Kayden and Elias both asked for seconds, of which you eagerly obliged, more than happy that the growing boys were eating more. Arthur politely declined, and at his glance to the freezer, you could only chuckle in understanding. The younger boys ate their seconds happily, and you waved the two adult males into the kitchen when you caught them staring, rolling your eyes as they both jumped up to head back in for seconds of their own.
You tried to ignore the pointed look your mother gave you, her eyes flicking after Orpheus in a silent inquiry. You just shook your head, sitting back in your recliner and folding your legs up under you, choosing not to pay attention to the dramatic flourish of her arm. You also chose to ignore the bickering of the two returning to sit back down on the couch.
"So, Orpheus!" Oh no she was going to initiate conversation. "You mentioned you were a business owner?"
"Oh, yes, ma'am." You glanced over as he leaned back, taking another bite. "I own Bioluminescent Freight and Cargo."
"Oh? I do believe that rings a bell." He nodded, turning to look over at her. You rose a brow, curious yourself.
"My grandfather started it up back in the last world war, fer weapons shipment and the like. When my father took it over, we started shippin' vehicles overseas. After he passed, I took it on. Didn' much care fer the post out in California, so I went an' bought out the ol' shipyard just outside a' town, down near Morgan's Point."
"Oh, that's not a far drive at all!"
"Ay. Gave me enough leeway ta set up 'ere near the schools, fer when Eli starts up in a few years." You couldn't keep the look of awe from your expression, which caught Abernathy's attention when he glanced over. You had to look away. "It took about a year, but we got everythin' set ta start sendin' out shipments from the new spot. Gotta drive down there tomorrow to make sure we're all set ta open up." You glanced over at his sigh, to catch him running a hand through his lightly slicked-back ginger hair. "I just gotta figure out what to do about Eli..."
"Eh hem?" You both looked over at your mother, who crossed her arms. "I do own a daycare, darling. Kayden spends all day with me while Carmine works, then Arthur joins us in the afternoons. I would be more than happy to add Elias among my children." You turned your attention back to him in time to catch the relief to wash over his face.
"Corinne, that would be more appreciated than you could imagine."
"Just drop him off before you go tomorrow. I open up at five, for the early bird parents. Carmine usually brings Kayden over around 7:30."
"It would be a bit later than that." You forced yourself not to shrink back under the sudden violet gaze on you. "Where do ya work, that ya gotta be up so early?"
"Ah." Words, Carmine. "Well, Arthur needs to be at school by 7:15, so I wake the boys up around six. I myself get up around five, to get ready ahead of time." You smoothed out the red sweater you had put on before you'd started on dinner. "Then I get to my classroom to make sure my lessons are prepped for the day. My first class starts at 8:30."
"Class? Vwhat, ya like, a teacher?" You wrinkled your nose, extracting a laugh from Deontae on the other side of the couch.
"Oh God, don't even menthtion the word teacher to him. He hated teaching thothe high thchoolerth-"
"I didn't hate my students." You crossed your arms, irked once more. "I hated what I was teaching."
"Mr. Anarchitht teaching a Government clathth-"
"I, was a Government teacher for Carnegie Vanguard High, for a couple of years." You felt distaste at the mention of your previous position. "My current position, however, is a professor at the University of Houston." You felt a light grin as his brows shot up.
"Yer tellin' me yer a college professor?"
"Yes. I teach Social Justice."
"Like the rebel you are-" You cast a glare at your best friend, which he responded to by snickering. "From equal rightth protetht to equal rightth clathth-"
"Oh, hush, you." You huffed.
"Wow. Guess that means ya prefer smarts over brawn, hm?" Your attention was back to him. You hated that small smirk he was giving you.
"I have my own physical strength as well, thank you."
"Car ith fatht, don't be fooled he will knock you on your a-"
"Deontae."
"-aarear." You shook your head at his correction, sighing wearily. "What? I fixed it-" You only waved it off. "Anyway, yeah, Car ith really thmart and all, but he can fight too-"
"I used to be able to fight. I haven't had a reason to in years, I doubt I will again any time soon." When had you gotten so tired? You tried to move your hand to stifle your yawn, but it was too late; you were getting a look from your mother.
"Carmine, what time did you go to bed last night?"
"Mom, I'm not a child-"
"It is eight, and you are yawning." You blinked, looking down to check your watch. "Carmine-"
"I was grading first year papers yesterday, mother. I have two first year classes, about fifty to sixty students per class, I graded the papers for both classes last night." You hummed, covering your mouth at another yawn. "Let's see, the boys went to bed around nine, as per usual, I tidied up, then went to my office to grade around, I believe ten?"
"Carmine Beckett, that is almost 120 papers!"
