13. Wylder
13
WYLDER
“It’s a pretty day,” Ma says as we watch the girls play on the swing set I built last year.
“Can’t beat the summertime,” I say to her, kicking back in my chair with a glass of my mother’s sun-brewed sweet tea.
“Where’s Tate?” Ma asks.
“She went out with the girls last night so she’s running behind.”
“Hello.” Shadow’s voice carries through the backyard.
I turn, confused as to why he’s here. “What the…”
“So, I may have invited your siblings over,” Ma says, not looking me in the eye. “I thought it would be a nice way to spend the day. I heard you and Thumper made some headway in finally moving beyond your differences.”
If she weren’t my mother, I’d argue with her. Our idea of differences is not the same. We don’t disagree on the definition of love or the color of the sky. Thumper has spent his entire life making mine miserable. Shadow is better, but not by much. He’s never set out to do bad to me, but he isn’t the kind of brother I can always depend on. He is more worried about his own cock than his family.
“I brought wine,” Ivy says as her dirty-blond ponytail sways with each step.
Close behind her, carrying a bag, is Thumper. And for the first time in as long as I can remember, a snarl doesn’t form on my lips at the very sight of him.
“I brought gifts,” he says, raising the brown bag high in the air to get the girls’ attention, “for my favorite nieces.”
Maddox and Hazel run from the swings and go barreling in his direction. “Uncle Thumper,” they call in unison as they almost collide with him.
“What am I? Chopped liver?” Shadow asks them, pretending to be upset. But the man likes kids as much as he likes cops.
“You’re annoying,” Ivy tells him as she makes her way to the stone patio where we are sitting. “And a dumbass.”
“Ivy,” Ma chides her like Shadow hasn’t said worse things to her over the years. “Be nice to your brothers.”
Ma always wants us to be nice and get along, but it’s never been in the cards. When half of the gang is made up of complete and utter assholes, it’s hard to get that kumbaya bullshit other families have.
Ivy stops dead. “When Shadow and Thumper decide to stop being assholes, I’ll be nice to them, Ma. Until then, they’re getting what they’re giving.”
“Come on, sis. I’m nice,” Shadow tells her as he brushes by her and knocks her in the shoulder.
“Shadow,” Ma warns.
Ivy isn’t even fazed by Shadow’s attempt to knock her off-kilter. “Where’s your woman, Wylder?”
“She’s on her way. Although now, I’m regretting inviting her over,” I say, looking between my brothers.
“I have no issue with Tate,” Shadow says. “The past is the past.”
“Easy for you to say since your life wasn’t on the line,” I remind him.
“My life’s on the line every day with the club.” He grabs a beer from the six-pack he had tucked under his arm when he strolled into the backyard. “That’s life.”
“It’s not life for most people,” Ma says, shaking her head at his answer. “Tate’s a good girl.”
“She’s not hard on the eyes either,” Shadow says in a low voice as he pulls the tab on the beer can.
“Daddy, Daddy,” Hazel says, running across the yard with a pink stuffed animal in her hand. Her casted arm is swinging wildly with every step, and if she is in pain, she sure hasn’t shown it. “Look what Uncle Thumper got me.”
She shoves the stuffed animal in my face, making me pull back a little to focus on it. “It’s so nice.” It’s both ugly as hell and the funniest thing I’ve ever seen, because whatever weird-ass animal it’s supposed to be also has a cast on its arm.
“I love it,” she says, squeezing it against her chest tightly. “It’s just like me.”
“Yeah, sweetheart. Just like you.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tate walk into the backyard and freeze. Her gaze moves around to my sister and then to my brothers before landing on me. I fully expect for her to turn around and haul ass right out of here. If I were in her shoes, it’s what I would do.
Thumper’s eyes land on Tate, and before I can get up, he starts walking in her direction. She lifts her hand at me, making me stay put.
If he is an asshole to her today, I’ll throw him out on his ass and never let him back on my property again. I am not in the mood for his shit, and I am not going to put up with him disrespecting my girl.
Thumper rubs the back of his neck as he stops a few feet away from her. He talks first and she listens, staring up at him with no anger.
“What’s that about?” Ivy asks as she sits down in the chair next to me, staring across the yard to where my eyes are pointed.
“I don’t know,” I lie.
