“You two are so fuckin’ special together,” said X over the music.
“Yeah, we are,” replied Phil, smiling brightly, his dimples popping. He had shaved his face smooth, leaving his killer sideburns, and his hair was pulled back in the man bun.
Dressed in his dark blue Dickies, a white-blue-and-brown plaid button-down shirt, and a white tank top, letting The Tattoo peek out over the top, he looked delicious. He had on his black leather wrist cuffs and beaten shit-kickers. I thought he had taken special care to look presentable for Connor. He always tried to look his best when meeting up with my family. He never threw on his cargoes and a T-shirt, instead looking like a shiny, well-put-together metal god.
Finally, we turned into Da and Gloria’s neighborhood, and a couple of minutes later, X pulled the Jeep into the driveway next to Da’s Chevy.
I went to pick up the box of sandwiches, but Phil snatched them up.
“Woman, can you at least try to act like you have a boyfriend once in a while? Damn.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I laughed and hopped out of the Jeep.
Rounding behind the vehicles, I emerged from the back of the Chevy and saw Connor standing on the front porch, waiting for us. A huge smile split my face, and laughing, I ran up to him. He opened his arms, his own face smiling brightly, and I threw my arms around my large baby brother.
Damn, he looks wonderful!
Connor had hit six feet five inches, and his shoulders were nearly as broad as Phil’s. His wavy dark auburn hair, which was now just past his shoulders, had natural golden highlights from the Miami sun. He looked healthy and beautiful, and I was just so happy to have him in my arms again.
“You look amazing,” he told me softly. “Really happy.”
“I really am,” I replied.
“Holy shit, Phil. Motherfucker’s nearly as huge as you!” exclaimed X.
Connor’s dark green eyes shifted—wait for it—and widened in shock. His jaw dropped, and he went a little pale under his freckles.
“Kenna?” he asked weakly.
“Hmm?”
“That’s…”
“My boyfriend. I know.”
He looked down into my face, utterly dumbstruck.
“Are you going to pass out?” I laughed.
“I fucking hope not,” he replied. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Da told you I was dating Phil.”
“He didn’t say you were dating Phil fucking Deveraux!” he hissed.
“Aw, man. You, too?” Phil laughed as he stomped up the front steps. “I swear, you’d think that was on my birth certificate.” He tucked the box under his left arm and stuck out his right hand to shake.
“Wow,” breathed Connor, taking Phil’s hand and squeezing.
They did the whole let’s-see-who-can-squeeze-the-hardest thing, and I supposed they both respected the feel of the other because they grinned and released after a few heartbeats.
Alys and X made their way up the steps, and Connor looked down at Alys with an odd look on his face and a strange flash in his eyes. It was only for a split second, but then he hitched a smile on his face.
“Hey, Muffin. You gonna give me a hug and introduce me to your man?”
She smiled, reached out, and got caught up in Connor’s bear hug.
“I’m sure you’ll recognize him when you look at him,” she said softly as she pulled out of it.
“Hey, man.” X smiled, extending his hand.
“No shit!” Connor laughed. “Xavier Johnson!” He clapped his hand with X’s, squeezing not nearly half as hard as he had with Phil. “How the fuck did you two bag these guys?” he asked, his eyes turning to me.
“Seriously?” asked X. “I had to bust my ass and wear this woman down to just give me a shot!”
Connor gave Alys another odd look, and she looked at her feet, blushing.
“What about you?” Connor asked, turning to Phil. “My guess is, there was a lot less wearing down with my sister.”
Phil put his arm around me and pulled me into him. “It’s just somethin’ that was destined, man.”
Connor nodded as though he totally understood what Phil was talking about.
“Are ye all gon’ just stand on th’ front porch, or are ye gon’ feed me starvin’ arse?” My da’s voice rumbled out through the kitchen window.
Conner rolled his eyes. “Let’s feed the bear then.”
X gave us a startled look and hissed, “What was that?”
“Da,” Connor, Alys, and I replied in unison.
Walking through the front door, the stairway to the second floor was to the left while the kitchen was directly to the right, and that was where Phil headed, X and Alys trailing