AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We all stare at each other, then Kade finally breaks the silence. "He says fuck a lot."
We all stare at him, because seriously?
Maverick is the first to crack, his giggles rolling out, despite the hands he has pressed tightly to his mouth. The rest of us follow, our belly laughs breaking the tension.
Anger drained away, we stand in silence, eyeing each other. "The building is a distraction," Ransom admits. "I thought we needed it. I thought bringing us all together is what I had to do, but I'm not so sure anymore."
Maverick and I trade glances. We've talked about this a time or two. And we have opinions. "Micah never uses his office. Neither do I. I mean I nap in there, but that's about it. Seems like a waste of space."
"And Micah doesn't need a new garage either," Maverick reminds him. "It's cool you wanted to bring him closer to us at the new place, but with that little baby...I don't know how much he'll want to work. And if he does, he won't want to be far from Holly."
"But the daycare?" Ransom asks, shoving his hands in his pockets. Ransom had this big idea of all our future kids being at the office daycare. Ransom always has big ideas.
"Is a really good idea," Jonas says. "But we need it now, not in three or four years. I've been looking at our building plans, and I think there are some things we can do with our existing space to make it more functional."
Zach uses the glass behind Ransom as a mirror and smooths his hair. "There's a building not far from us up for sale. It would be quicker to retrofit into executive space and build out what we want. With the right crew, we could have it done in six months, tops."
Ransom turns, facing the city view out the window. His shoulders are rounding in as he braces his hands on the sill. "You're all drifting away."
"That's one way of looking at it. You could also look at it as the family is growing. I think that is a good thing," Jonas says firmly.
"Yeah," Ransom says, voice remote. "That is a good thing." He raps his knuckles on the windowsill, then turns to face us. "So we scrap the building plans?"
The rest of us trade glances, then nod. We haven't asked Micah, but I know he'd be on board. He doesn't much care what happens at headquarters. As long as he has space for a project car, he's happy.
Everyone's lost in thought, probably all wondering the same thing I am. How do we stay together, keep our family strong, but still grow?
"I love her. More than I ever thought I would. I tried not to. I swear it. But she just...took my breath away. I know she's healing, but I will be there, right by her side, supporting her in any way she needs." My gaze swings between Declan and Ransom. "I'm not taking advantage, I swear."
"I know you," Ransom says quietly. "I know you in your core. But I don't know Bree very well. That was the only reason I questioned you, brother. Cara's made it seem like Bree's still fragile."
Declan winces. "Cara still sees her as fragile. Honestly, Cara's still struggling with some shit. She's taken her worry about Bree to a level one hundred. I think she knows she's being a bit extreme, but I'm not sure she can fix it."
"Maybe Cara needs some help—“ I break off, distracted by Colton and Kade. Colton's playing with the metal tool he found, and for some reason puts it to Kade's mouth. And Kade, idiot that he is, opens wide. The tool makes a clicking noise as Colton pulls the trigger, opening it wider. It actually looks a little like the jaws of life.. Both of them are grinning. At least they are until Jonas speaks.
"That is a speculum," he says, looking a little green.
"What the fuck is a speculum?" Kade asks around the metal in his mouth.
"It's inserted into the vagina. Then cranked open, often during a Pap smear."
Colton and Kade freeze, looks of horror on their faces. Kade flails, spitting it across the room with his entire body.
"Oops," Colton mutters, staring at the tool on the floor in horror.
Ransom cracks first this time, howling with laughter. He turns back to the window and braces his hands on it as his entire body shakes. The rest of us collapse where we are.
Maverick sucks back his giggles, and holds a finger up. "I speculate Kade will be using extra mouthwash tonight."
More hysteria. Colton's joining in, and Kade punches him in the stomach, which doesn't phase him much.
But we're on a roll now.
"There's no point in speculating about it," Declan cackles.
"What's the speculum's favorite game?" I ask, eyes pinned on Kade. "Peek-a-boo."
The hilarity and the jokes don't let up for a good ten minutes. We all slump on the floor smiling.
