These days, Vaughn and I didn’t avoid each other. We were friends and forgetting was an even bigger temptation. Especially now that Vaughn was married and about to be a father.
My mind wasn’t on the past when Vaughn and Raven arrived at our house. Focused on pushing back the videogame zombie hordes, I didn’t notice anyone at the door until Jace paused the game and glanced over my shoulder. His expression was classic messed up kid. Always wary, he lost the smile he’d had since we started playing the game.
“Hey,” Raven said, plopping down next to Jace. “Can I play while Vaughn plays big bro with your big sis?”
When Jace kept his gaze on the ground, Raven smiled at me. “He’s afraid to be beaten by a girl who’s not you.”
“She’s never beaten me,” Jace muttered.
“Winnie did once,” I said, handing Raven the controller. “It was a fluke. She sneezed and hit a button and somehow he died.”
Jace grinned. “Killed by a sneeze.”
Leaving Raven to fight zombies with Jace, I found Vaughn on the back porch. He stared grumpy at the bright sun lingering on the horizon.
“Explain to me what this thing is between you and Saint.”
“There is no thing. He offered to train me and I couldn’t say no.”
“I can train you,” Vaughn said, glancing at me as I joined him on the couch.
“Not like he can.”
“Because he’s a cold blooded killer?”
“Because he doesn’t look at me like I’m a kid. You want to protect me. He wants to see how far he can push me.”
“I don’t think you’re a kid.”
I frowned at him and he frowned back at me. We were at an impasse.
“He’s only in town for a week. What’s the big deal?” I asked when he wouldn’t stop frowning at me.
“I don’t know anything about him besides he kills people. You have enough fucking problems in life. Palling around with him is creating another fucking problem.”
“You should work on your cussing now that you’re going to be a dad.”
Vaughn finally smiled. “Fuck you. Cooper cussed at a cat the other day while he was holding Lily. She didn’t seem to mind.”
“She’s a baby. I betcha Coop will edit himself once his princess gets older and starts cussing at cats.”
“Sawyer cusses like that.”
“Sawyer is… special.”
“True. Being a club princess will do that. Lily will be too, won’t she, cupcake?”
“Your kid won’t.”
Vaughn glared at me. “Stop distracting me from why I came here, Twinkie.”
“It’s not my job to make your job easier, ding dong.”
Smiling, Vaughn tugged gently at my hair. “I want you to be a happy adult since you didn’t get to be a happy kid.”
“I know and I appreciate you watching out for me. Vaughn, the only way I can really be happy is to be strong and Saint can help me to be strong. You should support him training me.”
“How is he training you by fucking you?”
“It’s not like that. He won’t be in town long.”
“I still don’t see how he’s training you.”
“Saint told me a few things after I freaked out on him. How to handle a threat and what to do and not to do. I learned things I probably should know, but I was letting my anger think for me. He made me see the stuff I was ignoring. I don’t listen to people, but I listened to him.”
Vaughn grunted. “I need to ask him what trick he used. That way, I can make you listen to me.”
“I don’t think it’s transferable.”
“Your parents are worried. Winnie is worried. We can’t all be wrong to worry.”
“I know, but life is complicated and I’m complicated and I’m doing this.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting.”
“Fine,” he said, throwing his hands up. “I’ll allow you to do what you want and act like an adult, but on one condition.”
“No dice. I do what I want.”
“Promise me that you’ll ask for help if you get in over your head with this guy.”
“Okay.”
“I feel like you’re humoring me, cupcake.”
“You’re very perceptive, ding dong.”
Winking at me, he smiled. “I really like that nickname.”
“Save the bad pickup lines for your wife.”
“They can’t be that bad,” he said, throwing an arm around my shoulders as we walked inside. “They nabbed me a sexy woman.”
“Raven is a special lady. I hope I find a man to call me stupid nicknames.”
“Oh, you will one day. Trust me that your stupid nickname is just around the corner.”
We entered the living room where Jace and Raven struggled to beat back the zombies. I swore she was taking the game more seriously than my little brother. After Vaughn and Raven headed out, I packed up my stuff to go to Saint’s apartment.