Real World, page 10
“Well, congrats to her. Yay babies!” Audie grinned like a giant dipshit.
Dan shook his head. “I’m surrounded.”
“Indeed you are. You’re at that age, I guess.” Audie sighed softly and shook his head. “I don’t want to, but I got to get back to work. I have my phone, honey. I’ll be at the barn.”
God, how very normal.
Audie left, and Dixon traced the edge of his glass. “So did you want me to make excuses for Sunday, Dan? I totally will.”
“What? What do you mean?” He blinked, the sudden change in subject leaving him off guard.
“Well, I mean, I know that the whole kids thing isn’t your favorite, and God knows there’s seven between us. I wanted to give you an out. A chance to not have to hang with the paternal crowd. I forget that everyone’s not exactly where I am all the time.”
“I don’t hate kids, Dix, you know that. I don’t know what to do with them.” He did sort of feel like an odd man out every so often. “I promised I’d come.”
“I know that! I just know you never get a break, and then there’s a party and you get more kids. Yay.” Dixon sort of looked toward him. “I want you to be happy here. Randi and Grainger think you’re magical. Best uncle… well, maybe not ever. Dalton brings sugar and pizza, but you get it.”
“They’re amazing. I do yoga. That wins me with Randi, anyway.” He patted Dix’s hand, reassuring with contact. “I need to figure out what I’m doing, so Weldon and I need to—slow down, maybe? I don’t know.”
“Yeah. I get that. He’s a good guy, but he’s very busy with life, and Audie says he’s looking for a lover.”
Dan sighed, feeling the weight of that, of how he could disappoint someone like Weldon so easily. “Yeah. He’s had two in his life, from what he says. Both serious.”
“Yeah. His wife and the ex-boyfriend. Audie says the ex and his husband are smoking hot.”
“Nice.” Dan wasn’t sure what to say. He’d never met anyone who was truly bi. Sure, a few guys in the service had been willing to trade bro jobs because they were hard up, but that was not the same thing.
“It’s a little new, huh? Audie and I talked about it. He’s like genuinely into boobs and dick.”
“That’s enough, bro. That’s my… I mean, don’t talk about him.”
“What? You need to talk to someone about it. At least I can’t see your face.”
“Still, I wouldn’t say that about Audie.”
“Audie isn’t into girls, Dan.”
“No, but I wouldn’t—argh.” Dan thunked his head on the table.
Dix chuckled. “I still got it.”
“You are such a butthead.” Dan thought about pinching Dixon’s nipple or giving him a wet willie.
“You just need to breathe, man. Weldon’s a good guy and Audie’s best friend down here. Don’t fuck it up.”
Oh, that was it. He jumped up and put Dix in a headlock, giving him a noogie.
Dixon grunted, rabbit punching him in the ribs until Boomer barked madly at them.
“Christ, no wonder Dalton smacked you.”
“Fuck you, dipshit.”
“Boomer! What’s—Daddy! Why is Uncle Dan hitting you?”
Shit. Looked like the kids were home. Dan grunted when Dix gave him a kidney shot. “Technically, he’s hitting me.”
Grainger rolled his eyes. “Don’t hurt his fingers, Uncle Dan. I have a lesson today.”
Randi walked over, kissed the top of her father’s headlocked head. “You look cute like that. I got a hundred on my spelling test. Where’s Daudie?”
“In the barn.” Dixon choked out the words, so Dan let up on his windpipe.
“’Kay! Don’t kill him. I love him!” She bounced off. “Daudie! I got an a hundred!”
He could hear Audie out in the backyard, his voice a smooth drawl. Grainger grabbed a juice out of the fridge, humming a bluesy little tune. These were some well-adjusted kids.
“You going to be good, Dix?” he asked.
“Not a chance. Grab me a Coke, Mr. G.”
“Yessir.” Grainger got his stepdad a Coke, and Dan snorted, letting go of Dixon’s head.
“So, I have to go to the store to get the stuff for popper dip. You need me to grab anything?”
“You’ll have to ask Audie, man. I’m still on microwave-only detail after that unfortunate incident with the cinnamon toast and the dish towel.”
