Two of a Kind Read online

  “Is that everyone?” Ap asked when the little girls came out. “Does everyone have shoes? Underwear?”

  Oh, good man.

  “Towels,” he added.

  “Right. When did they stop doing towels?” Ap asked.

  “Few years ago. They decided laundry used too much of the water co-op.”

  “Huh. Good to know. You looking forward to it?”

  “God yeah.” It would be nice, both of them able to watch. He might actually get a soak.

  “Cool. I was just reaching for ideas, but it sounded so good.”

  “It’s a great way to spend a Sunday. Seriously.”

  “Thanks.” Ap touched the back of his hand, just a tiny contact that sent a thrill up his arm.

  He felt a little like he was on alert, like his body was permanently buzzed. His cheeks heated, and when Braden stared at him, Trey just smiled.

  “Okay, guys, let’s hit it.” Ap got everyone up and moving.

  They settled in the van, Trey pushing in the driver’s seat. “Whose turn is it to pick the music?”

  “Mine!” Bella shouted, and since no one argued, it must have been hers for sure.

  “What do you want?”

  “‘El Rey’!” Bella had developed a huge crush on George Strait after some YouTube video she’d watched. Then she’d found out he’d covered her favorite mariachi song. Lord help them.

  “Ap, can you make it happen?” He handed over his phone.

  “I can.” Ap hooked his phone up to the little cable in the console so it would play on the car sound system. Then he found “El Rey,” and they all started singing about with money or without money….

  Ap watched for a second, and then he started laughing, big, happy guffaws that rang out. By the last chorus, Ap was singing with them, his Spanish surprisingly good.

  From there they moved to “Adalida,” to “Hot Grease” and “Zydeco,” and they were all laughing and singing and… God, this was good.

  He’d been ready to kick Ap for suggesting the kids go out somewhere, but those smiles…. They all deserved a day.

  Ap reached across, touched his leg, then grinned.

  He nodded, turning off the road that led up to the town of Jemez Springs and the springs itself. Maybe after, they could go to Dave’s Burgers and chow down. If everyone was good….

  After all, Ap had promised to buy.

  He grinned. Oh yeah. Maybe breakfast all day. He did love an omelet smothered in green chile.

  The turnoff to the springs damn near snuck up on him, and the girls squeaked when he spun into the road.

  Bella applauded. “Go, Uncle Daddy!”

  “Like a boss!” Braden said.

  Ap hooted again. “You’ve got it, honey.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” His cheeks burned, though, he was so pleased.

  They wended their way up to the springs, the little buildings cheerful in the fall sun. “Okay. No running, no fighting, and no doing anything awful. Got it?”

  “Got it.”

  “Bella, I’m looking at you.”

  She rolled her eyes dramatically. “I’m an angel.”

  “Uh-huh. If you kill your siblings, I’m going to know.”

  She batted her eyelashes. “I’ll wait until we get home and put yak poop in his bed.”

  Ap stared over at him. “Is she serious?”

  “Hey, she’s yours too.”

  “Are you serious?” Ap turned to Bella.

  “Yep.” She said it super cheerfully before climbing out of the van.

  “I’ll go pay. You are in charge of the heathens and Ames.”

  “Okay.” Ap rounded up all the kids, and they headed inside. They were really on pretty good behavior, probably for Uncle Ap.

  Buttheads, all of them. He grinned and went to pay his dimes so he could go soak his bones.

  The springs was always so pretty, but today it was surprisingly uncrowded. He would bet a lot of folks thought it was too cold, but in the pools themselves it would be amazing. He’d sat in hot springs with snow falling on his head. It was a thing.

  The kids played and laughed, showing off for Ap, and he just watched with heavy lids. He was warm and sleepy and happy enough that he had a permanent goofy grin on his face.

  Ap waved at him, that compact body bare to the waist and so damn beautiful it took Trey’s breath. He nodded, sinking down deeper. Compared to Ap, he was… rough.

  Of course, Ap didn’t seem to mind a bit.

  He grinned wider. No, sir, Ap seemed to find him inspiring. Super-duper so.

  “What are you grinning about, Trey?” Ap looked like maybe he suspected.

