Page 24 of Sweet Redemption

The key word in all of this is twins though.

None of us expected Grace and Ares to have twins, followed by triplets a few years later.

Nix and Leo’s eyes whip to me like I just committed a crime against the brotherhood.

Hell, I might have.

I struggle day-to-day with one kid, and he’s easy. Bodhi was a happy baby, and he’s an even happier toddler. He doesn’t talk much, but the doctor said that’s not uncommon. He can speak and does speak when he wants to. He just doesn’t want to as much as my nieces and nephews.

“Just do me a favor and let me get Bodhi out of your house first,” I warn and pull my vibrating phone from my pocket. Great. Another missed call from Melissa.

“Everything okay?” Ares asks as he eyes me cautiously.

No one gives my brother-in-law credit for how observant he is. He’s always been considered the easygoing Wilder brother. The fighter on the team. The jokester in real life. He’s a hell of a good husband and father, but outside of that, he’s not exactly known for taking life too seriously.

I call bullshit though.

He can be serious when it’s needed.

Like the way he’s looking at me now, concerned. “Bodhi?”

“Nah. His grandmother,” I sigh, knowing I need to call her back. I’ve avoided her the past few days.

“Britt’s mom?” Leo asks, straightening.

“Christ, man.” Nix shakes his head and grabs his bag. “If it was Mom, he would have said Mom, dumbass.”

“Yeah, Britt’s mom. Having us so far away has been hard on her,” I admit, feeling like shit. Without a doubt, this is what’s best for Bodhi and me, but by moving us from Chicago back to Kroydon Hills, I’ve taken away the only remaining piece of Britt that Melissa had.

It’s not like Britt’s dad was ever in the picture. It was always just her mom and her until it was Bodhi and us. And then it was just Bodhi and me.

The guilt that lives permanently with me rears its ugly fucking head.

I knew it wouldn’t be easy for her, but I guess I hadn’t realized just how much she’d struggle with it until she started calling every day.

“You’ve been home for three weeks, brother.” Nix leans back against his locker, arms crossed over his chest and an annoyed glint in his eye. When I was five years old and playing on my first hockey team, a kid shoved me to the ice. He told me I should go play football like my dad because I was never going to be a great hockey player. Nix beat the shit out of him. He was eight. I guess you could say he’s always been protective. We all are.

My family might be batshit crazy most days, but they’re fiercely loyal. It’s one of those we can call each other assholes, but don’t ever think we’ll allow you to do it situations. “Give it time. She’ll get used to it, or she won’t. It’s what you needed, and that makes it the best thing for Bodhi.”

“Yeah, I know.” And I do know it. Doesn’t make me feel less like shit though. “I just hope you’re right.”

“Come on.” Leo shoves me forward and grabs his keys. “If it’s the right move for you, it’s the right move for the little man. He needs a happy dad.”

Not sure I remember what that feels like, but I’m working on it.

Or I will be.

Soon.

Ares follows us out of the locker room and into the bright sun heating the asphalt outside the arena. “Just maybe try finding a nanny sooner than later. Because I plan on taking advantage of my nooners with my wife, now that all my kids are in school, whether your kid is in my house or not.”

“What the hell?” I swallow. Fucking TMI. “Do you plan on paying for his future therapy bills too?”

“Dude. I didn’t say it would be in front of him.” He stares at me, completely straight-faced. “We’ll put him down for a nap.”

“Sounds like I’m out for lunch, guys. I don’t need my kid scarred for life.”

The four of us quiet as my words hang heavy in the humid September air.