"It's really not that bad, mother-" It was too late, she was already on a tangent about watching your sleeping schedule. You put your head into your hands, releasing a heavy sigh into them.
"Papa?" Oh thank heavens for your oldest boy. You jerked up your head, looking over at him. "Can we have d'sert now?"
"Oh!" You were immediately up, moving to the kitchen.
"Carmine Beckett!"
"Orpheus! Can Elias have sugar-free ice cream?" You were already pulling down three bowls. You barely heard him enter the kitchen behind you, but you did hear the sound of his plate being set into the sink.
"Vwell, I don' see why not. Chocolate." You nodded, making two chocolate bowls and one strawberry, for your Kayden. "Let me lend ya a hand." You were going to protest, but he'd already picked up a chocolate bowl, grinning at you. You hated how your stomach flipped.
Each boy got their bowl, and you cleared up their plates, looking over at your mother and best friend.
"May I take your plates?" A huff, but she relented. His plate was set on the pile in your hands haphazardly, making you roll your eyes as you turned to go back into the kitchen. You stopped in your tracks, staring at the taller man who was already running water, and pushing his sleeves up his arms. "Uh, you, don't have to-" Your voice was lost as he turned to you, took the plates from your hands.
"It's the least I can do, Carmine, after ya made us dinner." His grin was gone, replaced with a genuine smile that made your heart flop. You had to swallow, clear your throat.
"I, thank you." His back was to you again, and you found your eyes wandering, admiring the sculpting of his back visible through his almost skintight black shirt. Broad shoulders, sturdy arms, no doubt meaning a strong grip-
"Car, Imma head back home. Gotta be up like, thtupid early for work." You nearly jumped out of your skin, whirling on the man now standing behind you. Your face must have shown the guilt you were feeling, must've betrayed the heat in your skin because his eyes glanced past you to the man at the sink, then landed back on your face before narrowing.
"Well, I-I get that. Morning shift and all." Why did you sound so nervous? You were already pushing him out of the kitchen by his shoulders. "Don't want to keep you up, not one bit!"
"Car, what the fuck-"
"Good night, sweet dreams, come by again."
"Car-" He stumbled back at a push towards the door, scowling at you before throwing up his hands and turning to it himself, opening it. "Don't do anything thtupid, you fuck." You cringed at the almost slam of the door, toying with the bottom of your shirt in an attempt to calm yourself down. One bullet dodged, temporarily.
"Carmine, I have never seen you so red-" Fuck. "What's gotten into you?" You tried to wave it off, turn away from her. But she was already up and in your face, finger in your chest. "Explain, young man-"
"I, well, you see, I-" You couldn't explain, how could you? Your words were jumbled, your heart was racing. You felt like you were back in college and that was not a good thing. You did horrible things in college.
"Are you, flustered-?"
"N o!" Why did your voice have to go up in pitch? You put a hand to your mouth to silence yourself, no longer trusting your voice not to betray you.
You were just tired. That was all. A little sleep would fix that right up.
"I figured I should leave 'em on the rack ta dry fer ya." Your head jerked up towards him, and you couldn't keep your eyes from widening at the horror of him walking in to see you in such a state. Your mother looked between the two of you, and that was it, you were definitely done for the evening.
"I, thank you, for doing our dishes, it's appreciated, I hate to be short but I have a schedule to keep for tomorrow morning and if Kayden isn't put in bed soon he'll throw a tantrum-" You were rambling, you knew you were. There were too many emotions at once, too many things going on too quickly.
You barely heard her cry before you felt an arm around your back, too firm in its hold to be your mother's.
"Easy there, lad." You blinked a few times, needing a moment to register that you had been lowered onto the couch. "Are ya okay?"
"What..?" You blinked up in confusion, a softly familiar hand pressing to your pulse point, before the back of it was pressed to your forehead. "Mother, what are you...?"
"I keep telling you to watch your sleep schedule, Junebug! Look at you, falling over on yourself. And you're burning up!" You finally managed to muster up enough strength to lightly push her arm away, sighing irritably.
"I'm fine, for fucks' sake." You muttered it, pinching at the bridge of your nose.
"I hate ta take sides, but ya just collapsed in on yerself." You blinked, looking over at him in confusion. Your stomach churned at the concern in his expression. "Was barely close enough ta catch ya." Ah, that was what had happened. You looked down at your lap, taking a shaky breath. You didn't really have time to think about lying down on your side, but you did just that, turning your face into the cushion.
"Mm just, tired. I'll be fine." This was embarrassing. You were acting like a sick child, like you needed to be cared for, when you didn't, you were a grown adult, a father of two working thirty-seven hours a week. You didn't need to be babied.
But you could already hear your mother cleaning the boys up, telling them that you were tired, that she would take them to bed. You don't remember if Orpheus ever left.