She peered at him. "You look like maybe you've made your peace with it."
"I… Drake and I want to talk to you about all of us going into business together. We'd have to start small, of course, because California's expensive, but…" It was a way for their family to stay together.
"Business? What kind of business, honey?"
"Drake came up with an idea to organize male nannies, a queer-friendly service for families and nannies."
"Oh, honey, that sounds like a great idea. I know how much trouble you had finding a family who was willing to work with a male nanny. Of course I have a hard time being upset about that…" She gave him a wink.
"I would have dropped any other job for Jerry. Frat brothers are the best."
"I knew you loved him best."
"I knew him first." Slayde grinned at Mindy. "I love Drake best."
She hooted at him. "You two are the cutest fucking thing ever."
"Mommy! Mommy, bad word!" shouted Maggie.
Mindy groaned. "Sorry, baby."
"Push-ups!"
She groaned again, but moved out of her chair and did ten quick push-ups for them.
Slayde applauded and blew kisses. "When you get back, we'll work on details, huh?"
She nodded. "I'll retire in April, so we'll have six months to plot and plan."
The front door opened and closed, Drake calling out. "One boy, successfully deployed to the school bus."
"Hooray. Two girls are coloring and I'm chatting with their mom."
"Hey, Minds." Drake leaned over his shoulder and waved at Mindy.
"Hey, brother. We were chatting about California next year. Guess what? I got my orders!"
"Hey, good for you. Halloween?"
He could feel Drake's body behind him, warming him.
"October fifteen."
Slayde leaned back, cuddled in. Drake's hand landed on his shoulder. "The kids are going to be thrilled, Minds."
"So are we. It's going to be good to see you."
Mindy grinned. "We have a lot to plan, the three of us."
"We do. We'll make it work for all of us and those babies of yours, Sis."
"Lord. Just what I need, a couple more boys."
Slayde chuckled. "We're even now." And they were. He was part of this family, no matter what. A real part. Uncle Slayde.
"Who gets to be the tie-breaker?" Drake asked.
"Well, whoever I hook up with eventually because one day I'll fall in love again, right?"
"Oh, honey." He reached for the laptop, wanting to hug her. "You know it. You're going to find someone wonderful."
"We'll make sure he's wonderful," growled Drake. "Good to those babies and even better to you."
He squeezed Drake's fingers. "That's right. Gorgeous and wealthy and into babies." Hell, Mindy could get pregnant walking through the same room where there was a hard on.
"Oh, I think three is enough. Anymore and I'm going to have to hire you back, whether or not I can afford it."
"We'll babysit. I think, though, maybe we'll have our own houses when we move…" They needed a little more privacy.
Drake whispered evilly in his ear. "Naughty, naughty uncle Slayde."
"Be good." He couldn't help his moan, his nod.
Drake just chuckled in his ear, then kissed it. "Bye, Sis."
"Bye, boys. Less than thirty days!"
God, it felt so good, to be able to celebrate -- to truly celebrate.
"Say goodbye to Mommy, girls!"
They both came running over, Maggie still holding her crayons, Jenny with her baby. "Bye, Mommy! Bye!"
She waved, tearing up. "Thirty days, right?"
"Thirty days. Buck up, Sis. You'll be back and wiping runny noses before you know it."
"I can't wait."
Chuckling, Drake waved and leaned in to turn off the Skype.
"Hey." Slayde kissed Drake's cheek. "You need a cup of coffee?"
Drake's eyes traveled over him. "That's not what I need, but it'll do."
"Be good, officer."
"I am the epitome of good." Drake gave him a look that nearly burned him on the spot.
"Oh, lord. Cereal? Toast?"
"Oh, I think you should make us something amazing and magical."
Slayde offered suggestions. "Bacon and eggs? Waffles?"
"Bacon and eggs and waffles. With some sort of fancy butter."
"Spoiled brat." He had some amazing cranberry butter in the fridge.
"Your fault."
"Maggie? Is it my fault Uncle Drake is spoiled?"
Maggie tilted her head. "Spoled?"
"Rotten."
"Unca Drake not rotten."
Drake puffed up and grinned at him. "There you go -- I'm not spoiled."
"She's playing favorites." He held his arms open to Jenny. "You still love me, right?"
"Yes!"
"Do you love me, too?" Drake asked, also opening his arms.
"I love you!" Maggie leapt for him. "We all loves all of us."
Slayde nodded. "God, yes. We all loves all of us."
Drake grinned. "Yeah. Yeah, there's all kinds of love here."
"Dork." He snuggled Jenny's cheek. "You want a waffle, baby girl?"
"Uh-huh."
"Special waffles," Drake suggested.
When he gave the man a look, Drake grinned and added, "That's for calling me a dork."
"Go let Uncle Drake get you beasties dressed and I'll make fancy waffles."
Laughing, Drake took Jenny from him and put her on the floor. "Come on, last one up's a rotten egg."
"I no like eggies."
"Then you better move!" Drake chased the girls out, the giggling and laughing fading as they went up the stairs.
Slayde watched, then grabbed the apples, the grater and the cinnamon. Fancy waffles it was.
Chapter Fifteen
They finally got the kids down and Drake stopped Slayde before the man went downstairs to clean the place within an inch of its life. "Come on, baby. Let's go make out."
Mindy was coming home tomorrow and it was going to be even harder than it was now to get together for more than just sleeping.
"But…" Slayde was a little crazy about the whole dusting thing.
"But we don't have to go to meet her until two. You've got the whole morning to be a crazy man with a feather duster."
"Shut up." Slayde pushed into his arms, face lifted for a kiss. "The kids are going to be insane."
"Uh-huh." He pressed their lips together, moaning into the kiss. God, Slayde made kisses special.
Slayde hummed in response, tongue sliding against his, tasting him. His hand slid down to Slayde's ass and he started walking backward. He didn't want to get interrupted by the kids.
"Mmm. Did you check
