Stern Men Always Finish Last

Chapter 21

Luke POV

I picked Uncle to instruct my Forever this week. This will either be the greatest idea I've ever had or the worst. Picking the person who raised you always has consequences. The baby photos, the embarrassing stories, and the stories about every last girl I have ever dated. Oh lord in heaven, I better go hide my baby blanket.

This is for Sang. This is to help, Cupcake. Putting her with Uncle unsupervised is the only way. Oh heaven, I'm screwed.

Uncle did this for me with for no favors. North nor I have asked him for much over the years and he was happy to help. He did ask some very pointed questions when North and the rest of my brothers were more than eager to pick up shifts at the diner in his stead. Explaining to Uncle that not only was I dating my forever, but that all of my brothers were as well was one of the hardest conversations of my life.

Silently and stoically he sat there as I explained how we all loved her and she loved us. How we had worked out sharing her affection. How we were doing everything in our power to build her confidence in herself. That she believed we cared for her, but she couldn't understand why. He just sat there and gave me the Taylor chin. The one where you cross your arms and stick out your chin while scowling at the person you've pointed your chin at. It has to be a learned trait, North does it all the time. It works on others, but I've learned to ignore the Taylor chin after all the years with Uncle.

When he finally decided to speak, I was braced for impact. Uncle wouldn't physically hit me, but he could make North's bellowing look like a soft whisper if he wanted. Instead, I got the calm and collected Uncle. "It is an unusual decision and not one I would have recommended for my boys." I tried to interject and he stopped me. "However, I will always support you both. I wish you would have told me sooner. This cannot have been easy for you."

I was speechless. The talk with Uncle couldn't have gone any better. That was until he realized he was going to have Sang all to himself. He had that look in his eyes that told me my deepest darkest secrets were going to come out. And then he confirmed my worst fears when he mentioned that not only was he going to spend the week with my girlfriend, he was spending with week with North's too. Oh for the love of all things sweet and delicious, North is going to kill me.

Monday after school was better than I could have expected. North and I drove Cupcake over to the diner where she was going to meet Uncle. I was going to work the afternoon shift and then take my Forever out for dinner. If I had Cupcake for the week I was going to make the most of it.

Thankfully the afternoon shift flew by. Kids would stop by after school for a sundae, and the senior citizens in the area always ate early. The distraction of servicing customers was welcomed. By the time my shift ended at 7 I was driving North and Kota crazy with looking out the front window for Uncle's car. When they arrived, I met them at the back door. Since there were other employees in the kitchen, North and Kota couldn't show Sang any affection, but that didn't stop me from planting one on her. God I love kissing her. Uncle huffed in annoyance, but gave me a knowing wink when no one else was looking. I shuttled Sang over towards a stool by North and made sure she was comfortable before going to talk to Uncle in his office.

"So, how did she do?"

"Well, pickpocketing really isn't her finest skill, yet." Oh no, she's going to think she can't do this. Uncle must have seen my panic. "Calm down, Luke. If you remember correctly it took you quite a while to get good at it. Besides, you didn't want me to make it easy on her, so I have her practicing on my team."

"You have her trying to pickpocket Academy members? Does she know that?" Oh no, oh no, oh no. I didn't want him to make it easy on her, but I didn't want it to be impossible either. Oh no, oh no, oh no.