  “Huh? Just having a good day.” He was allowed.

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “Yeah.” He saw Bella floating on her back, her hair all spread around her.

  “Uncle Daddy, can I sit in your lap?” Courtney floated over. “I got water in my eyes.”

  “Of course you can, baby girl.” He held out his arms for her, and she swam right in, jabbering ninety to nothing about absolutely nothing at all.

  Trey rested his chin on her head and let her talk.

  Ap watched her, wide-eyed, then stared at him, making him grin.

  Yeah, she could chat. Mostly, keeping up with her was nodding and smiling. She just wanted someone to hear her go on.

  Amelia was swimming laps, back and forth, and Braden was… was he flirting with a girl?

  Trey looked at Ap. He wasn’t ready to do this again.

  “What?” Ap looked around. “Oh. What should I do?”

  “Nothing. They grow whether or not we want them to.”

  “Oh.”

  “Is it bad that Braden likes girls, Uncle Daddy?” Courtney asked.

  “No, baby girl. People like who they like.”

  “Oh, okay.” She nodded happily. “Do you like Uncle Ap?”

  “I do.”

  Ames appeared between them. “Seriously? Like, like like?”

  “Maybe.” He winked at Ames, because he wasn’t ashamed.

  “If you like him, will he come home forever?”

  Oh. Oh damn.

  “Now, Amelia, you know I got to work.” Ap said it easily.

  “Right. Still…. We miss you when you’re gone.”

  “I miss you guys too. So much.”

  “Who keeps you company while you’re gone?”

  Ap’s smile faded. “I’m mostly on my own, kiddo.”

  “I’ll come with you. I’m going to be a barrel racer.” Bella leaned on Ap’s feet. “Uncle Daddy won’t mind.”

  “He might mind a little if you missed school.” Ap stroked her hair.

  “I might mind a little because I would miss my cowgirl.”

  Bella looked at him, lip quirking. “Yeah?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I like the yaks.” She said it like I love you.

  “I love you too, Bella. Go swim.”

  She pushed away, slicing through the water like the athlete she was. Like her uncle.

  He smiled as the other girls chased their sister. God, they were getting big. He was so proud of them he could bust. They made him happy.

  “You’re a good dad.”

  He shrugged. “I try to be. I try to make Tammy and Dan proud.”

  “You do.” Ap looked at him, serious as a heart attack. “You really do.”

  “I hope so.” He reached over to squeeze Ap’s hand, real quick.

  Ap’s cheeks went red, but he just laughed, turning their hands to join their fingers together. “Feeling good in your bones now?”

  “I am. I needed a soak.”

  “I didn’t even know I did. I was a little sore.” Oh, look at that laughing face.

  “Just a little?” Next time he’d try harder.

  “A twinge now and then.” Ap rubbed the back of his hand with a thumb, making him breathe harder, making him glad he was in the water and not out on dry land in front of God and everybody.

  “I bet yo
u slept good, after.”

  “Oh hell yeah.” Ap nodded slowly. “Like a baby.”

  “Me too. I look forward to tonight.”

  “Yeah?” Now Ap licked his lips, his eyes hot on Trey’s face.

  “Uh-huh. I’m all in for… whatever.”

  “Uncles! Watch!” Braden did a slow backflip in the pool.

  They both laughed and applauded.

  “Can you do it too, Uncle?”

  “I bet Uncle Ap can,” Trey offered.

  “Lord.” Ap moved out closer to the middle of the pool, then pushed backward, up into a handstand, then back down again.

  He applauded as Ap came up, making a little hullabaloo for the man.

  Ap bowed. “Thank you. Thank you.”

  Then Ap grabbed Courtney and said, “You ready to go under?”

  She pinched her nose shut and squeezed her eyes closed. They went down, Ap holding his baby girl good and tight.

  Trey was impressed. Court was very worried about her face being in the water. They popped up, Court squealing. “Again!”

  “You ready, baby girl?” Ap asked.

  “Watch me, Uncle Daddy! Watch me!”

  “I’m watching!”

  She scrunched up her face, then held her nose. Ap took her under, and boom, she was laughing again when he brought her up.

