Page 31 of Two Weddings and a Shoot Out

Locks couldn’t handle it another second not holding Benji. He pulled him into his arms and patted his shoulder as Benji cried on Locks’ shoulder. Locks had felt eyes on them from the first, and when Benji started crying, Locks clocked Phoebe, Blake, andEzra walking toward them. He held up his hand to have them hold a little bit away.

“I do love you, Benji. From the first time I saw you in that house on Christmas Eve and I saw how strong you were being even when you were scared, you meant something to me.”

Locks fought his own tears, but then he let them flow because kids needed to learn it was okay for men to cry. It was just like Kathryn used to say. Tears were the body’s way of letting the joy or grief out. Today might be a little of both.

Benji pulled back. “I trust you, but I kind of like the idea of a spit shake.”

Locks chuckled and pulled back and spit in his hand. Benji spit in his.

“I promise to be your family and maybe take over the business someday,” Benji said solemnly.

“I promise to love you, protect you, and teach you whatever you need to know to be the man I know you can be,” Locks said just as solemnly.

Locks grasped Benji’s small hand in his and shook.

Was he really starting over again? Yep, hopefully, it would keep him young, but he had an inkling that Phoebe, Blake, Ezra, and Benji would be leading the younger kids in the years to come.

Phoebe and the kids with her had waited long enough and walked over to Benji and him.

“Since Benji’s part of the family, he might need an animal or maybe a racing bike. I’ve been asking Dad for one,” Phoebe said.

“Hmm, we’ll have to think about that after this weekend because it’s something Mimi and I have to talk about. I’m not saying no. I’m saying I have to discuss it with Mimi, and it needs to be a conversation when we’re not doing a whole bunch of other things. As far as the racing bike, my girls helped me buildtheirs when they were I think ten or eleven. I’ll have to check, and we’ll make sure we do it the same time,” Locks said.

Locks bit his lip at Phoebe’s look of consternation. She hadn’t thought he’d have an answer on the racing bike. Bear was probably going to hear about her needing a racing bike now. Maybe he should clear out a little of the second garage area that they used for furniture storage. All the kids could build their own bikes with their moms or dads or whoever wanted to help. Locks nodded. After this weekend, he’d throw the planning into full speed. He’d been wanting something to focus on and building dirt bikes for the kids sounded perfect.

He waited until the kids walked off and then walked back to Hope, who had been trying not to watch them the whole time.

He slid his arm around her and took her mouth again, this time without little ones asking questions. When he’d kissed Hope until she sagged against him, weak in the knees, he pulled back.

“Benji and I are good,” Locks said and wondered how soon he could ask her to marry him and how soon he could get a cut for her and for Benji.

Chapter Twenty

Remisatinthelawn chair waiting for the pickleball tournament to start. Was she the only one who could see this was a disaster in the making? Most of the Nelson cousins were participating, along with her husband and the majority of the MC brothers. Then add in the other clubs that would have a couple teams participating, and it was going to get crazy.

Some of the teams had decided they’d fortify themselves with some liquid refreshment of the alcoholic variety, which Remi had no problem with unless they blew chunks because of the exercise. After finally not having any nausea, no one was going to make her feel sick this weekend. Since she was a sympathetic puker, maybe she should lay down the law. Yep, that’s what she’d do.

Rascal, Baron, and her dad, Locks, were in charge of the competition and were getting ready to give the rules and the playing order. Screw that. She was making her announcement first. She grabbed the sides of her lawn chair and hefted herselfout of it. How her belly could cause so many issues with her getting out of a chair surprised her.

War’s spawn was supposedly only one kid, but she worried the baby might be a gigantor or be hiding a little twin behind them. She marched over to her dad and pulled the microphone out of his hand.

“Good evening! I just wanted to give a little guidance before Baron, Locks, and Rascal give the announcements. I just got over the puking stage of my pregnancy.

“I want you all to have a fantastic time, and if that includes libations, great. If those libations make you have to puke, I’m going to warn you that you better make sure you aren’t in my vicinity. If you make me blow chunks when I’m actually getting to enjoy the food this weekend, I will use you for target practice. And if you don’t know how well I can shoot, check with the last guy I put in the ground,” Remi growled.

Her dad chuckling beside her had Remi turning her glare toward him.

“Sweetie, I made it through your teens. You being pregnant doesn’t scare me,” Locks said, pulling her in for a hug.

“Love you,” he said.

“I love you, Daddy. I really don’t want to throw up, so let’s keep their puking on the courts to a minimum,” Remi muttered.

“All right. Now, in addition to Remington’s rules, here are our rules. Number one, only two team members on the court at a time. You may have two alternates, but under no circumstances may more than two players be on the court. This includes your opponent’s court. Number two, neither spectators nor players may throw anything on the court or at any of the players. Number three, judges’ decisions are final. Although pickleball is self-scored, a judge will be watching the matches. Judges’ rulings are final on the last four matches of the tournament. Don’t fucking piss me off,” Baron said.

“Swear, Papa,” Phoebe yelled.

“Phoebe, I friggin’ pay the subscription for swears. Am I not current on payments?” Baron yelled back.

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