The Sister Between Them

Chapter 18

Rocco was washing up Gavin's hands at the sink and waiting for Lexi to come storming in, all embarrassed and mad. Dante was still laughing as he finished plating the meat to bring to the grill.

"Rocco, I swear!" Lexi ran in, looked around, then narrowed her eyes at him. He held Gavin up as a defense, and Gavin just giggled.

"Put me down, Daddy," he squirmed easily out of Rocco's grasp.

"Where is he?" Lexi asked, glancing around and looking confused.

"Outside still, he just pulled up." Dante laughed.

"He is? So, he wasn't in here when you yelled that?" Her face filled with relief.

"I wouldn't do that to you, chill," Rocco assured her.

"Lexi," Gavin tugged her pants leg.

"What's up, Buddy?" She asked.

"Where is my Auntie Dani?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

"She's out on the deck," Lexi patted his head.

"You can go out there if you want," Rocco told Gavin, and he didn't wait before racing out of the kitchen.

"It looks like he brought beer." Dante was glancing out the window. Bobby was very tall and thin with dark curly hair. He was wearing loose cargo pants and a white tee shirt.

"I'll go help him," Lexi said; she straightened her hair before walking out to join him.

"Let's get this meat cooking," Rocco directed. 

He and Dante each grabbed a big platter of burgers, steaks, and chicken. As they stepped out onto the porch, Rocco was surprised to see Jared there; he didn't even see him arrive. He was even more surprised to see him engaged in conversation with Dani. Breanna and Alana were hanging out over by the cooler, and he and Dani were sitting at the table. He tightened the grip on the plate he was carrying as he walked past them. Gavin had come over and jumped up on her lap.

Rocco busied himself at the grill, trying not to be so damn tuned into her, but he was listening to her and Gavin regardless.

"There's my Gavi-Tiger," Dani said.

"I was helping mushing up the burgers," he told her.

"You did? Were they cold?"

"Yeah," he said excitably.

"Did you get hamburger hands?" She asked.

"I did, Auntie Dani, yeah!" He giggled, "They was funny."

"I bet they were," she said.

"My belly is hungry!"

He made a few small patties for Gavin, pressing them down to get them cooked faster. "Pretty soon, buddy." Rocco turned and smiled at him.

"Let's go get a plate ready for you," Dani lifted him off her lap and got up.

"Need any help?" Jared started to stand up.

"No, I'm good," she laughed. "He doesn't eat that much."

Idiot, Rocco thought, biting back a scoff; he watched them head back inside together. Dani had Gavin's hand, and he was right at her heels.

"She's good with him," Breanna walked over.

"She's great with him and for him. He's so much happier with her around," Rocco confirmed.

"Every boy needs to be mothered; sometimes an aunt or grandma is what you get; I'm glad he found his," Breanna said softly.

"He is mothered," Rocco stiffened.