I chew miserably slow, trying to find an appropriate reply.
“Yeah, I heard th-there was s-something going on in th-the park.”
“So you weren’t there?”
Did they see me? No, Rose would have come running if she knew I was there.
I shake my head. For some unknown reason, I don’t want to share Vienna with anyone just yet.
“Then we saw your long-lost twin. And believe me, he not only looked like you but also talked like you. I was right behind him when he told his date how he planned to spend his Sunday with his brothers, and that there might be a fight over desserts.”
Fuck.
Zach slaps my back. “You finally got laid, bro!”
“Dad, what’s getting laid?” Ray jumps up, and the boys’ full attention is now on us.
Thank God.
“This is getting laid.” Alex, Zander’s son, goes to the trouble of lying flat on the ground. If I weren’t the main reason for this disruption, I’d have laughed at his cute act.
“No. Getting laid means getting chocolate ice cream after dinner,” Charlie explains to his cousins. “Whenever Mom is happy, Dad always says, ‘I’m so getting laid tonight.’”
This time, I can’t hold back my snicker.
“Wow! What an amazing group of fathers we have here.” My best friend, Lukas, chuckles as he uncaps his beer bottle and throws a smirk at Oscar.
“Kristy is going to kill me,” Oscar mutters before getting down onto the floor next to the boys. “Charlie, getting laid means sleeping, exactly like Alex said. When I say I’m getting laid, I mean I’ll get to sleep peacefully. You know, Chloe is still a baby and wakes up a lot at night.”
Charlie seriously considers his dad’s words before nodding. “Yeah, she does. She also cries a lot.” He pats Oscar’s hand, truly sympathizing with his father.
“All babies cry, and Chloe is so cute,” Alex interrupts, looking serious with his puckered forehead.
“You think so because you’re in love with her,” Ray comments, setting down his gaming controller since his cousins are no longer focused on the game.
Oscar’s head turns back toward Zander, who shrugs, biting his lip. “So, Alex, you love my daughter?”
For a second, I feel for poor Alex.
“Yes, Uncle Oz. When I grow up and be a big boss like Dad, I’m going to come to your house in a suit and ask you and Aunty Kristy if I can marry Chloe. I’ll love her a lot and make her happy like my dad does to Mom.”
“You guys watch too much TV.” Oscar ruffles Alex’s hair, who’s as serious as a heart attack. “If you promise to make Chloe that happy, I might agree to it. But first we need you and her to grow up, okay?”
Alex nods, and for a second, I wish I had such confidence, such conviction, and less doubt and distrust in myself.
“Let’s put Alex stories on hold for the next few years and focus on you instead.” Zander’s eyes bore into me.
Fuck. He hasn’t given up.
“Don’t listen to Zander, bro. You’ve finally found the beauty in life. Make the most of it,” Zach gives his useless two cents.
“Can you stop your nonsense for a second?” Zander shoots an annoying look at Zach, who in turn flashes a smile at our eldest brother.
“Sh-she’s just a fr-riend, Zander.”
“Who is she?” Lukas leans forward. “The barista?”
I give Lukas the stink eye for throwing me under the bus that is my overprotective brother.