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“Everything except go to sleep,” she complained, handing him over. “I done fed him, changed him, and walked around this whole gah damn house with him. Your son is getting on my damn last nerve.”

“Come here, little man. Let Daddy see what’s wrong with you,” I murmured, settling him against my chest.

Tori dropped onto the bed while I rubbed his back. He fussed for another minute before getting quiet, and by the time I sat down beside her, his eyes were closed.

I glanced over at my wife with a grin.

“You get on my nerves.” She rolled her eyes.

“I love you too, mama,” I replied, laughing. I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Go take you a little break. I got him.”

“Thank you, daddy,” she replied, kissing me.

“Chill, before I make that shit happen.”

I watched her head into the bathroom before looking down at my son. He was sleeping like he hadn’t just put his mama through hell.

“Boy, you something else,” I muttered, shaking my head.

A few months ago, I was standing in a hospital room waiting for him and his brother to come into the world. Now I had two little niggas running my household, a daughter who thought she was their second mama, and a son who was almost seventeen and growing into his own man.

I wouldn’t have changed a damn thing.

By that afternoon, the backyard was full of family and friends. I’d had everything catered because I wasn’t about to have Gee standing in the kitchen cooking for all these people. Everybody could eat, drink, and enjoy themselves without worrying about a damn thing.

I was standing near the patio with Mase when Tae came walking over, shaking his head while Saint followed behind him laughing.

“Bruh, tell this nigga to quit fucking with me,” Tae complained.

“What the hell y’all got going on now?” I questioned.

“Man, ain’t nobody bothering his ass,” Saint replied. “He just sensitive as fuck.”

“Nigga, I know your ol’ R&B quartet singing ass ain’t talking?” Tae shot back.

“Shit, you better get like me and learn how to R&B beg. That shit comes in handy.” Saint smirked.

“Shut the fuck up talking to me,” Tae replied, reaching for his drink.

I laughed and shook my head as they kept talking shit. There wasn’t anything forced about having Saint around. He’d been solid with us long before we knew he was our brother, and finding out the truth hadn’t changed that.

I would’ve liked the chance to know Frank, but that wasn’t possible. What I did have was another brother sitting at my table, and I wasn’t taking that for granted.

A little later, AJ came walking over with Keenan and Jace, laughing about something as they headed toward the house.

“Pops, we’re finna run to the store. You need anything?” He asked.

“Nah, I’m straight,” I responded. “Y’all be careful, and don’t be out there speeding.”

“I know, Pops,” he replied with a grin.

“I’m serious, nigga. Don’t have me regretting buying your ass that car,” I warned.

“I got you,” he assured me, dapping me up. “Love you, Pops.”

“Love you too, son. Be careful,” I replied as he headed out the gate with his friends.

“You can’t tell his ass shit now that he has that car,” Mase remarked.