“Oh gosh, did you really have to bring that up?” Keller and Alana were on the couch one night after they thought Jace was fast asleep. Let’s just say they were doing more than kissing, and my nephew had no problem telling me in full detail the next day when I picked him up for our outing of ice cream and the bookstore.
“Yep, you okay with Montana and me dating?” I ask him in a man-to-man manner.
“Duh, she’s only the best besides, you know, the other aunts and Nana.” He turns on his heel in his sopping-wet swim trunks, leaving us to follow him. I know for a fact he’ll be slipping and sliding to get inside to tell everyone the news.
“It’s our time,” Montana says. “I mean, who cares what they think? Jace is the coolest, and he’s fine with us.”
“You’re right.” My hand takes hers, and we head inside, prepared for whatever is thrown our way.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
montana
“Mom, Dad, Uncle Deke, Aunt Marlie, Uncle Tanner, Nana, Pop, guess what?” Jace screams the second we’re in the foyer. Everyone’s inside the house, no one is out by the pool, I’m assuming because Jace ran out of the pool when he heard Asa’s truck pull up.
“The fuck,” comes from Deke. The man beside me, well, his body locks up tight, our hands disengaging as he pulls me closer to him, his arm banding around my lower back.
“So glad you two finally made it.” His mom takes the brownie cake-like dessert out of Asa’s hands. Thank you, Food Network, for showing me an amazing recipe that I tweaked to put my own twist on it.
“Always, Mom.” Asa bends down to kiss her cheek. I go to hug her one sided since she’s now got the other hand occupied.
“Is anyone going to say something, or will it just be me?” Boy, there’s been a whole other side to Deke lately that I don’t think I’ve ever seen.
“You know what? I think I’ll say something. The reaction you’re giving us is the exact reason why we kept quiet.” Asa is ready to throw down.
“Well, you know, bubba, it’s not like you have the greatest track record with women. It wasn’t long ago you were trying to take Jace to the park to pick them up, giving him pointers on how to approach them,” Keller responds.
“Dad, Uncle Asa never did that. Why would you say that?” Jace defends his uncle.
“Then what did you do?” Alana looks from Jace to Keller as he talks.
“Well, we did go to the parks, got ice cream, and we’d talk, but he mostly pushed me on the swing, or we spun around until I was ready to lose my dessert. For the most part, he was telling me to stay away from women who were so forward and trying to come and talk to me,” Jace says matter-of-factly.
“Asa.” Keller hangs his head, upset with the information his son gave out so freely. It shows me that he feels remorse but didn’t think enough to get to the heart of Asa. “I wish so much… I wish I had taken the time to talk to you. If you’re happy, I’m happy. But if you fuck with her heart, brother or not, I’ll whoop your ass.” Asa’s fingers massage my side. A sigh of relief is all you can hear in the room at this moment
Until Leena says, “Why do you even care?” I did not expect her to have mine or Asa’s back like this. Seriously, I figured she’d be the one to be upset with us. “She’s my best friend. No, it’s not ideal that she’s, you know whatting with my brother, but who are they hurting? Also, sister from another mister, I love you. I would have given you hell, you know, seeing as I’ve warned you about Asa eighteen thousand times, but, man, do I wish you had let me in on this whole little secret love fest. Though, if we all really thought about it, Asa hasn’t been around as much, and my bestie, well, let’s just say she’s been otherwise occupied in the sense of girls’ night, long talks, and manicure days. Which, listen, Asa, I love you, but share my friend, okay?” God, I don’t deserve her as a friend. Seriously, I have sucked, and I’m going to have to do so much better.
“Love you, Leena. Come give your brother a hug.” All three of us are hugging. Jace wiggles his way in between the masses, and we laugh together.
“Love you, Asa. Love you, Montana, but, ummm... do you think you can get my brother to ease up on the scaring men off tactic? At this rate, I may never have children of my own, if you catch my drift.” The whole living room laughs at that. Clearly, Leena did not use her inside voice in the huddle.