Enjoy!
Christian
The chatter I've been hearing has stopped and has now been replaced by gasps and 'oh shits'. Teddy and I have stopped laughing and turn to the audience. My mother is covering her mouth with her hands while her eyes are wide. My dad has a look of confusion as do the other two men sitting beside him. The guy I saw at SIP has a smirk on his face, while the blonde sitting next to Ethan has her brows raised in question as does Ethan, and Mia is confused as well, while Ana is biting her bottom lip with her daughter sleeping in her arms.
"Christian," Ana whispers but I heard it.
"Ana," I smirk and lick my lips, as I place Teddy down on his feet.
"Lelliot!" Teddy yells when my brother comes into view, behind us holding a lounge chair. I look around the tables to see if I'm the only one out of the loop, but everyone is as surprised as I am. How does he know my nickname for Elliot?
"Teddy?" he asks and then laughs shaking his head.
"No way," Ana says and she bursts into a fit of laughter. Everyone is at a loss as I am. What the fuck is going on? I turn back to look at Elliot who's carrying Teddy around. Why the fuck is he carrying him?
Everyone around us is silent and I'm rooted to the patio floor. What the fuck? I'm confused now. How do they know each other? I look at Ana and I know she's not his type, she's a mom.
"You owe me six hours of my life." She says and laughs when he winks at her. Why does he owe her six hours? I think to my self as I see him fix a lounge chair near her and he takes a seat with Teddy still in his arms. I look at him talking to her and I can't help but feel jealous. How is he so comfortable around her, when I'm a nervous wreck? I can't really hear their conversation, but my eyes zoom in when I see him kiss Teddy's temple. Don't touch him! I blink and shake my head a little. Where did that come from?
"Are you really?" Elliot asks with his panty dropping smile, and I know he's flirting with her. She's mine! I growl to myself and grind my teeth. I'm unaware of what's going on when I hear everyone laugh, but I don't care. I zoom in once again as Elliot leans forward to whisper something in her ear. Fuck off Elliot!
"Deal," she response, and he leans and kiss her temple. What the fuck! I ball up my fists ready to punch Elliot in the jaw for touching what is mine, when I realize Ana has notice my behavior and laughs. Her laugh is the most beautiful reverberation I've ever heard.
I look down as mom pulls on my hand and motions for me to take a seat. "Honey, are you alright?" she asks in her motherly voice. I smile a small smile and nod, reassuring her I'm fine. She eyes me carefully and smiles a secret smile. She pats my hand and the question she asks me, is not what I've expected.
"Honey, is there something you would like to share?" she asks with a smile on her face, I furrow my eyebrows together not understanding what she's asking. She smiles again and looks towards Teddy and then back at me, and I immediately understand.
"No mom they're not mine." I say to her and I'm surprised by how much that hurt for me to say. My mom looks at me with a confused expression, when she notices my frown. I shake my head and she pats my hand once again.
"Mia, Kate would you help me in the kitchen?" Mom turns to look at the girls as they nod; they stand and walk towards the kitchen. I notice everyone has left the picnic table except for Ana and the kids.
I get up and walk to the cooler that's holding the soft drinks, when Teddy appears next to me getting a beer our of the other cooler. Who's that for? I follow Teddy with my gaze and see Ana smile at him and thank him, but she doesn't open the beer bottle. I shake my head and walk towards her handing her my soda.
"Thank you," Baby you don't have to thank me!
"My pleasure," I wonder what else I could help her with. I want to ask if she came with her husband but choose not to. Fuck it! I point to her beer and she nods in permission, so I take it.
"Mommy, I'm hungry." Phoebe says and Ana looks down at her.
"Would you care for some fruit?" I look at my watch and it reads five 'till one in the afternoon. I'm assuming its Phoebe's snack time. I immediately extend my hand when I see she's getting up after she's set Phoebe on her feet. She takes it and once again that feeling is taking over, that shock that's always present when our skin comes in contact. I want to keep her hand in mine for as long as I can, but she pulls hers out of my grasp and thanks me while she takes Phoebe's and leads her to the side door.
Moments later we hear a crash coming from the kitchen. I turn to look at my father, who looks back at me and we take off towards the kitchen with the other men at our heels. I'm the first to enter and see mom has her hands over her mouth. Mom looks at me, and her eyes hold the same question they did when we were talking. No mom, I'm not their dad. I shake my head softly and she slowly nods. I'm sorry mom! I smile a small smile and walk away. Fuck I can't be here right now!
