Chapter 1
Shane
I knocked on my little sister’s door. Well, she isn’t so little now. She’s all grown up and married to her high-school boyfriend. Pity I can’t say the same for myself. No one knows my secret, only Courtney because she doesn’t give a shit because, surprisingly enough, our cousin is as gay as they come and is out of the closet. Unlike me, I only had one man who was in the closet. He was unsure of his sexuality, but I’m damn sure he is bi. But enough of my pathetic love life, I’ve finally come home for good. I can’t live a life full of lies anymore and the first step to recognition is leaving the navy and coming out to my parents and younger brother. So here I am knocking on my little sister’s door a month after she got hitched to Issac Walker. I always liked the kid. He always respected my sister. Even if he fucked up, he was always there for her. I’m glad they found each other again and got hitched. They have a little girl, and he has taken on two older boys from a previous relationship with no other than Ashton Barraman. Damn, I was glad I wasn’t here to see the shit hit the fan when he realized she had kids with him. That’s what you get for being a cheating asshole just like your brother. I guess it runs in the family. Well enough, if that bullshit the door opens to a smile so wide I wouldn’t miss it anywhere. “Courtney.”
“Shane, you made it.” She says, excitidly.
“I did. Are you going to let your older brother in or are we going to stand here all day?” I asked, grinning.
She smiles and pulls me into a hug. “It’s good to see you Shane.”
“You too, sis.”
She finally lets go and beckons me into her humble abode. “Sorry I couldn’t make the wedding.”
She waves me off. “I know you’re a busy man Shane, we understand. You’re here now and that’s all that counts. Come through and meet your nephews and niece.”
I nodded and smiled. “Lead the way.”
She smiles, and we head through to the lounge where two boys are fighting it out on the Playstation and the little girl is playing pretend with her dolls, all alone. Why aren’t they playing together?
“Who was at the door, Kitten?”
“Look who finally came to visit us?”
He looks up and smiles. “Well, if it isn’t the missing groomsman and brother.”
“Sorry about that.”
“No worries.” He smiled, walking over to me, pulling me into a bear hug. Damn, he’s grown strong over the years. He’s no longer the weak ass ten year old I met all those years ago. “Good to see you Shane.”
“You to Issac.” I said, tapping him on the back.
We move away. He looks at the three children and gives them a stern look. “Kane, Ryan, Arya say hi to your uncle Shane.”
“Sup.”
“Sup.”
The little girl with curls looks over and gives me the most stunning smile. “Are you mommy’s brother?”
“I am, princess.”
She smiles happily as her brothers mutter, “Oh god, please don’t call her that.”
“Hi Shane. Want to play?”
“Sure, what are you playing, princess?”
She gave me a der look. “Princess and princess, I’m the princess, and you can be the prince.”
“Sure, princess, anything.”
Her smile grows wider and pats the empty space next to her. I strode over and sat beside her listening to her as she tried her hardest to explain to me what we were paying.
“She likes you.”
“Everyone likes me.” I laughed. The two boys rolled their eyes.
“Why aren’t your brothers playing with you?”
“They say they’re too old to play with me and what I play is lame.”
Oh.
“So Shane, how’s the navy treating you?”
“Good.”
“How long are you on leave for?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Court.”
She looks at me. “Oh okay, this sounds bad.”
“It’s not bad, sis. I’ve just made some life-changing decisions of late. I decided I no longer wanted to be in the navy. I know I spoke to you briefly about it before you got hitched. The truth is, I haven’t been feeling it for a while. The guys are great and all, but I think it’s time to think about my future and, to be honest, the navy isn’t it anymore.”
“So you’re staying?”
“I am. I did my last tour. That’s why I was unable to come to the wedding. I tried to get leave but it was impossible. I had to finish the tour before officially leaving.”
“Do mom and dad know you’re back?”
I shook my head. “No, not yet. You’re the first person I’ve told. I just want some time and peace before I tell them why.”
“I understand.”
I smiled. “Have you seen Tucker?”
She shakes her head. “Not since the shit that happened on my last tour no. He’s having treatment as far as I’m aware. His friends are helping him through it. I’ve spoken to him, but he isn’t in the right headspace right now to come home.”
I nod, understand everything that Tucker is going through right now. PTSD isn’t an easy thing to come to terms with and get through. I’ve seen a lot of my fellow seals end their own lives because they can’t take it anymore.
“Come on. Uncle Shane, play. You can talk to mom later.”
I laughed. “Sure princess.”
She smiles widely, and we continue to play pretend with her dolls.
