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“Nosy,” Kodi stated before Silas could finish.
Kodi stepped away from Lennon to jab a finger at his brothers, who were filling the large kitchen and making the room feel half the size it was. “Leave Lennon alone, he’s in a delicate condition and doesn’t need you stressing him out.”
He missed the sparkle of laughter and how Lennon’s shoulders shook.
“The only one stressin’ him out is you, from what I can see,” Booker snorted between his belly laughter.
With Popi out of sight, he threw Booker the V.
Derick shook his head. “He’s pregnant, son, not with some debilitating condition.”
Kodi turned his attention to Dad, eyes narrowing. “I bet you weren’t any better when Popi was pregnant.” He could see he’d hit the mark when Dad winced and glanced at the entryway into the kitchen, as if checking Popi hadn’t come downstairs. “I thought so.”
“Point taken,” Dad muttered, “and don’t mention that to your popi, okay?”
“What’s it worth?” Jupiter said, wearing an impish smirk that spelled trouble.
His brothers burst out laughing, and Lennon shook his head and walked out of the kitchen, muttering, “I see what you mean!”
Kodi went to follow and Dad stopped him by placing a hand on his arm. “He’s fine. Let Popi and the boys have time to be excited for him.”
The desire to follow was difficult to ignore, and he couldn’t blame it fully on their newly mated status like he wanted to. He’d only be lying to himself.
Jupiter shoved aside a few boxes and hefted himself up onto the granite countertop, crossing his ankles. He wore a shit-eating grin, rubbing his hands together. “How much mileage can we get out of this, guys?”
“Lots.” Booker’s smile matched Jupiter’s.
Kodi gave Kari a pleading look. Kari shrugged casually, his lips trembling, the traitor. “Fuckers, the lot of you.”
“Hey, we haven’t even started yet,” Taylin stated with smug satisfaction, nudging Silas’s shoulder. “Besides, you’ve just proven you fall into that category, too!”
Laken’s smile was feral. “You reap what you sow, Kodi.”
“Whatever,” he grumbled, seeing Dad was no better than his brothers when he didn’t even try to hold back his laughter. “What did you order for me? And did someone bring beer?”
“We didn’t know we’d be moving you into a house today.” Silas, who had turned to the counter and started to empty cartons, stressed. “When did you buy this place, anyway?”
“I don’t know the exact date now, lots happened since then.” He gave a pointed look at Laken, who ignored him, so Kodi grabbed some of the kitchen appliances and opened cupboards he’d cleaned the day before, plonking them inside. “But I signed the contract and got the keys on Friday morning.”
“Did you know about this, Dad?” Taylin started doing the same as Silas, and Kari took the stuff from him and placed it in random cupboards. It was probably all going in the wrong places, but Kodi didn’t say a word.
“Yes, I came to view the house some weeks ago with Kodi, after a shopping trip.”
Jupiter paused his leg swinging. “And you never said a word?”
It sounded accusatory.
“Kodi wasn’t ready to discuss it. I have kept all your secrets, have I not?” The sharp way he said it got his brothers all glancing in Dad’s direction.
“So, you’re gonna be a daddy,” Booker said, diverting the conversation. He worked to look like he wasn’t gearing up to wind Kodi up, but the light of devilment in his eyes gave him away. “You won’t be living at home… so who’s on diaper duty for the stinky ones?”
Jupiter cackled like a witch, and Silas snorted loudly, whereas Kari turned away, but not before Kodi saw the smile.
“I’m sure my baby won’t stink like Emmy.”
“In your dreams,” Dad answered, biting his bottom lip.
“Thanks,” he huffed in frustration.