"Christian, where are you going?" Dad calls after me as he sees me walking towards the boathouse. I shake my head and he nods giving me one of his sad smiles.
I open the door to the boathouse and make my way upstairs and lay down on the small twin size bed. I close my eyes thinking of nothing but Ana. The way she smells, and feels. The sound of her laugh and the way it makes me feel. The way I felt when Elliot was talking to her. I shake my head at the ridiculous idea, I might even be jealous of the straps of her sundress that lay over her shoulders. How good would it feel, to feel her smooth skin beneath me, as I carefully touch every single dip and curve of her wonderful body? To have my body pressed over hers while she screams and rises, while I softly make soothing methodical sweet love to her, over and over again.
To kiss and suck, the dip of her neck where her shoulders meet. To feel her hands, squeeze my biceps when she's on the brink of ecstasy. To feel her inner walls clench my smooth covered shaft. Have her screaming my name as she explodes that delicious cream. I snap my eyes open when my heart has quickened and my birthing is harsher. I know what I'm doing and I will not stop. I close my eye once more and picture Ana on her knees licking and sucking my smooth shaft. She opens her eyes before she takes me deep, deep inside her wet mouth. I look down at her while she's looking up at me and I explode inside her sweet warm mouth and I can see her gulp all of my seeds. She releases me and licks me after she's sucked me clean. Christian she says my name in her sweet kind voice. I snap my eyes open while I call out her name and release in my hand.
"Fuck," I say as I'm still lying down on the twin size bed in the boathouse.
"Christian." I hear my name once more and I know I'm no longer daydreaming. She's here? For a second, I'm afraid she's going to walk-in and sees me holding my dick in my hand. I get up and walk towards the small bathroom on my right and wash my hands. When a thought comes to mind, "I locked the door."
I turn my head back around as I'm drying my hands and I can hear voices coming from outside. I smirk when I realize I really did hear her say my name before I came. I smile to myself. Close enough! I shrug, and walk to the window that's opened slightly, but stand out of view. From the second story window, I see she's talking to her friends while they stop to look at the Sound.
"Come on Ana spill." The blonde who's name is Kate, I understood from when mom mentioned her name, is the first to speak.
"Just save the details," The guy who I saw at SIP says. Ana turns around and looks at the boathouse for a minute and starts talking. Fuck she's whispering! I'm half tempted to go downstairs and walkout but that would be too creepy. Instead, I, CEO of GEH, decide to sit back on the bed and do nothing, except wait until they're gone.
"You had an orgasm in your dream Ana that doesn't really count," Kate says, and my eyebrows shot up. She had a sex dream about me? I smile and once again stand beside the window so I can eavesdrop the best I can on their conversation.
"Ana, you've had a sex dream about a guy you've flirted with at the grocery store, have only met three times, and know nothing about? Don't you think that's strange?" I'm surprised she's told them about our encounters and yet I'm a little excited about it. Why would I care?
"Jose, don't you think I know that? I mean for crying out loud I am still married." Ana says to whom I now know as Jose. The hostility I've been feeling towards him slightly vanishes when it hits me. That's not her husband's name. And what did she mean by still? Still what? My mind is on over load trying to solve the puzzle that is Ms. Anastasia Steele.
"Why do you care, it's not like he does." Kate says with hostility in her voice. And I'm immediately angered. Who doesn't? Are they talking about me, I didn't even know she was married until her BGC mentioned she was. She hasn't even told me her self. My mind is once again working overtime trying to solve this puzzle. The harder I pull on my hair the more frustrated I get. I need to know!
"It's different okay, he doesn't care but I do. I have my vows to uphold." She says with sadness in her voice. "Whatever I'm feeling has to be pushed aside." I feel myself deflate, and just like that my mind shuts down and I'm no longer pulling on my hair, instead I turn and sit back on the bed chastising myself for deciding to over hear their conversation in the first place, but it was just too good not to hear. I need to get my shit together!
"But you have to admit it was a great dream. 'Christian harder, harder! Give it to me harder, please!' it must've been good huh, Ana?" Kate says with slight teasing in her voice.