Lawrance
I came home from my business trip to find out my younger brother had been a dick yet again. Not only did I get a call from his so-called girlfriend who he has not one but two kids with, but I got her blubbering about how he had got up and left, telling her not to wait for him as he was going to get back the only girl that he had ever loved and we both knew exactly who that girl was. Courtney Mendez. She was a feisty firecracker with a set of the most powerful lungs that I had ever heard. But she had stolen the hearts of many Mouse for one. He was a damn fine tattoo artist and often shared his many tattoo sessions with the fiery Italian goddess. I have yet to see any of those designs in the flesh, but knowing Mouse, they were perfection as I’ve had many tattoos specially done by his hand, I won’t go to any other tattoo artist.
Then, after her, I had Ash blubbering on the phone about how he loved Courtney, but she didn’t love him, and she’d married Walker despite him confessing his undying love to her. I rolled my eyes and tried to zone his bullshit out literally until he said he had two boys with her. I had two more nephews that I didn’t know about. He said that Walker and Courtney told him he was never to see them ever and the prick just took it lying down. We’ll let me tell you so for nothing. I’m not taking it lying down. I found out exactly where Courtney lived and was heading there now to confront her and tell her that, no matter what she said, I wanted to be in my nephews’ lives even if my pussy brother wasn’t going to be.
I pulled my Harley up in front of the house, turning the engine off and getting off it. I headed over to the house only to notice a jeep outside. I shrugged it off and headed to the door and knocked loudly. The door creaked and opened to the beautiful girl. No one could ever forget Courtney Mendez now Walker. “Good afternoon sweetheart.” I grinned.
“Lawrence.”
I smiled widely. She flew at me, hugging me tightly. Wow, this wasn’t the reception I was expecting. I hugged her back.
“It’s good to see you again, Lawrence.”
“You too, Courtney.”
We broke away from the hug. “So why are you here, Lawrence? And don’t say you were just in the neighborhood, and you thought you’d pop by.”
“Nope, you know me better than that Courtney. Ash told me.”
“Oh.”
“He may be a pussy and not man enough to tell Walker he’ll see his kids no matter what, but I’m no pussy. I want to get to know my nephews.”
“And I won’t stop you, Lawrance, you’re not Ash. I respect you. Come in and meet your nephews, then we’ll talk okay.”
“Sounds like a plan to lead the way, sweetheart.”
She gestured for me to come in and I did. She closed the door behind me. “My brother is here, so I’ll introduce the both of you after the boys.”
“Sure.” I said, unaware that all would go to shit once I entered the lounge and saw him sitting there in all of his glory with a little girl curled up on his lap, sleeping.
“Kane, Ryan. This is Lawrence, your uncle.”
“Sup.”
“Sup bro.”
I looked at Courtney and she just shrugged. “Hey.”
“We’re all going to talk later, okay?”
“Is this about the dude who showed up at your wedding?”
I raised a brow and Courtney sighed. “Yes, Kane it is.”
He nodded. “Cool.”
How was it even cool? My brother is a fucking idiot and has now lost his chance to get involved in their lives. His loss, not mine. “Lawrence, I would like you to meet my much older brother Shane.”
“Hey.” He smiled. And fuck I was done for.
“Well you are.”
“True.” He grinned.
“Shane, this is Lawrence, Ashton’s older brother.”
He nodded and grinned. “Nice to meet you, Lawrence.”
“You too, Shane.”
Damn, why does this feel so awkward?”
“I’ll take Arya to bed and you two can get to know one another.”
Oh, we already know each other, I wanted to say, but I kept it to myself.
She smiles, taking the sleeping little girl off Shane and looking at him. “Now you behave.”
“I always behave.”
She grins. “Not always, just play fair Shane, okay.”
“Okay.”
“I’m warning you.”
“I’ll play fair, I promise.”
She smiles. “You do that, I’m taking Arya to bed, then we can all have a nice little chat.”
The two boys roll their eyes and Courtney sighs, heading upstairs. I go to talk to Shane, but I get interrupted by the youngest of the two boys. “Hey Shane, want to play now Arya has gone to bed?”
“Sure buddy. You’ll have to show me what to do. I’m a little rusty.”
He rolls his eyes. “Sure.”
He grins and pulls himself up off the sofa and heads over to where the boys are sitting and sits beside the younger boy.
“Hey dude, you can join us if you like.”
“You talking to me, dude?”
“Well der, there’s no other dude here, is there?”
“I guess there isn’t.”
“So are you ready to play two against two?”
“Sure.”
I walked over and sat by the older boy.
“Are you rusty as well, old man?” He grins.
“Hey, I’m not old and yeah. I’m a little rusty and haven’t played games since I was in high-school. But with your expertise, I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it.”
He rolls his eyes but nods. I guess tonight isn’t going to be a bad night after all.
