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***
Robby
Robby squeezed Matt’s hand, hoping to calm the nervous clenching and unclenching of his fingers as they stood on Brick’s front porch, waiting for someone to answer the bell. “Take a deep breath, hon. We’re not entering enemy territory. These are our friends.”
“They’re your friends,” Matt murmured. “They barely even know me.”
True, but Robby hoped to change that, starting tonight.
Liv opened the door before he could continue his pep talk. She flashed a welcoming smile, then lifted her brow at their entwined hands. “I didn’t know you’d be joining us, Matt, but I’m glad you’re here. Please come in. We have plenty of burgers.”
Matt returned his squeeze, then let go to follow her into the house.
Brick came into the kitchen from the back door on the other side of the room, a plate full of steaming burgers on a big plate. Kane stood over the counter, salting a platter of French fries. Amanda laid out a tray filled with lettuce, tomato, and onion.
“I hope it’s okay I brought a date.”
Everyone froze in place, except to whip their heads in his direction in a move so synchronized, it looked rehearsed.
Kane snapped out of it first, chuckling as he positioned the fries next to the hamburger fixings. “You may want to watch how you phrase things, brother. You’re gonna give people the wrong idea.”
“Or the right one,” Matt murmured.
And they froze again.
Robby snapped his fingers in the air, three times in quick succession. “Guys. Hey. Wake up. I’m trying to tell you I’ve got a boyfriend. The customary thing to do would be to congratulate me.”
“Holy fucking shit!” Kane whooped.
“Not exactly what I was going for, but I’ll take it.” Robby laughed as Kane gripped his right shoulder and shook it.
“I’ll be damned,” Brick murmured. “Congratulations. To both of you.”
Liv pulled an extra plate from the cabinet and quickly added a place setting to the sixth seat at the table. “I, for one, think it’s long overdue. I saw the way you both looked at each other the night we went to Moe’s.” She glanced at the three incredulous faces around her. “What? Are you guys blind? Matt was looking at Robby like he was a prime rib.”
Matt made a choking sound, and the rest of the table relaxed into laughter as they filled their plates.
“How are you feeling, Amanda?” Matt changed the subject. “You’re in your, what, fifth month now?”
“Almost, yeah. I’m doing great, actually. I’ve finally got some energy again.”
Matt smeared some mayo on his bun. “For sure. I remember, in Patty’s first trimester, she said it felt like Jimmy was sucking all the life out of her like a high-powered hose. Plus, she had terrible morning sickness. I think around her twentieth week, she got her second wind.”
Though Matt seemed oblivious, Robby noticed the awkward silence following the reminder Matt had a Baby Mama somewhere out there in the world. Kane opened his mouth and closed it, then did it again, his better angels apparently stopping him from whatever he wanted to say.
“Go ahead and ask.” Better to get it all out on the table.
Matt looked up from assembling his hamburger, eyebrows furrowed.
But Kane knew exactly what he meant. “What’s the deal with her? You said Patty’s her name? I’ve got to say, this seems like a change of pace for you, going from the whole nuclear family thing to getting freaky-deaky with Robby here.”
Kane’s wince and flinch away from his wife made it clear something happened under the table. “Or not, dude. It’s cool.”
Amanda cleared her throat. “Forgive my husband. You don’t have to respond to his interrogation.”
“Actually,” Brick put both his hands down flat on either side of his plate, “I’d like it if you would.” He scooted his chair back and stood, his big frame towering over everyone. “Kane’s manners may be for shit, but he’s not wrong, and maybe it makes me an asshole too. So be it. Robby is family, and we look out for our own.”
Aw crap. What was Robby supposed to do with that?