"KATE!" Ana and Jose yell in unison as they all break into laughter. I smirk as I put my hands behind my head and lick my lips. "I'll give it to you harder baby." I whisper to myself.
Not much time has passed as I no longer hear their voices, so I get off the bed and make my way downstairs. Opening the door, I look outside to make sure the coast is clear and calmly begin to walk towards the patio where Taylor and Sawyer jog to meet me half way.
"Where the fuck have you two been?" I ask my security team. They both smile and I know the answer. My dad has a classic convertible in the garage. Since dad doesn't know a thing about cars Luke and Taylor usually check its maintenance under my father's request.
"Gail got pretty upset since we had oil and grease stains on our hands, and made us scrub our hands clean, literally." Jason says as he shows me his hands, true to his words, his hands are slightly tender as well as Luke's. I shake my head and smile. Taylor and Luke may be tough, but they don't compare to Gail.
"Plus Mr. Grey wanted us to come and check on your whereabouts." Jason eyes me carefully and I know what he's getting at.
"I'm fine." I smile and begin to walk towards the patio with Luke and Taylor at my side.
We reach the patio where everyone is seating except, of course our dads. Ana is sitting between the kids, to the left of Teddy is Kate, who's chatting away with my brother, and Mia is sitting between Jose and Ethan. While on the opposite side of the picnic table across from Ana is my mom, and then Gail.
I see Ana looking at Sawyer intently and for a second, anger takes over me, but I calm when I realize she must have seen him at the grocery store. I turn my sight on Sawyer and he shrugs.
"You know for keeping a low profile you really aren't that good." I mention to Sawyer who shakes his head while Taylor and I are laughing.
"We were at a grocery store, boss. I had to stay close." Taylor scoffs and I laugh.
"Come on Sawyer, that's the best excuse you came up with?" I ask and Taylor folds over in laughter. I shake my head grab a beer from the cooler and come around the picnic table to kiss mother on her cheek when my phone vibrates.
"Grey," I snap over the phone and look towards Taylor who kisses Gail on her cheek, while Sawyer stands at attention.
"Grey, I'm at your house." Oh fuck!
"Sorry I forgot. I'll send Sawyer." And I hang up.
"Sawyer, Ros is here could you open the gate for her." I request and he nods making his way around the house. I sit and look at Ana who has a puzzled expression on her face. Why?
"Christian I apologize; I didn't introduce you to my family, did I?" Ethan says looking embarrassed, while he points towards the men chatting with my father. "The man holding the beer bottle is Uncle Ray, Ana's dad and the man sitting beside him is Uncle Jose, Jose's dad." He introduces us and Ray and Jose turn around and lift their beer bottles towards me and I do the same. After I've taken a drink of my beer Ethan continues, "That's Jose, my sister Kate, and Ana." He says Ana's name with love and admiration with a hint of pride, and I feel my blood boil. Why is he speaking of her with such feelings. I turn to see if my sister is hurt by his feelings towards her, but she smiling at Ana with love in her eyes as well. "Them three, are better known as 'The Three Musketeers'." Ethan continues and I hear groans coming from Ana, Jose, and Kate, and can't help but laugh when I see there facial expressions. "And those two lovely kids are my niece and nephew, Theodore Raymond Steele and Phoebe Grace Steele." He says their full names and I feel my mother grip my hand immediately when she hears my grandfather's name as well as hers. She sniffs and gets up excusing her self and Elliot, Mia, and I look at each other and then look at dad, as we stand and make our way behind her with dad fallowing.
"Mom what's wrong?" Mia asks as we find her in my fathers study holding a picture frame in her hands. She looks up at us and walks towards me. I want to hold her but I can't. My mind is still reeling about how I could carry Teddy and not feel physical discomfort. Flynn has gone over that it's only a mental or an emotional discomfort, but I disagree. I've told him about my flashbacks and outbursts when I've been touched on my torso, but he's adamant it's only a mind game.
"Please tell me. Please." She says as she has tears rolling down her eyes as she holds my face with both her hands.
"Sorry mom, but they're not mine." I tell her as I cover her hands with mine. I feel like shit. I would love to tell her they are mine, but I can't lie to mom or to myself.
"It can't be… they look so much like you. Teddy has your hair… she has your eyes." She shakes her head trying to solve the puzzle.
"Mom they're just similarities, that doesn't mean we're biologically related." I tell her hoping she will understand.
