Page 55 of Knuckle's Dispute

“Your mom and I won’t ever hold you back no matter what you wanna do with your life.If you wanna go to college, go ahead.Join the club?We’ll support you.No matter what, we’ll be the support system neither one of us had growin’ up.The only thing I know you’ll do is learn how to fight and defend yourself.That’s the only thing I’ll put my foot down on because it’s important and something I wish I had at a younger age.Rooster is the one who got me into a gym when I was seventeen and I have loved every second of it.Any of our kids will be put through the same trainin’.Even the girls.Your mom is kickin’ ass when she trains and I know she’ll agree with our daughters learnin’ the same stuff as her.

“If you wanna play sports, it will help.That’s another thing I wish I did when I was in school.Playin’ sports would’ve kept me out of the foster homes longer than just goin’ to school.If only I had made smarter choices back when I was younger.While we won’t force you to do anythin’, we will encourage you to follow your dreams.The only other thing I’ll be strict about is your education.There is no way in hell I’m gonna let you slack off and fail your classes because you don’t wanna do the work necessary.I didn’t always do my homework the way I was supposed to and my grades suffered because of it.I’m not gonna let you make the same mistakes as me,” I tell the boys, needing to talk a little with everything in my head circling on repeat after having a nightmare last night that wouldn’t stop playing.

“You good, Micah?”Janessa’s sweet voice asks me as she stands in the doorway and I turn to look at her.

“I’m okay, Little Fighter.Had a bad night and thought I’d come out here with the boys.They’re sleepin’.Matty has finally decided to go to sleep so the medicine must have finally kicked in.He’s still got a slight fever though,” I tell her, my voice low so it doesn’t wake them up.“Kaden finally went back to sleep too.He had a rough night as you know and fell asleep as soon as we got out here and I started swingin’ a little bit.”

“Good.He can’t stand it when Matty’s sick or crying.Such a good big brother,” she says, making her way over to us with two cups of coffee in her hands.

Janessa hands me one of the cups and I take a sip of the coffee she makes to perfection every damn time.Setting my cup down on the table next to me, I pull the blanket back so my wife can sit with us.Kaden remains snuggled into my chest as I move Janessa closer to us.Keeping my arm wrapped around her shoulders, I start swinging slowly once again and my wife lays her head on my shoulder while looking out over the yard surrounding our home.The same thing we do every morning we’re out here.

“Do you regret marrying me and having the boys?”Janessa suddenly asks me from out of nowhere.

“No, I don’t.Why would you ask me that, Little Fighter?”I question her, stopping the swing and turning to face her the best I can as she sits up.

“It’s just something I think about every now and then.You have your pick of women at the clubhouse and hardly hang out there these days.You spend more time here with us than partying and living your life the way you want,” she answers, her voice a whisper as Tease exits his house and looks over at us with a smile.

“Janessa, if I wanted to be at the clubhouse, I’d be there.The girls didn’t appeal to me even before we got married.Honestly, since the night we were together at the bar, I didn’t fuck around with anyone.No one appealed to me.They all pale in comparison to you and I have no desire to be anywhere but where the boys and you are.You’re my wife and there’s nowhere I’d rather be than at your side.If you wanna go to the clubhouse, we’ll go down there.You wanna stay here and hang out with a few people, that’s what we’ll do.I don’t give a fuck about any of that shit.Partyin’ is for the younger guys and it’s not somethin’ I need in my life.I’ve had years of partyin’ and all that shit.I’m over it and nothin’ will change my mind about it,” I tell her honestly as Tease walks up the steps and joins us in a seat close to the swing.

Tease takes Matty from my arms and holds him against his chest.He makes sure the baby is covered completely while I adjust Kaden in my arms so Janessa can move closer.

“How’s my family doin’ this mornin’?”Tease asks, rubbing his hand up and down Matty’s back.

“Matty’s still not feelin’ good.He was up most of the night again.Thinkin’ the medicine finally kicked in and is helpin’ him feel better.Now he just needs rest so he can get over this shit completely.Because he didn’t have a good night, Kaden didn’t have a good night.We’re all exhausted and Janessa should be in bed still.However, you know my wife.She never rests when I give her the chance to,” I tell my cousin as he starts laughing when Janessa smacks me on the shoulder and joins in the laughter.

“I have things to do today.I’m working from home because of Matty.Victoria knows and will keep the office running as normal.Doc’s gonna stop in this afternoon and check on our boy too.I want to make sure the infection isn’t getting worse after last night.I called him before coming out here.Marie might stop over too.She has to go to the salon this morning and then will be over,” she informs me and I know she’ll call me the second Doc leaves to update me on Matty.

“Poor little man.You should’ve called me if Matty was up all night.I would’ve come over to help you guys and you know this,” Tease says, looking down at my boy with nothing but love in his eyes.“I only have one appointment today so I can leave the shop early and come over to help you with the boys.No need for you to be here alone while Knuckles works.I know he’s got that important meetin’ this week and needs to finish preparin’ the report.”

“Okay.I’m not planning on going anywhere today.We’ll be here.If you can get back around lunchtime, feel free to buy something and bring it back with you,” Janessa teases my cousin as he starts laughing.

“You know I got ya, Nessy.I’ll always bring ya food because you’re feedin’ this growin’ boy.Is Kaden still eatin’ regular food?”

“Of course he is.You know he always steals part of your meal when you eat with us,” I answer laughing at my son because it’s the truth.

Tease tries to keep his food away from Kaden and my boy fights dirty to steal it from his plate before eating it.Kaden always has his own plate of food but apparently his godfather’s tastes better or something.Or it’s just a game to Kaden and Tease does nothing to stop it.His over-the-top reactions are what draws Kaden in honestly.My son lives for that kind of shit.

We spend another half hour outside before Matty starts to wake up.Tease immediately takes him inside while Janessa and I follow slower with Kaden in my arms.We find Tease sitting on the couch with Matty laying on his legs.Matty’s awake and fussing as Janessa makes her way over to nurse him.I help her one-handed place a blanket over her body while Tease turns his head so he doesn’t get an accidental glance of something he’s not supposed to see.Yes, it’s already happened more than once and I threatened to beat his ass if it did again.

While my wife nurses Matty with my cousin watching over them, I lay Kaden in the playpen in the living room so I can take a quick shower and get ready for work.By the time I’m done, Matty has finished eating and is back in Tease’s arms.Janessa is making breakfast for the four of us because Kaden will be up soon.I watch her move in the kitchen to the music playing on the speakers I had installed there.After a minute, I make my way up behind my girl and wrap her in my arms.I start dancing with her while she cooks.This is routine for us and I love dancing with her in the kitchen.I love having her in my arms no matter where we are or who’s watching us.Everyone will always know Janessa is my wife and I love her more than anything.This is the shit I used to run from and now I can’t wait to spend every single second with Janessa, Matty, and Kaden.They truly are the center of my universe and everything else comes second to them.

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