Page 63 of Gatling
After Ryker was gone, Noah made his way over, carrying two plates of barbecue. He passed one to me, with the steak already cut up into juicy bites, and the hot dog streaked with mustard the way I liked it.
“Dinner for two,” he said.
“Thank you.” I balanced the plate on my stomach and popped a bite of steak in my mouth. “If you and Ryker keep waiting on me hand and foot like this, I’m going to get spoiled.”
“Maybe that’s part of our master plan,” Noah countered.
I gestured at him with my fork.
“Nice shirt, by the way.”
He puffed out his chest, displaying theWorld’s Coolest Unclein bold electric green letters.
“You like it? My sister got it for me. She’s a pain in the ass, but she’s cute so she can get away with it.”
I laughed and nudged him with my foot.
“Hey, gimme your phone.”
He snorted.
“Damn, butterbean. Did I teach you nothing? Say please first.”
I flapped my hand at him, making a grabbing motion.
“I promised to help with your online dating profile, remember?”
Noah wrinkled his nose and retrieved his phone from his back pocket.
“What if I told you I already have a date? For tonight.”
“Really?” I perked up.
“No,” Noah replied.
I rolled my eyes.
“Pest.”
“Brat,” he said with a wink.
The screen door on the porch opened with a squeal and Kingpin’s wife, Hattie emerged. In her arms was bundled her baby boy, Benji. Kingpin seemed to materialize out of nowhere and slid the diaper bag strap off her shoulder. He touched Benji’s wispy brown hair lightly with a soft look in his eyes.
I waved to get Hattie’s attention and held out my arms.
“Can I hold him?”
Hattie smiled, looking every inch like a proud mama, eager to show off her boy. I shifted to make room for her on the bench as she approached. Benji yawned, his little pink mouth forming a perfect O.
“He has a full belly and he’s ready for a nap,” Hattie said, settling him into my arms. “So he shouldn’t be fussy.”
Benji blinked up at me sleepily. I marveled at his little fingers and toes, his smooth skin, and that sweet baby scent. I could stare at him for hours, memorizing every detail, enchanted with such a flawless little being.
Ryker came to stand behind the bench, placing a hand on my shoulder. I tilted my head back to look at him.
“Jesus,” he muttered. “You haven’t popped out one kid yet and you’re looking at me like you’re ready to have ten of them.”
“We should make it an even dozen, don’t you think?”