"Christian, how do you know? Are you a hundred percent sure? I mean you could've had a one…" I don't let her finish. She wouldn't be a fast fuck!
"Mom for one, I haven't slept with Ana. And two," I look at the floor as I remove moms hands from my face, "I did a background check on her."
"You what?" Mom blanches.
"Christian no!" Mia screeches.
"Bro, really?" Elliot says while disapprovingly shaking his head along with dad.
"I'll explain later. We have guests in the house." I say as I grab the door knob.
"Christian we've talked about this before. Just because you can doesn't make it right." Dad says and I lower my head while I open the door and make my way to the kitchen. I stop when I see Ros talking to Sawyer on the front porch and instead I contemplate on joining them.
"Ros." I shake her hand.
"Grey," she nods and smiles at me. Ros is a natural redhead with hazel eyes, who stands about 5'6 without heels but 6'2 with heels. She's wearing jeans and a linen white shirt, with white sneakers, hair is tied in a low ponytail.
"Why are you standing out here?" I ask Ros who smiles while lifting her eyebrows. "I'm waiting for my wife." I smile and shake my head. "I'll be back," they nod and I walk towards the patio and reach in the cooler for three beers when I see mom looking at me intently. I smile and she smiles back and goes back to what she was doing.
"Taylor, Ros is here, come out front." I tell Taylor who nods and stands to leave, as I turn to follow Taylor out after he's excused himself and gives Gail a kiss on her cheek, my eyes land on Ana who looks hurt when she sees me. I smile at her, but she looks away when Teddy asks her a question.
"Ros," Taylor nods and greets Ros when we have made our way back to the front door.
"Taylor," she nods to Taylor as I hand out a beer to Sawyer and Ros.
"So who's all here?" She asks as she nods towards the parked trucks.
"My sister's boyfriends family." I smile as I think of Ana. From my peripherals I see Ros looking at Sawyer and then at Taylor, they both shrug and I shake my head.
"Don't stress about it Ros." I lift my beer bottle and take a sip.
"Where is this Christian when we're at work?" She asks and laughs. But she's right, this isn't like me. I'm usually the, 'Take no shit from no one, I'm king of the fucken world Grey', but I'm not him today.
"Oh Ros you know me so well." I tease and we all laugh.
Sawyer has gone to get more beer from the cooler when we hear Gwen's Mercedes pulling up to the gate. We all go down to greet her when she parks her car next to the rest of them.
"Why are you guys upfront?" Gwen asks as she exits her car.
"Ros wanted to wait for you," I jerk my head in Ros's direction and she smiles at her. Gwen and Ros have been married for a little over seven years, before I even started GEH. Actually I met Ros at a local car dealer when she was buying a car for Gwen and I was buying a car with dad. We started bonding over the Mercedes and then progressed into our work fields. When I told her my idea of GEH, she immediately jumped on board with me, and I gave her the title of COO, when I started GEH.
"What are you thinking about Grey?" Ros asks snapping me away from my thoughts.
"About when are you planning to get rid of this old thing." I point to the eight year old Mercedes and turn my sight to Ros who looks at Gwen.
"I didn't say it babe." Ros raises her hands up in defeat while looking innocently at Gwen.
"You know what Grey?" Gwen points a finger at me. Gwen is a blonde with curly hair who's 5'2 no more than 110lbs, with honey color eyes. She's dressed in a light yellow sundress with black gladiator sandals. Her hair is down and is wearing light make up.
"Not nice." She says and we all start laughing while making our way inside. Gwen is in love with her Mercedes, she could never part from it and I know that, since Ros has told Gwen to upgrade her car, but Gwen refuses to do so.
We walk out to the patio where everyone, once again is seated and talking. Ros walks towards mom where she bends and kisses her cheek and then walks over to dad to shake his hand as Gwen fallows suit. They come back around and stand next to me as I begin to make introductions to the rest of them.
"Ros, this is Ethan," I point to Ethan who nods and smiles. "His sister Kate, Jose and Ana," I point to them as well. I see Ana is a little tense and I'm wondering why, but I continue with introductions. "And those two gentlemen, who are speaking with my father, are Ray and Jose Sr." I say and they both lift there beer bottles to Ros and Gwen in greeting, they smile back as Ros lifts her bottle as well.
