet from when you said free food.” We look at each other and laugh. “I’m going to get some stuff. I’ll be right back.
“I’ll be out front waiting for y’all.” I watch her run up the stairs, happy that was settled as quickly as it was. I want to spend the day with her and do something nice for her and the boys. I think they all need a little time to decompress and have some fun for a day. Doesn’t seem like they get much of those from what I’ve seen. It’s worth the cost to see them be kids for a day and enjoy themselves.
Twenty minutes later, after I looked over my handy work on the almost finished front porch, the Brooks-Sullivan clan comes stumbling out the door pushing each other, voices raised. I smile, knowing I will never be bored with this bunch. “All ready, have everything you need?”
“I think we’re good,” Lexi says, locking the door with her key, while her brothers shuffle over next to me on the steps.
“Hey, Holden and Shauna are here!” Axel says, running off the steps toward them, throwing his arms around her waist, and fist bumping my brother.
“Oh, shoot,” Lexi looks in their direction and says. “I totally spaced out and forgot she was coming over. She’s going to be pissed she came this way and now I’m bailing on her.”
“What’s he doing here?” Drew says as we walk to where my brother and Shauna are standing in front of his car.
“I figured we wouldn’t all fit in my truck so he’s coming with us. I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t think you would since we all got along so well during paint wars and all?”