“Oops.” Dan figured Audie was right. Fire bad.
“Yeah. No shit. Just ask Audie. I’m sure he has a plan.”
“Will do.” He got a thumbs-up from Grainger, who was clearly ready to help Dix out with anything. “I’ll be right back.”
“No worries, Uncle Dan. We’re cool. Dad, did I tell you about PE yet? I hit a double.”
“Hey, that’s good.” Dixon sounded like he was beaming with pride.
Dan couldn’t blame him. Grainger calling Dix Dad. That was as awesome as it got.
He headed out into the pasture, where Randi was jabbering a million miles a minute. “…and Patti Jo called Jenny a bitch, and Miss Kirsch overheard her, and she went to the principal’s office, and her mom was so mad, and Jenny cried lots because she thought they were best friends.”
“Well, that’s sad, honey. There are better ways to tell someone you don’t want to be friends anymore. Here, grab that currycomb.”
“I know, right? Emma and me, we’re gonna be best friends forever.”
“Just make sure you remember that people like different things sometimes.”
Audie was a good dad. He really was. Dan cleared his throat.
“Hey man, what’s up?”
“Heading to the HEB. Want anything?”
“Uh. Milk, chips, hot dogs, grape jelly…. Can I text you?”
“Yep. Anything you want to take Sunday too. On me.”
“You sure? We’re supposed to take Chex mix and pizza rolls.”
“Sure. So, Chex, nuts, butter, we have Worcestershire sauce.”
Audie nodded. “Garlic salt and pretzel sticks.”
“Got it. And Totino’s? Or are you playing chef?”
“Get two big bags of the frozen. It’s enough that I’m not buying the other stuff.”
“Okay. Text me the rest of the stuff.” He winked at Randi. “Don’t tell on me.”
“She already did.”
“Traitor!”
“Nah. You were playing.” She came to him, hugged him hard.
He kissed the springy, curly red hair on her head that was so like his. “I was. He was saying icky stuff, but that’s how we solve things.”
“Yep. Can we have tacos for supper?”
He looked to Audie.
Audie nodded. “Sure, kiddo. As long as you help me chop. I’ll add the stuff to the list.”
“I totally can. Grainger and Daddy will be jamming out anyway. We can hang out with Uncle Dan.”
“We can,” Dan agreed, honored that she included him. “I make a mean corn tortilla, but I’ll understand if you want taco shells.”
“You make tortillas? Like from…. Daudie, what are tortillas made of?”
“Corn and flour.”
“You make tortillas from corn? For reals?”
“I do. I mean, I buy the corn meal dried and ground up. It’s called masa.” He would get some and show her. “Masa and water and salt.”
“Can I try too?”
“Yep. Do you have a tortilla press?” he asked Audie. He could get one at the store.
“No, man. I don’t. I have a warmer.”
“Check. Okay. Be back in a few.” Dan knew it was… what? Sad? Ridiculous? Going to the store made him feel useful and got him out of the house.
“Have fun. Randi, currycomb and tell me about what book you picked for your report.”
Dan chuckled, heading to his truck, Audie’s text chiming in a few moments later. God, he was…. Was he part of this family? Beyond just Uncle Dan.
The idea warmed him, more pleasant than he expected.
Did that make him soft? Easy?
He chuckled under his breath. What? He was going to go jack off to gunfire to prove his masculinity. Christ.
Nah. He’d get some Velveeta and Ro*Tel at the store. That would reset the balance in the world.
There wasn’t anything queso couldn’t solve.
Chapter Ten
“MADDIE, CAN you please get your brother to put his pants on?” Weldon was making taquitos, and those sons of bitches burned like nothing going.
“Which brother?” Maddie teased.
“Screw you, Maddie.” Jakob leaned back in his chair, almost tipping it over.
“Jakob, if you bust your head, I am not missing the game to take you to the ER.”
“Man, glad to know that you’re in the running for the father-of-the-year award.”
“Yep. That’s me.” Weldon chuckled and pulled the next set of taquitos out. “Super dad.”
Caleb went streaking by, naked as a jaybird.
Weldon sighed and abandoned his mini chicken squares for a moment to snag Caleb and toss him in the air. “What are you doing?”
