Page 121 of Dad Next Door

“Quinn!” River shouted. “Your dads are here.”

Wrapping his arm around my waist, Quinn pulled me away from the counter and toward the entrance.

We’d invited everyone over to Quinn’s for a barbeque to celebrate a big contract that Quinn had just signed with a non-profit and to announce the details for the new clinic Stephanie, Amber, and I were planning to open when Amber’s maternity leave was over.

“Hey, Dad, Pops.” Quinn let go of me so he could hug his dads. “Where are the brats?”

Jesse stepped into the house behind their parents.

“Fu-udge off.” Jesse flicked his gaze to Leo, who was busy showing River something in his notebook.

“Where’s the food?” Adam asked, coming up behind Jesse. “I was promised food.”

“And you’ll get it when everyone’s here.” Quinn hugged his stepbrothers.

“Hi, it’s nice to see you again,” I said to Quinn’s dads. We hung out with them on a regular basis, but I still felt the need to make as good an impression as I could with them.

“You too,” his dad said with a smile, shaking my hand.

“We brought you something.” Patrick held up a bottle of wine. “This is that vintage I was telling you about.”

“Thanks.” I took it, then shook his hand in greeting too.

“Who’s missing?” Quinn glanced back at me, then looked around the entrance.

“Evan,” Nick spoke up. “He’s finishing up a call. He’ll be in soon.”

“Is Vlado with him?” Quinn asked.

“Yup. I told him to come in too instead of sitting outside in the car like a creeper.”

“Where’s Jett?” I asked, doing a quick headcount. “And my sister?”

The front door flew open, and Lydia and Jett came inside, laughing about something.

“Wassup, little bro.” Lydia sidled up to me and slung her arm over my shoulder. “How did you know I wanted a glass of wine?” She tried to grab the bottle, but I moved it out of her reach.

“Twintuition,” I deadpanned.

“You have that too?” River looked up from Leo’s notebook.

“You bet your butt we do.” Lydia gave me a little hip check. “I always know what this one is thinking.”

“What’s he thinking right now?” Zane asked with a smirk.

“He’s thinking how much he loves having me as his sister and how he can’t imagine his life without me.” She batted her eyelashes at me. “Right, little bro?”

“Yeah, let’s go with that.” I tucked the wine under my arm. “There’s a bottle chilling in the fridge if you want to get your wine on. This one is mine.”

“Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyone else want some vino?”

“We’ve got beer and soda too. And chocolate milk. You all know where the fridge and glasses are,” Quinn said. “Don’t be shy.”

“Chocolate milk, please!” Leo raised his hand and jumped up and down.

“Come on, kiddo.” She waved Leo over.

“How about we all move into the kitchen and get drinks, then we can head outside?” Quinn suggested. “Need help?” he asked Gray and Caleb, their arms full of several large containers.

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