“You must have a clue or else you would’ve had your ass over there already. You’re a shit liar, Wylder,” she tells me as she twists the top off the cheap wine she adores. It’s garbage that doesn’t even taste like wine and more like our favorite fruit punch as kids, but she loves the shit.
I don’t reply. There’s nothing I can say because she isn’t wrong.
I curl my fingers around the armrest, doing my best to keep my ass in my seat but ready to jump up at any moment. But then I see Tate smile. A genuine smile. And it’s directed at Thumper. I almost shit myself when she leans forward and wraps her arms around him.
“Huh,” Ivy mutters. “The world must be coming to an end.”
They pull apart after a few seconds, and Thumper has a smile on his face too.
“We’re good,” Tate calls out as they start walking in our direction.
“Weirdest shit I’ve ever seen,” Ivy says before taking another sip of her wine.
I’m out of my seat a second later, heading toward Tate. I don’t even look at Thumper because I need to know what was said first.
“You good?” I ask her, holding her face between my hands and staring deep into her eyes.
“He apologized for the past, and I thanked him for saving my life. We’re square now.”
“That simple?” I ask, finding it unbelievable.
“That simple. I can let shit go, especially when it involves me having the ability to still be standing here today. He could’ve let Katie kill me.”
“Jesus,” I whisper, thinking about that statement. He could’ve. I would’ve murdered him with my bare hands if he had, but he damn well could’ve let Katie kill her.
“It’s time to bury the hatchet, Wylder. At least for me. I don’t expect you to forgive him for all the shit in the past, but I’m going to for what he’s done to me,” Tate says.
“It’s been a lifetime of shit,” I reply.
“I know. But I love being with you and your girls. He’s your brother, like him or not. He’s going to be around, and I don’t feel like constantly being at war with him every time we’re together.”
“Why do you have to be so smart?” I ask her, still holding her face. “I love being with you too, Tate, but if that means not having my brother in my life, so be it. He’s made his choices.”
“Again, he apologized. I’m good. We’re good. But I’m thirsty and could really use a cold drink.”
“Tate!” Maddy yells across the yard, waving her hands. “Dad, let her go. We want to spend time with her too. Stop hogging Tate.”
Tate smiles at me. “We better go, or else the teenager’s going to lose her shit.”
I sigh, resting my forehead against hers. “She’s insufferable.”
“You can have me all to yourself tonight.”
“Promise?” I whisper.
Tate places her hands against my sides near the top of my jeans. “Promise.”
“Tate. Tate. Tate,” Hazel says, popping up next to us like she materialized out of thin air. “Look what Uncle Thumper brought me.”
The moment we were having is over, but there’s a promise of later. I’d hold on to that while trying to navigate the most dysfunctional impromptu family gathering in my own backyard.
Tate takes the toy from Hazel’s hand, inspecting it as we walk toward the patio. “What is it?”
“I dunno. It’s cute, though. Isn’t it?” Hazel asks Tate as she reaches for her hand and curls her little fingers in Tate’s palm.
“It’s adorbs.”
“We good?” Thumper asks me as we get closer. He looks hopeful, and there’s a kindness in his gaze I’m not sure I’ve ever seen before.
“Yeah,” I tell him. I can let the past lie until the next incident. I’ll cross that bridge if and when I come to it.
“This is a good day,” Ma says with the biggest smile. “All my kids and grandkids in the same place and no one’s fighting.”
“It’s still early, Ma. Give us time,” Shadow adds.
“Always have to open your mouth and ruin a good time, don’t you, Shadow,” Ivy says to my brother, but she doesn’t bother looking at him when he speaks. “I’m sorry about him.” She glances toward Tate as we sit. “He was dropped on his head too many times as an infant. I’m so happy to finally meet you.”
“You too,” Tate says, taking an empty glass when Ivy hands it to her.
“You’re going to need wine.”
“Wine is always a plus.” Tate smiles at my sister, lifting the glass so Ivy can fill it.
“Uncle Thumper,” Hazel says softly, giving him her pouty look. “Will you push me on the swing?”
Thumper gets up without a second thought, taking Hazel by the hand and leading her toward the swing set.
“She has him wrapped around her little finger,” Tate says to me before she takes a sip of wine.
“Girls have a way of doing that to even the toughest guys,” I tell her, and I’m totally talking about myself.
There isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for any of the women in the backyard. I’d lay down my life to keep them safe. And for the first time in my entire life, I think my brothers would do the same, even for Tate.