“Nothing says good morning like a muffin to your gut,” I teased and Cassie swatted me in the arm.
Dean’s eyes narrowed. “Hit him harder next time, Sis. Like this.” He walked over to me and socked me square in the right shoulder.
The chair screeched as I scooted out of it and chased after my little brother. He ducked and weaved throughout the kitchen, Gran yelling in the background and Gramps laughing at our antics, before I finally caught him and started whaling on his shoulders.
“Stop hitting me, you dick!” Dean yelled as he attempted to pull his shirt from my grasp.
“Don’t hit me in front of my wife.” I released the death grip I had on his clothes and watched as he stood up straight, brushing off his bicep where I’d just hit him.
“You just wanted an excuse to say that.”
“Say what?” I mocked with fake confusion.
“Wife.” Dean looked over at Cassie for support, who watched us with a grin on her face and shook her head, refusing to get involved.
“Stop acting like you’re twelve again and eat some breakfast,” Gran insisted.
“Yeah, Jack. Stop acting like you’re twelve.” Dean shoved me before running to his seat and slamming his ass down.
“You two are ridiculous,” Cassie remarked. “This smells amazing, Gran. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. I’m just so happy to have you all here,” Gran said with a smile before placing full plates of food at the center of the table.
Dean lifted a waffle with his fork and I swatted at it with mine, causing it to fall on the table. “You’re such a jackass,” my brother whined.
“Dean! Language.” The scolding from Gran had become all too familiar whenever we were together.
“He was being a jackass, hon,” Gramps noted and I stifled a laugh.
A voice called out from the front door, and I noticed Dean stop midbite when he realized it was Melissa. “Knock-knock! Anyone home?”
“Yay! Melis!” Cassie jumped up from her seat and ran out of the kitchen as Dean glared across the table at me.
“You could have warned me she was coming over.”
I shrugged and shoved a bite of waffle in my mouth, mumbling around it, “Didn’t know.”
“Liar.”
“It’s not my fault you two can’t get your shit together, so don’t get all PMS’y on me like a little bitch.”
“Jack!” Gran said sharply. “Apologize to your brother right now.”
Gramps pinned me with a disapproving look over his glasses. “That was uncalled for.”
I chewed my food extra slowly, my gaze never leaving Dean’s. “Sorry,” I mumbled before narrowing my eyes and adding, “that you can’t make the girl fall in love with you.”
Dean shook his head and looked away as he finished the bite in his mouth with a scowl.
My beautiful wife walked back into the kitchen with her fun-sized best friend, Melissa, following close behind.
“Hi, everyone,” Melissa said cheerfully.
Gran gave her a big smile. “Good morning, dear. Are you hungry? Let me grab you a plate.” She started to stand but Cassie stopped her.
“I’ll do that. You eat.”
Melissa pushed Cassie toward her chair and shook her head. “I already ate, but thank you.”
“So, Fun-Size, did you have a good time yesterday?” I asked suggestively, trying to get her to admit she actually liked my brother as more than a friend. Dean froze and tipped his head to the side, obviously waiting to hear her answer.
She stared straight at him as she spoke without blinking, “It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. How about you?”
I laughed. “Considering I married the girl of my dreams, I’ll say I had more than just fun yesterday.”
Melissa slid into an open chair at the table and asked, “So, when are you guys leaving?”
“Our flight leaves tonight at nine,” Cassie answered, her voice deflated.
“Why can’t y’all just stay forever? Screw New York!” Melissa shouted in an overly animated voice, and I noticed Dean rubbing his temples.
“What’s the matter, Dean?” she asked with a laugh. “Head hurt?” She tilted her head as she goaded him playfully.
He glared at her and gave her a sharp nod before turning to me. “You can’t stay any longer, can you?”
I swallowed the food in my mouth, half-wishing my answer could be yes. “We have to get back so I can get ready for the pre-season. I feel like I haven’t thrown in forever, and I need to work out. You know how I get in January.”
Being a major league baseball player probably didn’t appear like it would be that difficult from the outside. But I worked my ass off for the majority of the year. During the off-season, I still had to work out, stay in shape, and keep myself healthy. Not to mention the fact that I had to start mentally preparing myself for the season months before it actually started, which basically meant I sort of checked out from everything else. Cassie has had to learn to deal with an absentee boyfriend, whether mentally or physically, most of the time. And now I’ll be an absentee husband.
“Sucks you’re so far away,” Dean added before reaching for his glass of orange juice.
“You can come visit us anytime, Dean. Just let us know. We’d love to have you,” Cassie said with a smile.
“Thanks, Sis.”