stuff.” She slaps her hand over her mouth. “Don’t tell Shelby I said that.”
“I’m sure she’s aware,” I tease. “Her songs, though.” I press my fist against my gut. “Hits you here.”
“Yeah, I heard she sang a song just for youuuuu.” Z’s high-pitched songbird voice makes baby Grace screw her little face up and start bawling.
“Aww, I’m sorry, baby G,” Z coos. “We make fun of Uncle Rooster, that’s what we do. Yes, it is.”
Hope chuckles and shakes her head.
“Asshole,” I grumble. “Uh, Z, I’m supposed to take Shelby down to Empire Med today for a thing. We got a lot to discuss at the table?”
“Church won’t take long,” Z says without looking at me. “Family breakfast isn’t optional, either.”
“What sort of thing?” Hope asks me.
“I didn’t get a lot of details.” I shrug, feeling stupid now that I didn’t ask more questions. Not like I had all night or anything. “The children’s hospital. I guess a patient asked to meet her or something.”
“Oh.” Hope bites her lip and darts a quick look at her baby daughter. “That’s a really sweet thing for her to do with her limited free time.”
Yup, one more reason Shelby’s taking up all the free space in my heart.
Rock pounds down the stairs and groans when he sees us. “Morning.” He nods at me but turns his annoyed president glare on Z before taking his daughter in his arms. “Is there a reason you’re in my house at this hour? Infringing on my family time?”
“I told him it was inappropriate, Rock.” I slap Z’s back, harder than necessary.
Z pulls a seriously offended face. “I’m family.” His trouble-making eyes land on Hope. “Right, Hope?”
“Yup. You’re the big brother I never knew I wanted.”
“See?” Z grins. “That’s better than Wrath. He’s the big brother you never wanted.”
She snickers but doesn’t agree with him.
Grace fusses and wiggles in her dad’s arms until Hope finally takes her from him. “I’m going to feed her.” She leans up, kisses Rock’s cheek and whispers something in his ear.
Rock keeps his eyes on his wife as she disappears down the hallway.
“Now that they moved out, you turn Alexa’s room into a downstairs nursery for Grace?” Z asks.
Slowly, Rock turns his head. “Yeah. Left Heidi and Murphy’s room for guests, though.” He holds up a hand. “For Alexa or Chance—not you. Just so we’re clear.”
“I’m wounded.” Z presses his hand to his chest.
“Z’s welcome too!” Hope shouts from the other room.
Z grins at Rock. “Hope loves me.”
I snort. “I think she feels sorry for you.”
“Fuck off.” Z punches my shoulder.
Once the fucking around is out of his system, Z settles down and finally gets to the reason he dragged me out here this morning. “A certain phone call woke me early this morning.”
“I thought Sesame Street woke you?”
Rock side-eyes me.
“That was after the phone call,” Z says.
“So, what? You decided to spread the cheer?” I ask.
Rock pads into the kitchen and starts a pot of coffee. “Do I even want to know?” he asks over his shoulder.
“Priest.” Z glances between us.
“Fuck. What now?” Rock grumbles. “And thank fuck he’s calling you instead of me.”
“Yeah, it was a real thrill for me too.” Z rolls his eyes.
“What’s he want now?” Rock asks.
Z pulls out one of the dining table chairs, sits, and leans back. Stretching out his big body, he tips the chair onto its back legs and tucks his hands behind his head. “Washington’s still a clusterfuck.”
“And that’s your problem, why?” Rock asks.
“Well, it turns out, since I’m so amazing—”
“For fuck’s sake,” Rock mutters.
“For the way I turned downstate around…” Z lifts his chin at me. “No offense.”
I’ll always give credit where it’s due, and Z’s accomplished a lot since he took over. He shook all of us out of our complacency. Weeded out the bad apples in our charter. Brought everyone closer together. As much as I love to fuck around and give him shit, he will always have my loyalty, respect, and full support. “None taken.”
He holds one finger up. “Hold that thought.”
“I’m listening.”
“He wants someone more responsible to check up on Washington and a few other charters.”
Rock turns to face Z, leaning back against the counter. “Let me guess. He wants that someone to be you?”
“Correct.” Z focuses on me. “I was, of course, obligated to explain that change did not come to downstate without the help of my loyal brothers, especially my VP.” His serious expression doesn’t change.