True to You

On My Mind

2019

Brian took a sip of his beer and debated whether or not he should prod Zacky awake with the toe of his boot.

It was a tough call, the guy was exhausted and needed all the sleep he could get but would he prefer the sleep or a heads up that Johnny was stealthily approaching from behind clutching an assortment of glitter pens? Decisions, decisions. Or...he could have just done what Brooks did which was haul his ass out of his spot on one of the sofas and firmly remove the pens from Johnny's grasping little paw. Yeah, that worked too.

"Jesus Matt, tell your wife she needs to have a lock installed on the door to her craft room," Brian tucked his foot back up on his knee.

"Why? The boys are pretty good at picking up after themselves. Caitie's got some gold star shit going on to encourage tidiness around the house. I've got seven and when I get to ten my reward is going to be epic," Matt chewed on the end of his pen as he frowned over the note pad in his lap.

"No, it's not your kids I'm concerned about I'm more worried about the tiny asshole down here getting crafty." Brian pointed the neck of his beer bottle toward Johnny. "But never mind that, tell me all about your epic reward for being number one on the gold star leader board," Brian smirked.

"Shit." Matt looked up from his lyrics and frowned, "Did I say that out loud?"

"Why yes, yes you did. Do tell Shadz, what is your lovely wife going to give you," Johnny leaned forward with an exaggerated salacious grin.

Matt dropped his notebook and narrowed his eyes at Johnny but before he could move Brooks had snatched up the hoodie that hung over the arm of the sofa. He dropped it over Johnny's head and wrapped the sleeves around his neck before tying them in a knot. Johnny flailed as Brooks shoved him down into a seat. "Be nice," he said with his usual placid tone.

Brian and Matt looked at each other in amazement for a moment – it was possibly the most violent they'd ever seen Brooks get – before they burst out laughing. They'd just managed to catch their breath when Johnny's muffled, "Ha-fucking-ha assholes," sent them into another paroxysm of mirth.

Brian had his palms pressed to his eyes in an attempt to get his shit together when a drowsy, "What the fuck is going on?" drew his attention. Ooops. They'd forgotten about the sleeping new father.

"Way too much fucking talk of craft supplies," Brian shook his head ruefully. It sounded so lame and middle aged when he explained it like that but it wasn't as if it would sound any funnier if he explained it in full. With a shrug of his shoulders he left Zacky to form his own opinion.

Zacky sat up and rubbed his face, he was looking more together and better rested than he had been since Sloane's birth. He gave Brian a sceptical look before glancing around at Matt, Brooks and Johnny, who was struggling free of his hoodie prison. Zacky just shook his head, "I don't want to fucking know."

Brian smirked at him, "You really don't."

It was good to see his friend getting a better grip on having a new baby in the house. It seemed as though Laine had been a huge help. Not just for Zacky but for Matt too. With Laine upstairs helping Caitie and Kelly out by running interference on everything from school pickups, to crying babies to the snack requirements for pregnant and new mothers, his friends had relaxed enough again to focus on the mission at hand. Writing some fucking amazing songs for their next album.

Brian mused for a moment on the thought of Laine. She was an interesting girl and her depth of knowledge when it came to music seemed to be extensive. She reminded him a little of himself. It wasn't such a surprising thing when you considered that they were family, there was probably some kind of genetic pre-disposition there, Elliot had been able to pick out a tune on a guitar. Laine had obviously taken her musical education seriously based upon the college courses she'd been taking. Not that he, or any of the other guys for that matter, had really discussed music with her. He'd overheard her telling his dad about her studies.