by JA Low
“Carol,” Vanessa calls out as she walks into the room with Yvette, giving Evan’s mum a big hug.
“Hey, sweetheart, how are you?” Carol greets her.
“Good, good, the boys have been keeping me busy,” Vanessa says as they catch up.
“Sienna,” Yvette smiles, walking toward me.
“It is so good to see you again.” As she gives me a French double cheek kiss.
I haven’t seen Yvette since my engagement in Paris.
“Look at your belly, it’s so cute.” She rubs my little Buddha belly.
I roll my eyes. “He doesn’t stop kicking me, the little terror.”
“How dare you speak about my godson like that,” Derrick chimes in.
“Oh really, and when were you going to tell me about becoming the Godfather?”
“Please, like anyone else is going to be qualified for the position,” he states arrogantly.
“What about Jake?”
“I am more than happy to share myself with that boy,” he chuckles.
I slap him on the arm. “You leave Jake alone. I think you traumatized him last night. You know he’s straight, right?” I remind him because if Derrick sees something he likes he goes for it. Nine times out of ten he usually convinces the said straight guy into going home with him. I don’t know how he does it, nor do I want to know, but Derrick does get off on seducing straight men.
“Please, everyone is a little bit curved,” he replies with a wink.
I grab him by the arm getting his attention. “D, please that’s Evan’s brother.” I warn.
“Shit you’re being serious?” Derrick looks at me. “Si, I wouldn't do that. I know Jake is straight, there is most definitely no curious vibes being given off in that direction and even if there was I wouldn’t, he’s family and I don’t mess with that,” he clarifies, giving me a genuine smile.
I put my arms around him, “Thanks D.”
“Oh hush now, I know those pregnancy hormones are causing you to go crazy.” He makes me giggle, but I still punch him in the arm.
“Okay, let’s get the dress showing underway. I have also brought the bridesmaid dresses and some mother of the groom dresses as well,” Yvette announces with a smile.
“Sorry I’m late.” Isla bursts through the door, greets Carol, then the rest of us. “I kind of had a date,” she confesses.
The room goes quiet, we know that something has happened between Isla and Finn but with him being best friends with her brother, Oscar, sort of complicates it.
“Oh and who was the lucky man?” Derrick asks.
Isla’s cheeks go pink. “Um, Wes.”
“What! No way, Wes Cooper from California Bros.?” I remember when I was first seeing Evan, he took us to their bar after getting tattoos. Wes is one of the brothers who own the microbrewery, tattoo shop and barber. He was very keen to ask her out. Finn tried to put a stop to it but Isla shot him down.
“It was just a picnic on the beach at his home down on Venice Beach, because he knew I was coming here.”
“Did you kiss him?” Vanessa asks.
Isla goes red. Oh my God, she so did kiss him.
“Yes, but that is all I am saying,” she giggles.
“You dirty little ho. I approve.” Derrick gives her a high five.
“Well good for you honey, maybe Finn might finally decide how he feels about you, now you have someone courting you,” Carol pipes in, silencing the room.
Shit, did she know about Finn and Isla?
Isla smiles. “How embarrassing that even Carol remembers my stupid teenage girl crush.”
Carol waves her hands and walks over to Isla. “He is a fool to think he can do any better than you, sweetheart. I think you have wasted enough time waiting for him. You deserve to be happy and if this Wes guy is it, then go for it.”
“Thanks, I think I might.”
“Okay enough gossip, we have shopping to do.” Derrick claps his hands getting everyone's attention to turn to the racks of dresses that are now standing before us.
49
Evan
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Derrick hollers from the level below. It’s way too early for this. Rubbing my eyes, I descend down the stairs from my warm and toasty bed.
“Morning, babe,” Sienna greets me as I enter the foyer.
I pull her into my arms. “You’re up early,” I snuggle against her warm skin.
“Someone had to let the caterers in this morning,” she states, raising an eyebrow at me.