  Ames sat next to him, quiet and close.

  “Where you at, girl?”

  “Huh?” She blinked at him, kinda dozy. “Can I take guitar lessons?”

  Well, she rarely asked for anything, so he nodded. “Sure. Let’s find you a teacher.”

  “Cool. This is really neat, Uncle Daddy. Braden looks so cute.” She leaned against him.

  “I’m glad you’re having fun, Ames. We needed a good day off, didn’t we?”

  “We did. I want a hamburger with just a little green chile.”

  “Is there anything better than that for lunch?”

  “Not for me!” She laughed.

  “My girl.” He hugged her close, knowing Bella would be the last one to wind down. He would have to keep an eye out.

  “Yep. All yours.”

  She giggled, but before long she was sound asleep against his side.

  Ap floated over, shaking his head. “She’s out, huh?”

  “Not before she requested green chile burgers.”

  “We’ll round it up soon. Court is drooping, and my belly is growling.”

  “You’ll have to get the Killer B’s—they’re in a pod over there.”

  “I’m on it.”

  Trey was really hoping the being good for Uncle Ap would carry through when Ap told them it was time to go.

  He hoped they’d had enough fun to carry him through.

  Braden and Bella looked over at him, where Court had joined him and Ames. To his ever-loving surprise, they both nodded at Ap, then started to wade to Trey.

  “You ready for food?”

  “I’m starving!” Bella proclaimed.

  “Eee! I know, huh? I’m all hungry.” Braden winked at him.

  “Then it’s time for Dave’s Burgers!” He clapped his hands, making Amelia snort and sit up. Dave’s was on the pueblo, and it was cheap, yummy, and filling.

  “Taco burger!” Bella bounced out as Braden shook his head.

  “Indian taco!”

  “Green chile!” That was his girl.

  Court, though, looked to Ap. “What are you having?”

  “Maybe a Frito pie.” Ap rubbed his flat belly. “I love those.”

  “I love a Frito pie! Uncle Daddy, can I have a Frito pie?”

  “Sure, baby.” Like she’d eat that. He hid his grin, though. He would get her fry bread or a corn dog, and she could try Ap’s pie.

  “I’m going to get Fritos with you, Uncle Ap.”

  “Sure, baby girl.” Ap raised an eyebrow at him, and he tried not to snort. “Okay, everyone has to wash up, and real undies, not bathing suits under clothes, okay?”

  Right on. Apparently yeast infections were a thing with little girls. An awful, terrible thing.

  He didn’t even want to think about it.

  “Bella went without us!” Courtney was a little tired.

  “I’ll walk you to the door, and you can find Bella. Tell her I told her to stay with you.” Trey walked the girl over to the ladies’ locker room.

  “Bella! Bella, you left us!”

  “Come on, Courtney. We’ll find her. Uncles will be right here.” Ames shot him a look. “Right?”

  “You know it.” He would wait for them and trade off with Ap to go rinse off.

  “God, another… how many years until we don’t worry?”

  “Eighty? Eighty-five, tops.”

  “Damn.” Ap shook his head, peering after Braden, who was pretty confident. “That’s crazy.”

  “Yeah. I think the boys are easier. My girls?” Not so much.

  “They’re amazing.” Ap looked a little stricken. “God, you used to have to take them to the men’s room.”

  “Up until two years ago, yeah.” He’d had Cole scope out men’s rooms for a while.

  “You are a brave man, honey.” Ap clapped him on the back.

  “I’m Uncle Daddy, right?” Hell, if he looked at his situation full-on, ever, he’d panic, so he never looked. Ever.

  “You are.” Ap winked. “Do we trade off, or do we both need to stay here?”

  “Go on. I’ll wait until you’re done.”

  “You sure? I don’t mind.” Ap touched his hand again, just a tiny show of affection.

  “I’m good. So far, no one’s screamed.”

  “Is that normal?”

  “You’ve seen what happens with a simple spider.”

  Ap nodded, backing away slowly. “I’ll check on Braden.”

  He chuckled softly. Yeah, the tough rodeo man had nothing on a women’s bathroom. Hell, he was going to have to walk three little girls through their first periods. He was a motherfucking stud.

