Page 94 of Fielder's Choice

“Now,” she says, pushing herself off her chair and standing up. “I want teach him now.”

I smile as I get up to join her. “You want to go home and teach your dad ballet now?”

“Yes!”

“Alright, sweet girl. Let’s get you home and teach your daddy.”

Sage struts ahead of me, the sassy girl already on a mission to get home.

I don’t think Lane is going to be prepared when we get back.

But I can’t deny the fact that I wouldn’t mind watching him attempt some of these bends while I watch…

thirty-four

Lane

“UnkyNos!”Sageshrieks,running over to the door where Knox scoops her off the ground.

“Hey there, Sagie!” he booms, spinning her around before setting her down and joining me and the rest of the guys in the living room.

“Look at you acting all paternal,” I joke as he takes a seat on the sofa beside me.

“Gonna give me some nieces or nephews, Fort?” Cole teases, taking a sip of his beer.

“I’m not even married yet, Cole,” Knox says, shaking his head. “Why don’tyougivemesome nieces or nephews?”

“Gonna have to ask my wife,” he laughs. “I’m turning thirty this year. I’m ready whenever she is.”

“What does age matter? I’m already thirty, and I’m not in a rush.”

“Ella has been talking my ear off about kids,” Josh smiles.

I eye him curiously. “You don’t seem too torn up over that, man.”

He smiles wider. “I’m not. We’re probably going to start trying soon.”

“No fu-... flipping kidding!” I reply happily. “Sounds like all of you are going to give Sage some friends soon enough.”

“Duck no,” Ari scoffs, choosing his own substitute word. “I amnothaving kids. I watched my dad try to be a parent. I’m good. All you duckers can chase around some toddlers. I don’t need that. I’m more than happy to just be the cool uncle.”

Josh stifles a laugh. “What if Lucia wants kids, though?”

Ari looks at him, annoyed. “Lane, you’re gonna want to get your daughter to sleep if you don’t want her to hear the words I’m about to say.”

I throw my head back and laugh loudly. “Come here, little lady. It’s bedtime anyway.”

Sage grumbles and tries to hide behind her uncles, but they’re on my side, so they give her up easily. I scoop her off the ground and take off toward her bedroom, leaving the guys behind for the moment.

She fights sleep for a bit, so I’m stuck a bit longer than I anticipated. She’s usually good at falling asleep on her own, but with four of her favorite people over right now, she’s fighting extra hard.

Eventually, sleep wins, and I join the guys back in the living room.

“Alright,” I smirk, flopping onto the sofa. “My daughter is asleep. Feel free to go off on Garro now.”

“What the fuck, man?” Josh chides.

“Hey, you’re the one who teased him about Lucia.”

---