"This is Ros, my COO and her wife Gwen." I say dragging the word 'wife'. I see Ana's shoulders sag in relief. Did she think Ros is my girlfriend?
"Mommy may we have a soda?" Teddy asked while he comes to view from behind Ray, while holding his little sisters hand.
"Yes Teddy, but you will have to share, okay?" She says and they nod agreement. Teddy walks towards us and grabs a soda from the cooler, and takes it back to Ana.
"The little man there is Teddy and the little girl is Phoebe, Ana's children." I say to Gwen and Ros.
Ros turns and looks at me expectantly, trying to find out if they're mine or Elliot's. I shrug and her mouth pops open. I silently laugh and shake my head.
"Asshole," Ros says and I laugh out loud, while she nudges me with her elbow.
"Mommy she said a naughty word." Teddy tells Ana and my laughter has completely evaporated. Shit!
"Teddy we've been through this, its okay she's an adult." She smiles kindly at him while he concentrates on something. I've seen that look somewhere but I don't know where. I'm oblivious to everyone staring at Teddy while I concentrate on thinking where I've seen it. I shrug and shake my head slightly and take a sip of beer.
"Does that mean she won't have to wash her mouth out with soap?" he says with disappointment evident in his voice and we all have a small laugh. Ana snaps her eyes towards us, pleading with us not to laugh. Why? Ana closes her eyes, even before Teddy begins to cry. She picks him up and I'm surprised she can even pick him up. He's about four feet tall and about sixty pounds give or take. She looks up at us and smiles while shaking her head, "Excuse me." She says and begins to stand with Teddy in arms as Kate and Jose stand to go with her. I look around the table trying to figure out what happened.
"He missed his afternoon nap, so he gets emotional real easily." Ray says as he sees the table has gone quite. I look at Ethan who has a smile on his face and nods. "He sure does," Ethan laughs a bit and continues, "Remember Uncle Ray when we went fishing and Teddy missed his nap time," we all look up at Ray who shakes his head with a small sad smile.
"Why, what happened?" Elliot asks while we're all at attention.
"He cried for his father," Ethan shakes his head while frowning. Mia grabs his hand and gives him a sad smile. "It took us about an hour to calm him down, but he refused to take a nap." He shakes his head, "It was horrible. I've never seen him that way." He says with anger in his voice. Ray and Jose Sr. walk towards him and stand behind him, while Jose Sr. and Ray lay a hand on Ethan's shoulders, while Ethan shakes his head. "I stupidly promised him, I would take him to see his father, when we got back. Just for him to take a nap. But I didn't keep my promise." He dashes away a tear and stands abruptly and walks away with Jose Sr. and Ray. Mia is on the verge of tears as is mom, Gail, Gwen, and surprisingly Ros as well. Taylor, Sawyer, dad, and Elliot are looking sadly at there bottled beer in hand. I shake my head trying to process what Ethan said, "He cried for his father."
"It's a long story Christian, and it's a story Ana has to tell." Mia says as she dashes a stray tear away. I look to the side door and debate on going to see them. But before I realize what I'm doing I'm standing outside the livingroom while Ana is rocking Teddy in arms.
"Hey Ana we're going to be on the patio, okay?" Kate says as she sees me standing there. Ana stops and turns around to see me as well, she nods and they take their leave with Phoebe in Jose's arms.
"I'm sorry we laughed. We didn't mean too." I tell her feeling guilty. She smiles and shakes her head, "Don't worry about it, Christian. He would've laughed also, but he was just too tired." She says as she begins to slowly pace the livingroom floor with a sleeping Teddy in her arms.
"Would you like to lay him down?" I ask as I notice he's out for the count.
"Yeah, that would be nice. Thank you." She smiles as we walk towards the staircase.
"Would you like me to carry him?" She shakes her head 'no' and we begin to climb the stairs and turn to my old bedroom. I stand in the door way as she lays him down and places one of the pillows beside him on the edge of the bed. She stands and looks around the room and stops in front of an old picture.
"Where was this taken?" she asks as she looks at the picture closely. "Aspen, Colorado. Last year." I smile thinking how I've never had anyone in my old room before, besides family.
"What are you smiling at Christian?" Ana asks as she's now in front of me ready to leave my room. I shake my head and step back so she can step out and close the door behind her, but instead leaves it open.
