I nod, impressed.
“Congrats, that’s quite an achievement.”
Both Chris and Chase beam.
“Thanks, bro. Yeah, it’s always rough getting a new business started but we’ve been lucky. The people of our town support us and there are quite a few fitness buffs too. Even Mrs. Ogleby from down the street came in the other day, asking about a monthly membership.”
But that’s when Patty calls from the kitchen, “Boys, can you set the table please? I’d like to get dinner out.”
I start to hand off Luna to assist, but my niece clings to my shirt. “You two might have to do this without me.”
“You can be on Luna duty,” Chase grins. “She loves her uncle.”
“And I love my niece. How is Luna doing, by the way? Still wowing everyone with her sparkling personality?”
Chris nods while setting out placemats.
“Yeah, def. Her doctors adore her, and she’s hitting all her milestones no problem. Not only that, but Luna makes friends with everyone at the grocery store when I take her with me, and she’s popular at the playground too. That is, when she doesn’t get sand in her eyes.”
My niece grins toothily then and waves her arm. “Play!” she exclaims, lunging for the floor. I put her down and she takes my big hand in her own before leading me into the living room, which is littered with her toys.
“Just for a few minutes,” Patty admonishes her daughter. “We have dinner soon, remember?”
“Play!” Luna exclaims again before sitting on her bottom with a thump.
Patty laughs. “Playing is her favorite thing to do. In fact, it’s almost the only thing she does, other than eat and sleep.”
I wink at Luna. “Mine, too. I’ll play with you until dinner, okay? Come on, show me what this is about.”
I fold up my big frame to sit down on the floor with Luna and start to play with her colored blocks. My niece giggles and immediately puts the red one in her mouth before grabbing the green from my hands.
“Oh, there you go,” I say, gently pulling the red block away. “Eeew! Saliva.” Luna just giggles merrily before seizing a yellow one with her small fingers.
You’re really good with her,” my sister-in-law remarks from the dining area. “Have you thought about having kids of your own, Cameron?”
I heave a sigh.
“Maybe, but I’m not sure it’s in the cards for me. I haven’t had much luck on the dating scene lately. In fact, that would be overstating my success rate because let’s just say my love life is in the shitter right now.”
Patty throws me a curious look.
“What do you mean? You’re handsome and well-off, not to mention charming. I can’t imagine you’d have any trouble landing a woman.”
I grimace slightly, the skin around my eyes tightening.
“I don’t have any trouble finding women,” I clarify as I race a red car around Luna’s makeshift track on the floor. She beats me with her blue car and demands we race again. “But I don’t usually like them very much.”
Patty laughs merrily. “But why not? I mean, I’m sure these women are melting at your feet, right?”
I sigh again and look up.
“Have you ever heard of crabs?”
Patty cocks her head, her brown curls bouncing.
“You mean, like the little sea creatures?”
“No, like the kind that crawl around your pubic hair.”
Her mouth drops open as her eyes go wide.
“Ew! Are you serious? Your date had crabs? OMG, let me guess. You guys were just about to do the dirty and then you felt a pinch on your groin because one of her crabs was biting you.”
I shake my head and chuckle ruefully.
“No. Thank god it wasn’t that bad. My date just kept getting up during dinner to itch herself, and finally admitted that it was crabs.”
Patty looks puzzled.
“But why didn’t she postpone the date? That seems terrible.”
I shoot her another rueful look.
“I know right? But that’s how crazy these women are. They’re so desperate to meet a rich guy that they’ll actually go on dates even though they’re scratching themselves like monkeys! It’s fucking insane.”
Patty clucks sympathetically.
“That is bad, but at least you didn’t get an STD in the process,” she offers with a smile.
I merely shake my head.
“Well, the long and the short of it is that I’m not sure if finding love is something that’ll ever happen to me. I mean, crabs? Really?”
Patty giggles then before coming over to scoop up Luna, who giggles while waving her hands around.
“Trust me, I know because dating’s always tough. You’ll find someone though, Cameron. Maybe what you need to do is to stop looking and let someone find you.”
I laugh darkly. “Yeah, so how does that work? On-line dating? A matchmaker? Besides, seeing your happy family has me questioning my priorities. I mean, seeing how happy you, Chase and Chris are, I’m thinking that maybe I should look into polyamorous relationships myself. It works for you guys, after all.”