Turning, I look into our kitchen and it is filled with men running around in white coats, a hive of non-stop activity.
“Sorry, I guess I slept past my alarm.” I might have had one too many beers after the Sons of Brooklyn’s concert last night with Dad, Jake, Derrick, and Charlotte.
“Momma Wyld, happy Thanksgiving,” Derrick greets my mom as she enters the room.
“Oh, sugar don’t you look handsome,” Mom replies with a smile, giving Derrick a big hug, then raining kisses on his cheeks.
“Please, look at you,” Derrick compliments Mom, making her giggle.
I told my parents that Derrick and Sienna were a package deal before they came to LA. From the moment Mom met Derrick she fell in love with him. It’s kind of hard not to, his larger than life personality makes him hard to resist, plus as Mom puts it, the boy is one hot tamale. When Derrick confessed over dinner that he has no family because he is gay, then proceeded to tell us the story why, he brought Mom to tears. She could never understand how a parent could turn their back on their child. Mom declared that she would love to be his surrogate Texan Momma. They were going to be family now when Sienna and I married. Derrick made sure that Jake knew that it wouldn't be weird if they wanted to make out now that they were family. Poor Jake he’s been trying to defend himself from Derrick’s advances since he arrived.
“Y’all, should I be worried?” My dad walks into the room laughing, surveying the scene of the handsome man wrapped around his wife.
“Papa bear, please you know that woman only has eyes for you,” Derrick adds.
“Only when you have your shirt on she does,” my dad jokes, making Mom go the color of a tomato.
Mom was fanning herself last night when Derrick stripped off to his underwear and jumped into the heated pool after dinner. The man works out, he looks good and D knows it as well, cocky fucker.
“Morning everyone.” Charlotte joins us in the living room, taking a seat in Dad’s lap, just like she did when she was younger.
“Baby girl, you get more beautiful each time I see you.” Dad stares at her in awe.
“Damn straight she is, Charlotte has many admirers lurking around,” Derrick adds.
Dad and I both stiffen.
“Oh hush you two, she’s a grown woman, she hasn’t been a baby girl in years,” my mom chastises.
“Well I have a safe full of guns, sweetheart, if any boy breaks your heart just send them my way,” Dad adds sternly, making Charlotte groan at his over protectiveness.
“Sienna, look at you, I swear your belly has popped overnight,” Mom declares with a smile and greeting her with a hug. Her hands automatically going to Sienna’s rounded belly. “Look at this beautiful belly.” Mom’s face lights up; she has been looking forward to the day that she has a grandchild. I’m sure she thought I would surprise her by accidentally knocking up some groupie., Thankfully that never happened.
“Nothing fits me anymore,” Sienna groans. “Luckily it’s getting cooler so I can live in leggings and sweaters.”
I think Sienna’s ever changing body is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, her breasts are fuller, rounder, her stomach is showing the life that is growing inside of her.
“I think you are even more beautiful than the day I met you,” I tell her, kissing her on the forehead.
“He’s a hopeless romantic, that boy,” Mom declares. “And next year we will have an extra family member for Thanksgiving,” she adds.
A lump fo
rms in my throat realizing the magnitude of that statement, my eyes bounce around my family huddled around the room. Next year’s Thanksgiving we will have Bean running around or maybe he will be crawling around, shit!
“Yeah, son, we couldn’t be prouder.” I feel my emotions bubbling to the surface, shit maybe I’m getting sympathy pregnancy hormones. I’m never normally this emotional.
“Family does that to you, boy.” My dad smiles noticing the tsunami of emotions I am currently riding while everyone else talks around us.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” I holler, welcoming the hordes of friends and family through my front door.
“Bro, something smells good,” Christian groans as he slaps me on the back. He’s right because the caterers have cooked up a fucking storm, all day I have smelt how delicious it is and can’t wait to dig in.
“Thanks for having us.” Axel shakes my hand.
