Chapter Twelve

“Food’s getting cold,” Jacob shouted down the hallway.

“Yes!” Aaron hooted, running down the hall.

Creed did a sideways dodge to get around the boy and then continued to the kitchen with Kellum. When he reached the table, he let the man’s long, lean legs slide from his hips and feet touch the floor.

Owen and Jordan appeared soaking wet at the back patio door with an amused Ace standing behind them.

“Got a change of clothes?” Owen asked Creed with a grimace.

“Yeah.” Creed jerked his head toward the hallway. Owen was one of his oldest friends, the guy knew where his clothes were. Creed frowned at Jordan. “Although, my stuff will swallow you.”

“I have something you can wear,” Kellum said. “Since Creed insisted on buying me a whole wardrobe,” the man finished cheekily. Jacob and Jordan laughed and both eyed him speculatively, but Creed just flipped them the bird, causing more laughter.

“I’ll be right back.” Kellum couldn’t help it, he laughed in the face of all the teasing as he led Jordan down the hallway.

The sound was music to Creed’s ears. As soon as Kellum left the room, Ace turned to Creed.

“Have you talked to him yet?”

“Not yet. I’ll get answers. I just need a few more days.”

Ace nodded and took a seat at the kitchen island.

Jordan returned to the kitchen several minutes later, and just after that, Owen came back wearing a pair of his jeans and an old t-shirt. Jordan eyed Owen and then spun away and hurried to the coffee pot to start a pot brewing.

Food was laid out and then consumed with gusto. Creed was glad to see Aaron eating what seemed to be twice his weight in food, but the boy was undersized and underweight for twelve years old. Kellum ran back down the hallway and came back carrying Dylan, and Creed took the toddler from his arms and brought him to the table. When Creed took a seat, he placed the boy on his knee and Kellum slipped into the chair next to him. When he reached for his brother, Dylan was having none of that and burrowed into Creed.

“It’s okay, I’ve got him. Eat.” He motioned to the food with his chin. “And get me a breakfast sandwich?” He made the request while breaking up Dylan’s food into small, bite-sized pieces like he did for his nieces and nephews.

Kellum placed a few paper wrapped sandwiches in front of him and he ate them, keeping an eye on Kellum as he slowly ate one sandwich. The kitchen island was big enough for everyone to sit around and eat and they shared in casual conversation. Jacob snatched up Ace’s hashbrown and took a bite. When the older man gave him a side-eyed glance, Jacob popped the remaining piece into Ace’s mouth.

“I noticed earlier you have a play room,” Kellum murmured softly, with his chest growing tight. Just how many kids did Creed have and where were they? “And a nursery and a young teen room.”

“Yes,” Creed said around a bite of food while juggling Dylan like an expert. It only made sense that Creed would have kids, he was a natural at it.

“H…how…many kids do you have?”

Creed choked on his bite and Kellum reached over without even thinking and patted the man on the back.

The rest of the men laughed.

“Are you okay?” Kellum handed one of the water bottles to Creed after he twisted off the cap. Watching the big man’s throat move with each swallow sent a flush over Kellum’s skin and the feel of latching his legs and arms around Creed’s big back sent butterflies in his stomach.

Clearing his throat, Creed chuckled. “I don’t have any kids, but I have a ton of nieces and nephews of all ages.”

“You do?” Kellum blinked. He should have known that about Creed, but he’d been too busy with his own problems to pay attention.

“I do,” Creed said with a smile that made him feel a bit better. “I have two sisters and a brother. One of my sisters, Laura, has 4 kids under the age of ten. Lisa has two teenage boys; one is thirteen and the other is fifteen. They both live here in Ventura County. My brother, Knox, has five kids ranging from four years to sixteen, but he lives in Texas so we don’t get to see him but twice a year.”

Kellum stared fascinated at him and Creed smiled.

“I do want kids someday.”

The only thing Kellum could do was nod and take a hasty bite of food. He ducked his head and studied the egg filled biscuit.

“Do you have any other siblings besides these two?”

Kellum’s head popped up and he quickly shook his head no.

“Are you guys step-brothers, half-brothers, or…?” Creed let the sentence trail off.

“Full brothers,” Kellum said, gazing up and finding Creed’s smokey eyes on him.

Dylan was done and wiggled free from Creed and when his feet hit the ground, he was running. Aaron jumped up and ran after Dylan.

“Wait, Dylan, I’ll show you the toy room Kellum found!” Aaron called out and Dylan clapped his hands.

“He should be talking by now,” Kellum whispered and placed the half-eaten breakfast aside before pushing back his chair.

Standing at the same time, Creed reached for Kellum’s hand and wouldn’t let the younger man pull away. He linked their fingers and waited until Kellum turned those powder blue eyes up to meet his.

“Walk with me,” Creed said softly.