“He speaks the truth,” Damien said in agreement. “We were little shits.”
“Nothing’s changed,” Alec mused. “You’re still little shits.”
I excused myself to use the bathroom once the twins starting rowing with Alec over how much of a little shit he was and is. I took my time relieving myself and cleaning up a bit before I thought of going back downstairs. I changed clothes in my room, brushed out my hair, and plaited it to keep it out of my face. When I felt a little more human, I went back downstairs but halted in the hallway when I heard voices coming from the street.
I exited my house and walked down the steps and to the end of my garden when I spotted Alec at our gate holding a white football in his hands with three boys surrounding him.
“What’s goin’ on?”
Alec looked at me. “They kicked their ball at the house; I caught it when I was leaving.”
“We didn’t do it on purpose, missus,” one of the boys almost shouted at me, pleading their case.
I recognised the boy; he was my neighbour and from a few doors down.
“You’d better not have, or I’ll pop your stupid soccer ball,” Alec warned them.
“Fuck you, mister,” the boy snapped. “I’ll tell me ma if you do.”
“Kid,” Alec laughed, “don’t threaten me. I’ll start making promises if you do.”
Uh-oh.
“Yeah?” the boy snapped. “Like what? You stupid yank.”
“Don’t mess with me, kid,” Alec warned.
“Or what?’ the kid countered.
“I’ll fuck your sister and mom then marry them both and become your step-dad and brother-in-law if you cross me again, you little shit.”
The kid’s face went the colour of beetroot when his friends cracked up laughing.
“Me da will kick your arse for sayin’ that!” he angrily hissed at Alec.
“Then I’ll fuck his ass and marry him too. Don’t try me on this, Bilbo. I’ll wifey up your entire household, and we’ll all be one big happy fucking family.”
The kid’s face turned a darker shade of red as his friends’ laughter rose.
“I’m tellin’ your missus!” he spluttered.
“You almost hit my face with the ball, and she loves my face, so please,” Alec said, and gestured towards my house where Keela was, “go ahead,”
The kid hesitated, so Alec continued, “She’ll double team your brothers in front of you if you give her attitude.”
The kid widened his eyes and said, “Your whole family is bloody crazy!” Then he turned and ran off, his friends following closely behind. All three of them forgot their football.
“And don’t you forget it!” Alec shouted after him before kicking the ball after them. He shook his head and looked at me. “Fucking pussy looked like he was about to cry.”
I had to cross my legs as laughter spilled from me accompanied by a painful stitch in my side.
“Branna?” I heard Ryder’s voice call from behind me.
“She’s fine,” Alec shouted as he grabbed me, so I didn’t fall over. “She’s just laughing and possibly pissing herself.”
I smacked at him with my hands as I wheezed with laughter, and he found this amusing but just for a moment.
“Shit, Bran,” Alec said, panicked. “Are you okay?”
I wanted to say yes, but I couldn’t because a stitch was paining me.
“Ryder!” he shouted.
“I’m fine,” I rasped and placed my hands on my hips. “Just lost my breath.”
“Bran?” Ryder said, his hands gripping my shoulders.
“I’m fine,” I assured him. “Just laughed too hard and lost my breath.”
“I’m getting your prescription from the pharmacy as soon as I get you up to bed,” he stated.
I smiled when I looked up at him. “Okay, Daddy.”
He grinned, and we looked at Alec when he grunted.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing, I love witnessing sexual tension when I haven’t gotten any in two days.”
“Two days?” I said dryly. “How tragic.”
“Tell me about it,” he grunted. “Damn periods fuck my life up. I’m thankful for my hand.”
Ryder laughed.
“That’s what you’re thankful for?” I asked Alec. “Your hand?”
“I’m thankful there are so many different ways to eat potatoes,” he instantly replied.
I smiled at the thought of food.
“Me too, and for pizza. All the different styles of pizza.”
Alec bumped his fist with mine.
“You’re my spirit animal,” he said.
I laughed. “And you’re mine.”
Alec went on his way to his house, and just as I turned to head back up to my house with Ryder, I spotted Kane’s car driving down the road. Ryder noticed them too.
“You ready to tell them the baby news?” he asked.
I beamed. “Born ready.”
“We’ll get Lana later and tell her,” he said. “Then that’s everyone we love who knows we’re having twins.”
I was tired, hungry, and desperate to sleep in my own bed, but nothing could compare to the happiness I felt when Ryder’s words sunk in. It was real; we were having twin boys, and everyone was happy. What felt most important to me was that I was happy, truly happy, and I’d be damned if it didn’t feel good.