refrain from telling me to STOP ADJUSTING MYSELF! OKAY!” she screamed at me, while trying to waddle away from me.
“Baby I’m sorry,” I pleaded, catching her and pulling her down next to me on the sofa. She fell back and I took the opportunity to pull her feet up on my lap and began to gently massage them.
“Keep doing that until I think you’re sorry enough,” she replied with a small sigh of pleasure.
Tyler began to cough and I swore I heard the word “whipped” muttered in between his cough. I glared at him but all he does is grin.
“What are you doing in the city?” I asked him.
“Just passing through. Besides my favorite sister called me a couple days ago in tears because she misses me.”
“I was not crying,” Tessa shouted at him.
“Were too.”
“Was not.”
“You were practically bawling on the phone.”
“I was not.”
“Okay enough you two. That was nice of you Ty, thanks.”
“Actually Tess, I brought you something.”
She lifted her head and looked over at him. “Is it something to eat?”
“No.”
He walked over to her and gave her the bag he came in with. I watched her open it and pull out a box with a ribbon tied around it. She quickly opened the box and I peered inside. Inside was a beautifully illustrated book titled “Our Little Joy” by Tyler Steele.
“It’s for the peanut. I had a friend help me with the illustrations. I know you said you loved reading to him so I decided to give him his own story,” he casually informed her.
I could see the tears in my wife’s eyes and I knew if she could, Tessa would have flown off the couch to hug him. She gestured for him to bend forward and as he did she grabbed him in a fierce hug. My brothers were truly exceptional men. Sometimes I wished they would both move back to New York so we could be together more.
“Thank you Ty. It’s beautiful. What do you mean you’re just passing through though?” I asked.
“I’m going to surprise Gabe after I leave here. I thought he would have been here already to see you guys and mom and dad but mom told me he hasn’t been here since he’s been back from Switzerland.”
And according to him, he had a good reason. He didn’t want his troubles to follow him out here. Having one famous brother in danger was frightening but having the other one in the crosshairs as well was a disaster. This might turn into a cluster-fuck if Ty went out there. Ally may not be able to protect Gabe and herself as well as Ty if shit went sideways.
“I know he’s been busy with editing his new movie and everything so I don’t know if now might be such a good idea for you to visit him.”
“That’s okay. I usually keep myself busy surfing when I’m out there,” Ty replied.
“Yeah but you know how cranky he gets when he’s distracted.” Neither my brothers nor I were good liars. Tyler gave me that knowing look but before he could say anything Tessa piped in.
“Connor’s right you know. Maybe you should hang around here for a couple of days and keep me company. There’s so much of your brother’s fussing I could take.”
Right my ass. She was only encouraging him to stay away hoping to give Gabe, Ally and their blossoming romance some alone time. Tyler nodded his head in agreement but the look he gave me told me this conversation was far from over.
“Want to tell me what’s going on and why you don’t want me going to California?” Tyler walked in into my home office and plumped his ass down on a chair in front of my desk.
“Where’s Tess?” I asked.
“Lying down,” he replied. “Come on Connor. I know something’s up so spill.”
“Okay but you don’t breath a word to anyone okay especially mom and dad or Tess.”
“Okay, I promise.”
“Gabe’s got a stalker. Ally went down to try and figure shit out for him. Tessa thinks she’s there