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor coming in after him, greeting me. “Ready for the game, boy?” Mr. Taylor asks.
“Hell yeah, wait ‘till you see my new TV, the game has never looked so good.”
I quickly introduce Sienna to them as they head out the back to where everyone else is hanging out. Last night Jake, Derrick and I set the tables up in a large U shape in the backyard under the large tent we hired for today. There are about thirty people coming for Thanksgiving dinner, it’s been a bit of a production. Derrick, Stacey and Sienna have been busy decorating the home with over the top Thanksgiving decorations. I let them do it because they are so excited by the holiday. The table looks amazing outside. Mom is loving that Sienna invited her and Charlotte to help decorate it. Hessian table runners cover white linen table cloths; oversized pumpkins line the middle of the table.
The doorbell is unrelenting as our guests arrive one by one, the backyard filling up with our nearest and dearest.
“No way, if it isn’t the Connolly brothers,” I exclaim, seeing Finn’s family standing in front of me. Wow, they have all changed so much since we all caught up last. Hudson is looking older than his years, deep tanned skin, messy blond hair, bulging muscles tightly encased in his navy blazer. Jackson is equally as buffed in a white pullover and Parker looking like he stepped right off the runway in Milan dressed in some over the top hipster attire, looking very Euro. We all slap each other on the back the way men do, catching up as much as one can at your front door, I usher in the Connolly family into our home. Luckily Mom walked passed the foyer and decided to play tour guide taking Mr. and Mrs. Connolly for a walk around our home and filling them in on things.
“Who the fuck ordered strippers?” Derrick hollers as Finn’s brothers walk out to the backyard.
“They’re my brothers,” Finn adds.
Derrick’s jaw drops. “Where the hell have you been hiding these men from me?” He accuses while licking his lips.
The Connolly brothers’ faces look exactly like Jake’s did when Derrick tried to crack onto him.
“D, I don’t think they could handle you,” Finn laughs.
Derrick shrugs. “True but I sure would like to find out.” He laughs.
“Get a couple beers into Parker and he’s anyone's.” Hudson slaps his younger brother on the back, Derrick’s eyes light up at the challenge.
Parker punches his older brother in the stomach, making him groan. “Fuck you.”
Then he turns to Derrick, “You are a very good looking man and if I was gay I would so totally fuck you, but I have a thing for pussies.”
Everyone goes quiet looking to see how Derrick will react.
His eyes look over Parker then he bursts out laughing, swinging his arm around Parker's shoulder. “I like you, you’re funny. I make a great wingman, just so you know.”
Parker smiles, “I like where your head is at, the chicks would be going crazy for you and then when you tell them you prefer dicks they will be all over me.”
Derrick laughs, “You’re a smart boy,” he tells Parker as they walk off toward the bar chatting away.
“Shit, Derrick is so going to corrupt him isn’t he?” Finn asks, looking a little worried.
“Yeah probably,” I laugh as Finn scurries off after them.
“So Jay, how’s civilian life treating you?” Axel’s attention turning toward Jackson Connolly.
Jackson was medically discharged from the Marine’s recently; he was injured when his Humvee hit a IED during a patrol while in Afghanistan. He nearly lost his leg, but luckily it was just severely damaged by shrapnel, but due to the large amount of scarring his movement is impaired. He’s unable to return to active duty, so he has taken an early retirement and I guess is learning how to live in the real world again, which would be hard after ten years in the Marines.
“It’s weird, man, just taking one day at a time. Trying to keep busy.”
“Tell them what you are doing now,” Hudson slaps his younger brother on the back.
Jackson gives him a look, “Me and a couple of buddies of mine have started our own security firm. We are hiring ex-military guys who were medically discharged or hurt during service but still want to work. We are giving ex-servicemen dignity after everything they have given to our country.”
Everyone is silent. Fuck, what a noble cause.
“Man that is awesome,” Oscar adds.