"Nothing," I say as I look at her big beautiful blue eyes. She smiles and passes by me as I inhale. Raspberries.
"Ana," I stop not sure what to say.
"Yes Christian?" she asks as she bites her lower lip. Fuck!
"I want to do that." I say not looking away from her lip and swallowing hard. I wonder if they're soft?
"Do what?" she asks with sincerity in her voice.
"This," I say as I kiss her, and I kiss her hard. I feel her arms wrap around my neck and she presses herself tighter against me. I place my hands around her waist to hold her steady since I'm a lot taller than her. In seconds, I don't know what takes over me, but I pick her up and she wraps her legs around me willingly. I slam her against the wall across from my room, while I gently bite on her bottom lip. She moans and I immediately grow in size.
I'm aware she's wearing a dress, and I know I shouldn't since she's married but my body is not cooperating. I rub myself tenderly against her and she moans again, but this time she bites my lip, and I grunt.
"Ana, baby. Do that again and I will take you here and now." I say as I pull my lips apart from hers.
"Okay," she says huskily and I know my breathing matches hers. I look at her once more as she bites her bottom lip again and I pull it from between her teeth with mine.
"Your lips are so soft," I say as I kiss her softly which cause her to grind against me once more and I grunt.
"And warm," I say looking down at her covered sex. I look up as I hear a small thump and notice she has her head tilted back. Fuck her neck is beautiful! I lean forward and kiss her neck and suck softly, while mindlessly my hands are now gripping her bare thighs. I moan as I feel the lace of her panties, as my face drops to the base of her neck.
"Fuck, you feel fantastic." I tell her as my finger tips play with the material of her panties. If I move just an inch they would be home.
"Christian," she moans my name and I press harder against her wet lips. I can feel the warmth of her body through my swim trunks.
"Yes baby?" I ask as I kiss her neck once more.
"We can't do this," I stop what I'm doing and lean back so I can see her face.
"Are you sure?" I ask her and she sadly nods while biting her bottom lip. No! I kiss her once more while she's still wrapped around me.
"Ana your mind may be telling you 'No' but your body is telling me 'Yes'." I tell her as I rub once more against her wet lips and she moans once more.
"Christian no matter how much I may want you, I just can't." She closes her eyes as she unwraps her legs from my waist and I set her down on her feet. She looks sad. I place my hand under her chin and tilt her head so she'll look up at me.
"What are you thinking?" I ask her as I look at her beautiful teary blue eyes and she sadly shakes her head once more.
"How you make me feel things I haven't felt." She sighs and shakes her head a little. She wipes her eyes with her hand. Hasn't felt? What does she mean? I must have confusion written all over my face, because she smiles a little and shakes her head again. "It's okay."
"Ana, I…" she interrupts me.
"Christian it's alright," she shrugs. "I have to go downstairs, I have Phoebe to feed." She says as she places her hands on my biceps, while I'm still holding on to her hips. I nod and remove my hands and she leaves.
"Ana," I whisper as I sigh.
I look at my slightly opened bedroom door where I can still see Teddy is fast asleep. I run my hands through my hair thinking about what just occurred. She kissed me back, she wanted me, and I made her feel things she hasn't felt. I'm still trying to solve this puzzle that is, Anastasia Steele.
Walking out to the patio I hear laughter as I see Ana, Kate, Jose, Ethan, Mia, and Elliot, playing with a football on the field near the bleachers.
"Christian, why don't you run off and play, with everyone else?" Mom asks as she sees me watching them play.
"Later mom." I say as I make my journey towards Ros, Gwen, Sawyer and Taylor. We begin to talk about work, cars, and about the new company we're trying to takeover in Florida, which gets Gwen excited when I mention Ros may have to go.
"Oh that would be so great." Gwen presses her hands together as if in prayer, while looking at Ros. Ros shakes her head and agrees she will go if necessary, which is better for me. The company we're trying to buy manufactures in constructing homes for flood victims. If we purchase this company, we can expand it to other sates that have a high chance of floods as well. Since Ros' family was impacted by Katrina, she can persuade them to sell, since she can speak firsthand about the good cause this would be.
"Dad what's taking so long with the food?" Elliot asks as he comes running towards dad. I shake my head and laugh.
"Elliot it's almost ready. Go gather everyone else." Dad says as he starts laying the burgers on the grill and some hotdogs as well.
