a drink and then he smacks his lips after the first sip. Maverick sits in one of my new chairs, tossing a smaller pillow in the air. It’s now that I realize there are far too many pillows in this room. They must go. “I need you to teach me how to do that techy shit. Morg would love it if I could stay at home more with her and the kid,” Steve says. He tosses his head back and forth as if considering something. “Nah, never mind, I don’t have the patience, but maybe you should take some time off from it? Make time for other stuff?”
“Do you have any idea how valuable this is?” I ask, tapping the side of my head with one finger. It’s ridiculous how much money you can make if you’re code inclined. I can develop software from nothing. I can formulate codes that program computers to diagnose blood tests. I can write apps and improve upon others’ mistakes. The skill I possess is invaluable. As long as the world is run by computers, I’ll maintain my wealth.
“How’s the other job going?” Mav asks. For a second I think he’s referring to a particular job. V. Then I remember he has no clue about the peculiar deal Dax and I made. He’s just curious about RC.
I sigh, take a sip of the honeyed liquid, and say, “It’s great. Taking out bad guys one at a time. You know all about that, though.” They both laugh. Steve joins me on my new overpriced sofa and puts his feet up on the coffee table.
“Your life is like a fucking dream, Cody Ridge,” Steve says. Is that how other people view me? It’s news to me. It’s more like a nightmare with dream like sections.
I smile. It’s weak. “I don’t have everything.” I don’t have her. I don’t have my lost years back. I will have peace soon enough, though. My pulse picks up its pace when I think about his death. The twisted part of my persona loves thinking about it. The average Joe that just wants his girl and a happily ever after cringes. One day I’ll be able to reconcile the two. “I miss the teams and you guys.”
Steve grabs high on my leg with a big hand. “If you wanted to make out all you had to do was ask. I missed you too, baby,” Steve says in a singsong girl’s voice. Maverick laughs.
“You know what I mean,” I reply, swigging the rest of my drink and putting my cup down on a coaster. Pushing Steve’s hand off my leg, I punch his thigh. “You’re so busy with Morg and the kid that you have no clue about the outside world. Does she let you take your balls out of the glass jar when you leave the house?” I ask.
Maverick chimes in, “No. She keeps them on the top shelf of their kitchen. I’ve seen them.”
“Fuck you!” Steve says. “She does things with my balls that should be in the record books. My big ass balls are right here between my legs. If they were in the kitchen they’d be covered with chocolate frosting getting tongued.”
“Fucking sick, dude,” I say, wrinkling my nose. Kitchen play has never been my thing. “I’m sorry I brought it up. What about you?” I say, raising my chin in Maverick’s direction. “You have like a million spawn running around. Does Windsor even leave your bedroom?”
Maverick stands up, stretches his hands over his head, and lets them fall by his sides. His face morphs into one of complete and utter happiness. “Windsor,” he says. It’s a prayer, a name said just because he likes the sound as it rolls off his tongue. “I’ll never get enough of that woman. Just two kids, not a million. If I had it my way, though? She’d be barefoot and pregnant for the rest of our lives. Maybe even when we’re old and gray.”
“Jesus, that’s even more repulsive than chocolate frosting. Is this what happens when you get married? You lose your minds and your ability to determine what’s hot and what’s not? You guys are getting up in the years.” I throw a pillow at Mav to wipe the weird ass smirk off it. He tosses it back, laughing.
“Only if you’re lucky, bro. Only if you’re lucky,” Maverick says. His expression softens and his smile vanishes. “Are you going to their wedding?”
I swallow. Steve shifts beside me on the couch. “Question