Jackson looks a little shy, his large shoulders shrugging. “It’s all some of us know and all we are trained to do, protect people.”
“I think we should talk, because I might have a job for you and your boys,” Axel pipes in.
We all look at him.
“The label is expanding so we need to start looking at expanding our security teams, because hiring those temporary dumb asses we used at the Sons of Brooklyn concert last night is not how we want to run things.”
Last night security got a little rough with the fans, bloody noses and shit, made the news and made the band look bad. Thank God Vanessa handled that PR nightmare.
“Yeah Finn told me about what happened last night, I can guarantee our men wouldn’t behave like that.”
Axel nods. “Okay, let’s set up a meeting next week and work out a business plan between each other.”
A huge smile appears on Jackson’s face. “Thank you man, thank you so much.”
“You’re family, we look after our own,” Axel says, shaking his hand. He’s right, Charlotte is the label’s in house tour photographer, Derrick is our freelanced stylist and Vanessa, well she’s head of PR, so why not hire Jackson’s security firm to look after us.
Next through the door are Yvette and Sebastien. I thought it was going to be weird, especially when Sienna came barreling in giving them both a big hug and a kiss. I remember vividly what it was like seeing Sienna in Sebastien’s arms and I didn’t like it then and I sure as hell am not a fan of it now, but I push down my jealousy for Sienna’s sake.
“Hope you enjoy this,” Sebastien hands me a fancy bottle of wine. I shake the man's hand and exchange pleasantries with him. “Thank you for letting me come to your home, I appreciate being welcomed,” he adds in his thick Latin accent. “Sienna looks so happy; I am happy for you both.” Damn it, I hate that the man is so nice.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Johnny crows, as I open the door to the Sons of Brooklyn boys.
“Happy Thanksgiving guys, great work last night,” I acknowledge, slapping them all on the back. Last night's concert was pretty amazing; the vibe was outstanding. I was really proud of them, they killed it.
“Thanks for having us today,” Chance adds.
“You’re part of the Dirty Texas family now boys,” I respond, cupping Chance’s shoulders. “Come on lunch is nearly ready, then it’s football time.”
“You know the Giants are going to crush you,” Tyler shit talks.
“As if, Dallas are going to destroy you,” I add.
“Hi guys,” Charlotte calls out as she bounces into the foyer. They all smile and I can see Blake hanging at the back.
“Thanks, man for today,” Blake grabs my
attention.
“It sucks you can’t go home and see your family.”
Blake shuffles his feet. “Sometimes it’s better if you don’t.”
Frowning at Blake’s cryptic comment, who wouldn't want to see their family? But then I remember Charlotte telling me briefly that Blake doesn’t have a very happy home life, but before I get a chance to say anything more, Charlotte is standing before us.
“Everything okay?” She looks between us; last time he was at my home we were rolling around on the grass trying to kill each other.
“Sure is, sweetheart. Come on Blake I’m starved. I’ve had to sit here all day being tortured by these delicious smells. He nods and follows my lead to the back garden where everyone is milling around.
Dinner is served not long after the Sons of Brooklyn boys arrive, there is so much food that we decided to set up a large buffet table so everyone could help themselves. There are a couple of large turkeys cut up with bowls of stuffing, a mountain of ribs, BBQ brisket, salmon for the non-Southerners, honey baked ham, big bowl full of baked beans, collard greens, roasted corn, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, salads, sweet potato pie with marshmallow topping which Sienna thinks is genius, creamy corn casserole, broccoli cheese casserole, hash brown casserole, corn bread, cranberry sauce, gravy and fresh dinner rolls. My stomach growls in appreciation, thankfully there is enough guys here to help us get through all this food.
There was also a whole station dedicated to desserts; pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, Thanksgiving shaped sugar cookies, apple fritters, lemon meringue pie, peanut butter cheesecake, bowls of custard, cream and ice cream. I can already feel the top button of my pants getting ready to pop.