“No more pants!” his angel boy crowed. “No more pants!”
Maddie had pants, briefs, and a sweatshirt, waiting with a long-suffering look on her face.
“Buddy, Randi is coming over.” Caleb had a terrible baby crush on Randi. “She likes clothes.”
Caleb wiggled, fighting to get down. “Randi!”
“Yessir. Go to Miss Maddie and let her help.”
“Maaaadieee! Church suit!”
He rolled his eyes at Maddie. If Caleb wanted to wear his good clothes, so be it.
“It’s football day, Caleb! How about your Batman costume?” Jakob was a wicked little turd.
“Batman!” Caleb started humming the old TV theme.
He handed Caleb over to Maddie. “What would I do without you?”
“God knows. Probably have lots of naked kids running amok.”
Emma came wandering through. “Amok, amok, amok! Daddy, I’m hungry. When’s the party?”
“Soon. If you’d eaten your breakfast, you wouldn’t be hungry.”
“I wasn’t hungry then, though!”
“Yep, but I told you that you’d have to wait until lunch.”
The gusty sigh was pure proof that the tweens were on the way and getting closer. Daily.
“Help me make chicken squares,” he told her. “Have a cracker.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
“Wash your hands.”
Kenzie came bouncing up, all tulle and sparkles. “Can I cook too?”
“Of course. Wash your hands.” He thought maybe parents said that phrase more than any other.
“Okay, Daddy!”
Emma looked at Kenzie and there was a second where things could get ugly, but Emma scooted over and let her sister in at the sink.
Whew. He got Emma rolling out squares and Kenzie scooping goo, which was great. He could move on. He still wanted to make sausage balls. His mother-in-law, Mel, was bringing kolache. Mom and Dad were bringing cheese ball and cupcakes.
It was going to be a good time.
The knock on the back door made him jump, the dogs setting up a ruckus. Audie stuck his head into the kitchen, chuckling. “Hope it’s okay we came early. We figured we could help.”
“Totally. Come on in, y’all.” Dixon needed to get the lay of the land. It wasn’t Dix’s first time here, but the man wasn’t easy with this place yet.
“Hey!” Jakob stood, Pepper snapping to attention. “Dixon, come on over and help me fold napkins.”
Dix tilted his head. “We’re folding napkins?”
“Yep. Mini goal posts, or so Maddie assures me.”
“Really? That’s cool.”
Audie led Dixon over, helped him sit on the sofa, as Randi and Grainger rushed in.
“Randi! I Batman!” Caleb rushed out from the back hall and stood with his hands on his hips.
“Batman!” Randi clapped, which sent his wee boy over the moon.
“Cool.” Grainger tweaked one fake ear on Caleb’s head. “Can I do anything?”
“You want to help make sausage balls?”
“Sausage balls?”
“Do you not have those all winter?” he teased. “Here. Open those rolls of sausage. Wash your hands first.”
“Yes, sir. Daddy, I’m going to help Mr. Weldon!”
“Good deal. Get that oven going for Dan’s dip, kiddo.”
“Yes, sir.”
At the sound of Dan’s name, his stupid body tightened, and he looked toward the door. Said man walked in seconds later, laden like a pack mule. “I bring goodies!”
“You do. Maddie, help. I got sausage fingers!” He waggled his meat-covered hands.
“Ew!” Maddie stuck her tongue out, which made Emma and Randi giggle.
Dan handed Maddie a couple of bags, thanking her, and her eyes shot to Audie, cheeks heating.
Lord. Crushes. God save him.
At least Audie was aware and dear about the whole thing, right?
“Hey, Maddie,” Audie said gently. “How’s it going?”
“G… good. Good. I.” Her cheeks caught fire.
Dan grinned, winking at Weldon. “So, where can I set up my cutting board?”
“Come on in. There’s room over here by the sink.” Weldon pointed with his gross fingers.
“Sausage balls. Yum.” Now, see, Dan was a man who knew his Texas food.
“Yessir. I heard someone tell me that Mr. Dixon loved them.”
“He does.” Dan rolled his eyes. “Miss Randi has possibly never had them. Ron thought they were kinda gross.”
