Chapter Twenty-Two
Tizzy
Two months Later
I spin around and laugh as I almost fall on my face.
“Oh, with these knives, that wouldn't have been too good,” I chuckle as I set them down on the table. I have the place set up nice for when the boys return from training, and I don't want to greet them with blood. It wouldn't be the first time since we've been here in the last three months, but I’m trying to break the habit.
Sighing happily, I look around the room. The centerpiece of each table has mason jars full of flowers. I found some mason jars in the old storage room and cleaned them up. The flowers were a few I had started to pick. I didn't get two picks in before Taz and Mania dang near ran me over trying to pick the biggest and brightest flowers for me. A few might have bent stems from their roughhousing, but they survived and thrived… mostly.
I hear a ding and set off back toward the kitchen, grabbing the bacon ranch macaroni and cheese from the oven. I made steaks and loaded twice-baked taters for everybody, too. Still, I know the macaroni is Devon’s favorite so far. Not that he told me that, but he always comes back for thirds and scarfs it down faster than a hog in a mosh pit. I’m just closing the oven when shouting comes through the common area.
“MOM!!!! MOM!!! MOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!” I sigh and try not to laugh at these boys' antics, but, by the sound of it, Taz has something to tattle on. I know these guys do it mostly to annoy the others, but sometimes I wonder how much of their old life they miss? Seeing as all these boys are, in the eyes of normal civilian life, dead. They can't have their family and friends from their previous life. Some seem to take it better than others, but it still has to be hard.
“Mania hit me!!” Taz says, flying into the room, nearly knocking into the table.
“He hit me first, Mom! Tell him no dessert!” Mania yells, as Taz gasps in outrage.
“You take that back! Right now! I swear, Mania, if you cost me some delicious treats, I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” Mania taunts. Before I can stop the inevitable, Taz throws himself at Mania, and they're at it again. The rest of the crew files in steppin' over them as they wrestle.
"It was fucking training! Everyone got hit." Caesar rolls his eyes but gives me a chin lift, then heads toward his place at the island.
"Yeah, kind of the whole point. Though I still find it a bit barbaric. You'd think we could use cool swords, or at least throw knives like civilized humans," Crypt complains, his head down as he takes his place spot next to Caesar.
Cesar files in after them, eating some of the leftover banana bread. When did he get that? I’m still looking around the room, trying not to laugh at the two knuckleheads who are now in the eager process of trying to give each other wedgies and looking for…
Just then, Devon and Omen haul their tushes through the door, and I’m able to catch a bit of their conversation. It just puts a bigger smile on my face and more pepper in my step.
“I didn't expect that out of a little slip of a thing. She’s got some power behind that punch,” Omen comments.
“Did you see her in the range yesterday? She’s a natural,” Devon says, with more pride than surprise. They’re talking about me, and I can’t help but preen at the praise. Then he’s looking at me, frowning, and looking at the men around.
“What the fuck do you think you're doing? Tizzy cooked this big delicious fuckin’ meal, and now you expect her to serve your asses? Get the fuck up and set the table. Bunny, you come have a seat and kick those feet up,” Devon says, pulling a chair out at the island for me. I get muttered apologies, a peck on the cheek from Taz, Mania, and Crypt as they walk by, and before I know it, the whole spread is set along the table, and we’re digging in.
I smile as the guys around me take shots at each other but still laugh off the silly comments. Being here really has shown me what a big family looks like. It makes me smile knowing that this right here is what my baby girl found in her family. This one might be a bit different, even if some of them are connected by kin, but still, I finally get it. I found my home and my family. I would do anything for these guys.
“No! You're a fucking liar! Komodo dragons ARE real dragons. It’s in the name Triple Twat!” Mania yells.
Even if they are all complete donkeys at times.
“That insult doesn't even make sense! We’re twins, idiot! Not triplets,” Taz complains.
Crypt sighs, “This is just like the ostrich argument and whether or not their birds. This is never going to end.”
“Now you just sound like a triple imbecile,” Mania complains, bored.
“Spell imbecile, you fucker!”
“It’s a lizard at best!”
“Enough! Damn, can’t we just enjoy a mother fucking meal?” Devon says, slamming his knife down on the island.
“I could sew their mouths shut, Prez. For you, I would even administer some numbing cream,” Rasputin smiles through his bite of food.
“Hey, we were just trying to enrich you all with some interesting and peaceful conversation about the animal planet in this wonderful world we call Earth,” Mania says, all innocent like, eyes wide.
“You know, the fact that you called that a peaceful argument, and I actually agree with your crazy ass on that, should really be a red flag on who we let into this little club,” Caesar says, shoving a roll into his mouth, followed swiftly by a bite bigger than my hair on the best day of mashed taters. I look around the room and decide this is the perfect time to fill all of these boys in on my little plan with their Batcave. Clearing my throat, at first, the only person to hear me is Devon. I try again, but the conversation around is just too loud. I go to open my mouth again, but before I can, there’s another dang bang.
“Listen up! Tizzy’s trying to talk,” Devon barks loudly. The conversation instantly ceases. “Go ahead, Bunny.” Smiling and shaking my head at him, I turn back to the boys.
“Well, I thought you all would like to know; I’ve got some big plans for this place.” I stop, giving a dramatic pause as the guys all look at me, confused. “Drum roll, please! I’ve decided to revamp the bowling alley!” I say, waiting for the excitement, the yells, the cheers, the party, dang, a squeak? Anything?
What do I get? Crickets. Actually, I think I really hear a cricket in here. Focus, Tizzy girl!
“Did ya hear me? I’m giving the old girl upstairs a facelift! Whoo hoo!” I clap and cheer again. No go. Grrr… men! Never the visionaries they should be.
“Uhhh Mama Tiz? Isn’t that what all the cleaning was about?” Mania stars.
“Yeah, I remember lots of sanding involved in getting those lanes up and running again,” Taz tacks on.
“Yeah, I mean no offense, Mama Tiz, but we kind of want to keep this place longer than we had the last one before those two fuckers got it blown up. Not sure doing more than you’ve already done is the best way to do that,” Caesar says, tilting his head in Taz's and Mania’s direction.
“Hey! No one ever proved we were tagged,” Mania says, offended.
“And no one ever had a doubt it wasn't,” Crypt mutters, his face now in his phone since he’s done eating.
“Anywayyyyysss,” I say, trying to get them back on track. “Cleaning was just the first step. Not only would gettin’ the old girl up and running again be a better cover for the club, but I think a big fancy schmacy grand reopening party could be the perfect lure for those big baddies with the drone you all seem to think I forgot about,” I tell them all and can’t hold back my smirk at the wave of winces that rolls through them at my less than subtle snipe.
“She’s got a point there. The signal has been going out for almost a month, and we haven’t seen any movement. A lure like a party could be our best chance to get some movement on the case,” Crypt says, and I knew I always liked him.
“How about we take a vote? All those alright with the bowling alley becoming something more than the crusty ass black hole that currently occupies upstairs, say aye,” Devon announces.
To my utter shock and disbelief, every one of them men in the room gives me a resounding aye. It absolutely melts my heart.
Yup, this ol’ girl has finally found her home.