"So where did you buy this grill, Carrick? It's a mean machine if you ask me. What type is it?" Ray asks as he points to the grill with his beer bottle in hand.
"I have no idea to be honest. Christian's the one who bought it three years ago for Christmas." Dad signals for me to come over, so I excuse myself from the banter between Taylor and Ros, which I have no idea what it's about.
"Yeah dad?" I say as I make my way to them and stand beside dad whose seasoning the burgers.
"Ray wants to know about the grill. He said he would like to purchase one for when it's hunting season, something about grilling venison meat." Ray and Jose Sr. laugh when dad makes a face when he mentions venison.
"Dad it's really not that bad. It's actually pretty good." I say as I laugh along with them.
"You've actually tried it, son?" I nod my head and we laugh some more, while dad looks at me surprised. Ray claps my shoulder and turns to look at Ana.
"You see honey, this is a real man. He likes venison meat, not like that piece of shit you got for a husband." Ray says and Ana looks at him in disbelief. Did he really just say that? Dad, Jose Sr. and I look at each other, when she comes walking towards him, with mischief in her eyes. She stands in front of him and takes his beer out of his hand.
"No more beer for you old man, you get loose lips and may I remind you, 'shot gun'." She says with a smile and clinks the beer bottle with Jose Sr. and takes a drink. While in the background we hear laughter and cheering coming from Jose, Kate, and Ethan. Ray shakes his head with a smile on his face, "See Annie your learning." He says with pride in his voice. And once again I hear laughter coming from them.
I turn to dad who has a confused look on his face which is replaced with understanding, seconds later. But like everyone else not in on this family joke, like my self, they have a confused look as well.
"The shot-gun has come in handy sometimes." She says and Jose Sr. once again clinks his beer bottle with hers. And I immediately get it, she pokes fun at Ray and Jose Sr. clinks her bottle. I'm guessing it's a family thing. I turn to see Jose, Kate, and Ethan shake their heads.
"Uncle Ray, I suggest you stop while you're still standing. You know Ana doesn't back down from a challenge." Jose chirps in after he's calmed himself down a bit, from his laughing fit. She likes challenges? I immediately get an idea.
"Come on Ana bring it home!" Kate cheers Ana along from the picnic table. Ana turns and smiles towards them and shakes her head. "Come on guys we have to give the old timer a chance," she turns back to Ray with an evil little smirk. And I have to say she looks amazing challenging Ray. Would she challenge me? I lick my lips at the taught of her on my bed shackled and sprawled, and at my mercy.
I'm zapped back to reality, when I hear Ana, "He can't mess up twice in his lifetime. By the way dad… How old are you?" She smiles and giggles; when Ray has gone serious. And fuck if it doesn't make my heart flutter, when she giggles. Kate laughs and Ethan has now stood up to get them a round of beers from the cooler, while Jose has now stood up and is pulling Ana by her hips towards the table. I know I have no right to feel anger or hostility towards him, but fuck, my hands where on her hips no more than ten minutes ago!
"Yeah, well you did name your son after me," Ray says and Jose Sr. hands over an unopened beer from the small cooler dad has placed between them. Ray snaps it open and they clink bottles. Ana and Jose have stopped walking and slowly turn their sights on us, as I see Ana has a small smile on her face.
"I may be gone, but my legacy will remain. Teddy now will carry my shotgun." He says and Jose Sr. clinks his bottle while shaking is head.
"No need dad. You taught me how to shoot, remember, I'll carry it myself!" She says to Ray but looks at me, with honesty in her voice, and I gulp. Why am I suddenly nervous?
Once again there's laughter and cheering coming from her family members, but this time Kate, Jose and Ethan clink their beer bottles together with Ana's. I smile when I see how comfortable they are with one another and I begin to think if my family and I are that close. But sadly, I believe we're not. I turn my sight on mom who has Phoebe on her lap who's eating fruit. Elliot and Mia are laughing and giggling along with everyone else and dad is just grilling while chatting with Jose Sr. and Ray. Luke, Taylor, and Ros are in deep discussion, while Gwen and Gail are speaking with mom. Is this what a family is?
"What's wrong son?" dad asks as he's probably witnessed my dazed look. I turn towards him and shake my head, "Nothing dad, just thinking." He nods his head and frowns a bit, but continues attending the grill.