“Let me guess. You held on till he tapped instead of just separating the two as a normal person would do.” Xavier crosses his arms over his chest. This isn’t the first time we have fought each other.
“You know the rules, and so do they. We don’t let go until someone taps.” Declan tries to defend his actions.
“We’ll see how long it takes you to tap on Friday when we’re passing the fliers out at the school.” Xavier grins wickedly.
“Babe,” Declan starts to talk.
“Nope, you know you guys aren’t supposed to do that sort of thing in the office. Besides, you’re not going to let me go alone anyway.”
“Yes, but I didn’t plan on participating.”
“Well, now you are.” Xavier pulls Declan down for a kiss. Declan quickly turns it into a deep, entirely inappropriate kiss for the office. But it makes me think. What would Colton’s lips feel like on mine? I usually hate kissing and a lot of touching, but I keep wondering what Colton will feel like. I’ve never understood why they do that in front of people. Now I can’t stop thinking about doing it myself. Inside, I let out a mental groan and have to look away from them.
“Wow, what did I miss, and why are Declan and Xavier putting on a live porno?” I groan as Finn and Conor walk into my office.
“Is there a reason that my entire family is in my office?” They all need to leave. It’s late afternoon, and soon my time withColton will be done for the day. I can already feel my skin itching because of it. Like a drug addict who has only been given a small taste, I want more. I need it. The apartment is ready for him already, but the idea of him going somewhere other than my place irritates me. Plus, it’s in Declan’s building and not mine.
“I’m Finn, the baby of the family. You must be Colton.” Finn holds out his hand for Colton to shake. It feels like my molars are going to crack. I have to curl my hands into fists to stop myself from pulling Colton away.
“That’s me. So baby, huh? It’s weird, you all look the same age.”
“Well, we’re Irish.” Finn grins. I groan at what I know is coming next. “We’re all Irish twins. Conor was born in September; the twins came early in August of the next year. I was born the next July. Mom wanted a big family, so she decided to knock it out as fast as she could.”
“I still say she should have stopped with me,” Conor says.
“Why, when she saved the best for last?”
“Everyone needs to get out of my office,” I say.
“Aw, come on, Roe, we came to welcome Colton into the fold. Besides, you’ve had him to yourself all morning.” Finn knows that I hate that nickname or any nickname. They make no sense. If your parents wanted you to be called something other than your name, then they should have named you differently. My eyes narrow at Finn.
“You’d better be careful, Finn. Aunt Alessia has already doled out punishment to these three for messing with Ronan and Colt,” Xavier explains while extricating himself from Declan’s hold.
“Really?” Finn grins.
“Yeah, and I usually wouldn’t warn you so that you could join them. But I want Colt to stay so I can play with Ollie tomorrow. I can’t do that if you scare him off.”
“Who’s Ollie?” Conor asks. Colton starts to answer, but Xavier beats him to it.
“Oh, my God. You need to meet him. He’s the most adorable baby on the planet. He’s Colt’s son. Alessia has him set up in a fucking awesome playroom down the hall.”
“You have a son?” Conor glares between Colton and me.
“Yeah. I do.”
“And it’s none of your business. Everyone needs to leave, now.”
“Come on, Dec. You can meet Ollie.” Xavier starts pulling him from the room. Liam, Finn, and Conor follow them out. Everyone files out except my dad.
“I actually came in here to tell you about your apartment.”
I cut him off. “It’s not ready yet,” I say quickly. Dad cocks his head at me.
“That’s okay. I’m paid up at the place we are staying until next week. We can just stay there.”
“That’s not happening. You and Ollie are staying with me.” I brace for an argument. He won’t win it.
Chapter 8