“That was Dixon’s first husband?”
“Yeah. He was a stand-up guy, but he preferred his Super Bowl parties catered.”
“Ah.” Shit, at his wedding, they’d had Doritos and cupcakes from the HEB. Green ones.
“Yeah. He was a good dad, though, and he adored Dix.”
“That’s the important thing.” He couldn’t see Dixon with catered anything.
“Yep. Audie is more my kind of food person, though.”
“No shit.” He grinned at Dan. “I’ve been thinking about your dip all week.”
“Flirt.” Dan winked, the word said low so the kids didn’t hear.
He winked right back, refusing to apologize for wanting a little spice in his life.
Dan got a board set up and began chopping garlic. “Been a good week?”
“Not bad. Normal. I like normal.” Normal meant no disasters. No blood spurting or broken bones, no meltdowns or broken hearts.
“Good for normal, then!” Dan nodded easily, arms bulging.
God, that was…. Damn.
He could…. Stop it.
Stop it right now. No staring. No drooling.
No knowing smiles when he and Dan glanced at each other.
Dan didn’t help with that. Not even a little bit. Dan kept being gorgeous, kept being a stud who wanted him. Those big hands looked so perfectly capable, and he couldn’t forget how they felt on him.
He closed his eyes for half a second, sucking in a deep breath.
Dan touched the back of his hand. “You okay?”
“Great. Just great.” Just wanting to kiss you stupid. Nothing big.
“Cool. You want to chop jalapenos?”
“I can do that. Diced?” He could dice a motherfucking pepper.
“Please.” Dan got to grating cheddar and crunching up Ritz.
“You look like you’re experienced at this, man,” he said, going for nonsexual small talk.
“Oh man, I tell you. Guys in the barracks can eat some spicy dip. It’s self-preservation.”
“No horse in the game today, Weldon?” Audie asked, as Weldon whacked at jalapenos.
“Nope. I’m here for the company and the food. Well, and I live here.”
“That explains all the children and sawdust.”
“Right?” He cackled, wiggling his butt in a little dance. He did love his life.
“Dan. Stop staring.” Audie’s whisper made Weldon blink.
“Sorry.” Dan jerked his head around and chopped and grated.
Weldon’s cheeks went bright red, but damn it felt fine. Someone admiring him? Wanting him? He’d forgotten what that felt like.
Not that Krista hadn’t wanted him. She’d had his back, 100 percent. She’d been gone long enough….
Dan eased the knife out of his hand. “Hey, can you soften the cream cheese?”
“I can. Totally.” Focus, man. You’re not fifteen anymore.
“Thanks.” Those eyes were so damned green.
“Daddy, can we have a cookie?” Emma asked.
“Yeah. Y’all share with Kenzie and Caleb.”
“Yessir.” Her lower lip pooched out for a moment, but she dutifully tugged out cookies for all.
Jakob and Maddie were in the front room with Dixon, jabbering away, and Audie wandered over like he was drawn to his husband.
Weldon got it. You could spend all day, every day with someone and still want to be with them. That was love.
The microwave dinged, and he pulled out the cream cheese and handed it over. Dan smiled for him, fingers stroking his hands.
“So show me how to make this dip.”
“You bet. You take your garlic and your cream cheese, jalapenos and cheddar and mix them all up.”
“There’s no bad there.”
“It gets better.” Dan pulled out a bag of bacon bits and tossed the whole mess in before salting and peppering. “Now we melt butter.”
“Woo!” He hooted, and Dan laughed.
“Right?” Dan handed him two sticks of butter.
They kept touching—little random contacts that made his eyes cross. Dan was tactile, rubbing at the small of Weldon’s back when he stretched it, touching his elbow to pass by him. It was delicious and maddening at the same time, keeping him sensitized and ready for action.
The kids, thank God, were self-amusing.
Things came in and out of the oven, the popper dip and the sausage balls competing for the best flavor. The pizza rolls were what drew the kids before Maddie popped in a couple of cherry pies.
“You want a glass of tea or a beer or something?” he asked Dan.
“I would love a beer. I’ll switch to tea later on.”
