“We’re just talking about school,” Jake says at the same time Marco says, “Thinking of going to a Bears game.”
I look between my son and his godfather with raised brows, while Renee struggles not to burst out laughing, her eyes sparkling with amusement before she hides her face behind Marco’s shoulder.
“So . . . school and the Bears. That’s the best you can come up with? Really?” I catch sight of Marco’s top and shoot Jake a glare. “Why does Marco get to wear a CFD T-shirt and not me?”
Renee sighs, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at the two. “Jesus, guys. Just tell the poor man.”
“And let him stress about it the whole way over there? Were you calm before your first date with Uncle Marco?”
Marco smirks at Renee, who looks a little flustered. “Hmm, princess, when was our first date?”
Renee’s cheeks turn pink, but she still manages to scowl at her boyfriend while she does it.
To his credit, Jake shakes his head at Marco, tut-tutting in disappointment. “Marco, have you learned nothing from me? You don’t embarrass your woman in front of company.”
“Or at all,” Renee mutters.
Jake nods. “Or at all. But Renee knows I’m right. If we tell Dad now, he’ll build it up in his head, and just his luck, he’ll get nervous and shit.”
“Jake . . .” I warn. “Language around a lady.”
My son rolls his eyes. “It’s Renee. She’s hardly a—” He wisely clamps his mouth shut at the shocked expression on said lady’s face. Marco just chuckles and hooks an arm around Jake’s shoulders. “Hey, bud. Welcome to the doghouse. Get comfortable. It might be a while.”
That makes me laugh under my breath—well out of angry-woman-death-stare range.
“Right. As fun as it is to be the only one in the room without a clue, it’s not my birthday, I haven’t got a new job, and there sure as fuck isn’t anything else in my life exciting enough to be celebrated with a surprise party. So put me out of my misery, and just tell me already.”
Marco’s amused eyes turn to mine. “Rhodes, language around a lady.”
“Oh, fuck off, Marky Mark. Unless you’re going to tell me what the hell scheme you’ve cooked up with my son.”
Renee’s gaze switches between Jake and Marco before she sighs and moves my way. “Okay,” she says, stopping in front of me and reaching out to straighten my collar. “Hmm, nice touch with the cologne.”
“See, Dad? Told you!”
“Rhodes, stop charming my girlfriend,” Marco adds with a sigh.
I roll my eyes, meeting Renee’s amused ones. “Okay. You’re being set up with a woman tonight, and I don’t want you to freak out. Because then Jake and Marco would be right and I’d be wrong, and you really don’t want them to gloat the whole drive to Cohen and Skye’s. Believe me. Jake beat us at pool last week and he still texts Marco every day to toot his own horn. So just smile and nod, take a deep breath, and act like there’s absolutely nothing to freak out about. Can you do that?” Her eyes bore into mine but it takes a while for her words to register.
“Wait . . . you think I’ll freak out? What, is she someone awful or something? I mean . . . did Scotty pick her?” Scotty is the equivalent of our station’s class clown. He’s a good guy, and I trust him with my life every shift. He’s just . . . Scotty.
“No. She’s lovely. I just need you to be cool about this, because Marco arranged it, and since Jake found out, he’s become kinda invested in ‘Operation Get Dad Dating,’ which is sweet, but—”
“Potentially setting himself up for disappointment?” I say under my breath.
“Yeah. How do you feel about it?”
My lips quirk up. “Haven’t met her yet, have I?”
“Oh my god, I can totally see why you and Marco are friends,” she says with a laugh. I hook an arm around her shoulder and pull her into my side, catching Marco’s narrowed eyes and Jake’s cautious expression. “I’ve already got my date right here, boys. So you two can relax. I’ve got all the woman I need with Renee.”
“Hands off my woman, Anderson.”
“Aww, sorry, Lieutenant. Rhodes has got that helpless bachelor thing going for him. And then there’s Jake. That makes father and son the whole package,” Renee says, rubbing my chest while arching a brow at her man.
Jake is looking at the ground, his shoulders shaking with laughter, and Marco, the possessive idiot, is already halfway across the room to reclaim his girlfriend, making the rest of us chuckle.
“Now, we better hit the road so I can meet this woman you’re setting me up with. Who knows, Jake, you might’ve got it right the first try?”
His head jerks back. “Really?”
“No, ya knucklehead. But I appreciate the positivity.”
“Just don’t freak out, Dad. Okay? Be yourself, and she’s bound to like you. At least enough for a proper date, right?”
“Wow. Great pep talk, kid. And what kind of loser am I when my son feels the need to give me dating advice?”
“You’re not a loser, Dad. A little lame, but not a loser.”
“Quit while you’re ahead, Jake. Especially if you don’t want me to ‘freak out,’ as you put it.”
Thankfully, I’m not worried. I’m more curious as to who Marco might’ve set me up with, and why he thought the firehouse BBQ would be the best situation for what is for all intents and purposes a blind date.
I guess I’m about to find out.
Chapter 4
Dee
Skye and Cohen’s backyard is full of people, but in the hour since Harvey and I arrived, I haven't been able to relax. I’m nervous—with actual butterflies in my tummy. Thankfully, Mom and Dad and their best friends and lifelong neighbors, Marcy and Rick, are here too, which means that all of the grandkids from the Baker and Cook families are being spoiled rotten, entertained, and well-fed by the oldies.
