Mia bunches up the cloth in her hand. “Chase puked on me. Thank God I had my mouth closed.”
I look from her to Ben, who seems as casual as if this shit happens daily, then I drop my eyes back to her, my face pinched in disgust. “He threw up on your face?” I turn to Chase, who’s hiding his guilt well. “What the hell, dude?”
“He’s a baby, asshole,” Ben replies, sounding annoyed. “They throw up. It’s not like he was aiming for Mia.”
“Does he like give you a warning or something?” I ask.
A valid question on my part. I hold that kid a good bit.
Ben stares at me for long seconds of silence. “Yeah. He usually tells you what’s about to happen with his extensive vocabulary.”
Mia laughs quietly, looking at Chase and grabbing his little arm. She forces him to wave at me. “Can you say what’s up to Uncle Reed?”
Chase chews on his other fist, smiling around it at Mia while I go completely unnoticed.
Mia looks back at me and studies the machine in my hand with a curious frown. “What is that thing?”
I motion with my head for them to walk with me around the side of the house. I need to get back there before Nolan hides all my tools in places he can’t remember.
“It’s gonna help me dig the holes for your deck. I’m at least going to put the posts in today.”
Mia’s mouth drops open, and she looks up at Ben as she tucks the washcloth into her front jeans pocket. “What deck?”
Ben smiles at her as we get to the back of the house. “The deck Reed’s building for you, Angel. You keep saying you want one. It looks like he’s starting on it today.”
“But I thought we were going to wait until we saved up a little more money. I didn’t think we’d get one built this year.”
“Reed’s only charging us for materials. We have plenty of money.”
“I don’t know why you two are insisting on giving me anything. You know I don’t feel right about charging you. I can do this for free. It’s not a big deal.” I set the auger down in the grass and scan the backyard for Nolan. He’s up on the wooden landing of the swing set, sending each tool one-by-one down the sliding board and laughing hysterically when they hit the bottom. I take a mental inventory of the tools in that belt to make sure there’s nothing in there that could be dangerous to him.
“We’re paying you something,” Ben corrects me, gaining my attention.
We’ve gone over this a dozen times, but I still don’t feel right about it.
“You’re not doing this shit for free.”
Mia lifts her hand and rubs it against Chase’s back when he stirs against Ben. “How long do you think it will take?” she asks me.
I look at the house, squinting as I run through the plans I have in my head. “Depending on the weather, if I can get over here every weekend, I should be able to have it done by the end of the month. You might not have the stairs ready, but you’ll at least be able to use it while I’m finishing up with that.”
Mia grins so big, I think her face might actually split in half. “Oh my gosh! This is so exciting! We’ll be able to sit out on the deck and eat under the stars.” She links her hands around Ben’s neck, kissing all over the side of his face. “I love you so so soooo much.”
“You better.” He turns his face and kisses her.
I choose that moment to look back at Nolan. He’s at the bottom of the slide now, picking up the tools.
“Hey, little man. You gonna help me or what?”
His dimpled grin hits me, suddenly fueled to gather the tools faster. I turn back around, regretting it the second I see Ben’s tongue slide into Mia’s mouth.
“Really?” I ask, and they break apart from each other, panting. Their eyes reach mine, and the blinding lust in both pairs has me thinking of other things that will most likely be happening on this deck once it’s built.
I look at Chase as he continues to chew on his fist. “You better never puke in your mommy’s mouth. That man holding you spends way too much time in there.”
I realize how that sounds a second after it comes out.
Mia cracks up laughing, covering her mouth with her hand as I look to Ben for his reaction.
My first mistake was painting an image of Mia sucking his dick. My second was thinking Ben would find it funny.
He doesn’t.
“I’m going to go ahead and get started.”
“Yeah, you do that,” Ben replies, shifting Chase to his left arm and wrapping his right around Mia’s shoulders. “I gotta head into work. If Nolan doesn’t listen to you, send him inside.”
I nod, bending down and picking up the cord on the auger. “Yeah, all right. I’m sure it won’t be a problem though.”
“I’m taking Chase inside for his nap. Let me know if you need something to drink or anything.” Mia gets Chase from Ben and kisses his cheeks. “Come on, baby. Let’s go lay down,” she says quietly against his skin.
Nolan scampers up to me, eyes wide and wild with excitement. My tool belt in his hands. “I’m weady, Uncle Weed.”