  Bella peeked out the door. “Uncle Daddy, can you get the extra bag from the car? Courtney put on her clean undies and peed.”

  “I got it right here, kiddo. I brought it in.”

  “You rock. I told her I’d tell you she forgot.”

  “I’ve got your back, Sister.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Daddy.” She grabbed the bag, and off she went. She and Cole and Braden had taken on so much over the years.

  Of course, the little ones would too, as they grew up.

  He grinned at himself. That would be a relief and a sadness all at once. He shook himself. Shit, he had eleven years before the last one left high school, and he’d be a grampa by then, he’d bet.

  Ap joined him again, fully dressed. “Go on, honey. Braden is being slow.”

  “Ah, teenagers. Yay.” He headed into the dressing room and got rinsed off, singing at the top of his lungs. That would get Braden moving.

  “Uncle Daddy! So embarrassing.” Braden strolled out of a stall. “You’re still all wet.”

  “Yeah, I was watching at the girls’ bathroom.” He dried off. “Have fun?”

  “For real. It was so good.”

  “Cool. Looks like you made some friends, huh?”

  “Yeah.” He ducked his head a little. “Is it okay if I message with Lily once in a while?”

  “Lily? That’s a pretty name. Sure. I don’t see why not, so long as it won’t get her in trouble.” Lord have mercy. His boys.

  “Nah. Her big brother said it would be okay. He’s nineteen.”

  “There you go.” Damn, Sam. “You ready to go eat?”

  “I’m starving!” Braden patted his belly.

  “I can tell. You’re wasting away.”

  “Yep. I’m abused.”

  He nodded. “Beaten.”

  “Horribly.” Braden laughed. “Go change. I’ll help Uncle Ap.”

  “I’m almost ready. I’ll be out in a sec.”

  “Okay.” Braden left him, and he shook his head. Hamburger time.

&nbs
p; Hell yeah.

  Chapter Twelve

  AP stared at the pecan pie where it sat on the oven rack. “It’s still liquid.”

  “So cook it longer.” Trey didn’t seem worried. Why wasn’t he worried?

  Ap stared some more. “It’s been in there an hour.”

  “We’re high altitude.”

  “Yeah, but….”

  “Ap, you do this every year. Give it time.” Did Trey just touch his butt?

  He blinked, then closed the oven. A few weeks of domestic bliss made the guy bold.

  Ap was home at Thanksgiving every year. The first year after the crash had been brutal—Cole and Braden had been heartbroken, Bella had been completely confused, and the two little ones were terrified of him. Trey had been in a panic, trying to recreate something that was close to Thanksgiving.

  They’d ended up buying their feast from Walmart a day before, because the turkey had still been frozen and the pumpkin pie had sort of… fallen in on itself like a bad soufflé.

  Six years they’d been doing this together. Six years of turkeys and hams, of friends and neighbors stopping by, of tears and laughter and the parade.

  This was when Ap really felt as if he had a place here. A home.

  “Uncle Ap? Can I help?” Amelia stepped close. “The boys are playing video games, and Bella and Court are playing with the dogs.”

  “Sure. I need someone to help put stuff on the relish tray.” They liked to have nibbles, so he pulled out pickles and olives, cheese and veggies.

  “Do I get to make it pretty?” She climbed up to the table, all smiles.

  “You do. Here’s ranch dip too. Careful, huh?” No one needed to lose a finger.

  “I will. I promise.” She started arranging veg, little face so focused.

  He chuckled, then went back to chopping onions and celery for dressing. He would sweat them while Trey got the stale bread and cornbread ready.

  Every so often he looked over at Trey, admiring the man’s broad shoulders, that tiny butt. For such a big guy, Trey moved with an economy of motion Ap associated with athletes. Like bulldoggers.

  “Uncle Daddy? Can me and Court go see the yaks?” Bella was filthy, completely covered in dust.

  “Yes. Take the corgis.” Trey went all stern. “Be careful, and don’t spook anyone.”

  “I’ll be good. I promise.” Bella looked guilty, all the time.

  “I know you will, kiddo. I just have to say it. Wear your boots.”