Page 10 of Fourplay & Fatalities
“I don’t know how I feel about you thinking I would beat up a toddler—which, for the record, I wouldn’t. It’s not even, like, a fair fight,” Avi said, sounding hurt.
“No promises on the sixth-grader, though,” Asa said. “Middle schoolers are fucking dicks. I don’t think they’re threatened enough.”
Zane snickered. “I’m with Asa on that one.” He rolled onto his side and pushed Felix’s long, dark hair out of his face. “Do you feel better now?”
Felix nodded. “Yeah. I-I want to have a baby. I want all of us to have a baby. Together. Is…is that okay?”
“It’s okay with me,” Zane promised.
“Me too,” Asa said, resting his head on Zane’s.
“Me three,” Avi said. “But for the record, I knew you were going to want a baby the moment you laid eyes on Lola.”
Felix flushed. “Shut up.”
“See?” Avi teased, leaning down and kissing Felix’s face so many times Zane lost count. “You took one look at her and started imagining what your babies would look like.”
“She’s so beautiful,” Felix said with a sigh. “Her skin, her hair, her eyes. No offense, but this family needs a little more color in their ink. You’re all very…white.”
Zane couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped. “He’s right. You guys all look like you’re made of cream cheese and mayo.”
Asa poked fingers into his ribs. “Laugh it up, Lois. You’re just as melanin-challenged as the rest of us.”
“True, but any babies with Felix’s DNA will hopefully look like him and Jericho,” Zane said.
“Jagger looks just like Jericho,” Avi said.
“Yeah, but not through any help from them. He came to them that way. Jett too. It is kind of weird, though, right? That they each look like one of their parents, even though they’re not related?” Zane said.
“They’re biologically related to each other, but don’t look a thing alike. Genetics are weird,” Asa said. “The truth is, we have no idea what we’re going to get when we throw all that genetic material into a blender. I assume Felix’s DNA is the first in the dish?”
Felix shrugged. “I figured we could do it like August and Lucas. Use both of our stuff and see what takes. Lola said she’d donate her eggs, but she wasn’t really on board with the whole pregnancy thing, so we’d have to get a surrogate…which is scary.”
Avi stretched his arms overhead. “Money talks, kitten. We’ll find the perfect surrogate. Promise.”
Felix grinned so wide that Zane’s heart sort of somersaulted in his chest. “We’re gonna have a baby.”
Zane leaned forward and captured his mouth in a kiss that lingered. “You might want to prepare yourself. Everyone in this family seems to spit kids out in duplicate. I think it’s something in the Mulvaney mansion’s water supply.”
“We can handle it,” Avi said. “And if we can’t, we can afford an army of nannies.”
“You guys are so spoiled,” Zane said around a yawn. “I need a nap. Any takers?”
“Me,” Asa said, dragging Zane back against him.
“Not me,” Felix said. “I’m hungry.” He looked at his husband. “Take me somewhere fancy for lunch?”
Avi grinned. “Have I ever been allowed to take you anywhere else?”
“No. And that won’t change just ‘cause we have babies. Our children will wear couture. Oh!” Felix’s eyes lit up. “I could create a whole kids’ line.”
“We’ve created a monster,” Zane said around a laugh.
Once Asa and Zane were alone, he turned, snuggling deeper into Asa’s arms. “Are you really okay with this?”
“With us having a baby in the house? Why wouldn’t I be? I was raised in a house full of kids. Avi and I always knew you and Felix were going to want kids. He wasn’t making that up. We’re okay with it. We are kind of excited about it. Are you worried we won’t be able to handle it?”
Zane kissed Asa’s neck. “Nope. Felix isn’t really either deep down. I think he was just panicking a bit because it’s a big decision, and instead of two people having to be on board, there’s four.”
